Encapsulation of retinoic acid in gelled microemulsions

• Grant number: 16/18200-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Perrechil Bonsanto
• Grantee: Stephanie Garzon Moura Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Retinoic acid have been widely used in anti-aging, acne and other skin lesion treatments. However, this retinoid is unstable and, when applied directly on skin, can cause rubor and irritation. In order to solve this problem, the encapsulation is as a suitable method because it can promote protection to the retinoic acid against external actions such as light and oxygen, allow a drug delivery avoiding adverse effects, and promote an extended protection of this compound. As retinoic acid is a hydrophobic compound, the encapsulation on the dispersed phase of an oil in water emulsions appears as a good alternative. Microemulsions, particularly, are translucent and thermodynamically stable systems, produced from simple and low energy methodologies. However, microemulsions can be unstable when applied in products, which can cause the delivery or exposition of the encapsulated compound. One way to increase the stability of microemulsions is through gelation of the continuous phase by adding gelling biopolymers. The ionotropic gelation methodology also allows the formation of gels in microscopic scale. Thus, the objective of this work is to develop biopolymeric microparticles containing retinoic acid, and add this systems into different vehicles in order to obtain a more stable and effective product, minimizing the risks of irritation and skin rubor due to the controlled release.