DEVELOPMENT OF PUERARIA MIRIFICA EXTRACT-LOADED LIPID NANOPARTICLES FOR HAIR SPRAY

Abstract

Pueraria mirifica (PM) composed of active phytoestrogens has been used in Thai traditional medicine for rejuvenating qualities in aged women and men for nearly one hundred years. The application of PM formulation has been used for preventing hair loss. The aim of this study was to develop hair spray formulation using a lipid nanocarrier system. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) of 3% cetyl palmitate and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) of 2% cetyl palmitate and 1% oleic acid were formulated for PM extract loading. The physicochemical characteristics of nanocarrier formulations were evaluated. The in vitro skin penetration and deposition study were performed using Franz diffusion cells through porcine skin. The visual appearance showed a good physical property at 1 to 10 % w/w of PM loaded-SLN formulations and 1 to 15 % w/w of PM loaded-NLC formulations. The particle sizes of SLN formulations were between 94 and 306nm, while NLC formulations were in the range of 66 to 250nm. All formulations exhibited a negative surface charge in the range of 20-30 mV. The entrapment efficiency (%EE) of 10% PM loaded-SLN was higher than that of other SLN formulations. 15% PM loaded-NLC exhibited a higher %EE and loading efficiency (%LE) than those of 10% PM loaded-NLC. However, the skin penetration results of PM were 10% PM loaded-SLN > PM extract > 15% PM loaded-NLC, while the amount of PM deposited in the skin by all formulations was similar. In conclusion, 10% PM loaded-SLN was the desirable carrier for PM delivery through skin, suggesting that the mechanism of SLN might occlude and transport the entrapped drug via the hair follicular pathway. Therefore, SLN might be a suitable hair spray formulation for dermal delivery of PM.