Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Effective therapy requires strategies that improve local drug retention while addressing both inflammation and barrier repair. In this study, hyaluronic acid-butyrate (HAB) conjugates with different molecular weights were synthesized and evaluated as dual-functional therapeutics for AD. IVPT using normal and AD-like skin demonstrated that HAB, particularly 5 k-HAB, achieved superior penetration and markedly enhanced skin retention (6.47-fold) compared with free butyrate. These improvements were attributed to inflammation-responsive mechanisms: CD44 overexpression in diseased skin, which promotes HA-mediated targeting, and elevated CES2 activity, which triggers local butyrate release. In a DNFB-induced mouse model, 5 k-HAB significantly accelerated lesion resolution, reduced trans-epidermal water loss and erythema, restored hydration, and normalized epidermal structure. Mechanistic studies revealed that 5 k-HAB synergistically promotes keratinocyte proliferation, mitigates oxidative stress, upregulates key barrier proteins, and suppresses inflammatory cytokines more effectively than HA, free butyrate, or higher-MW conjugates. These results highlight the critical importance of using disease-relevant skin models for evaluating dermal drug delivery and show that enhancing local retention is more impactful than penetration alone. Collectively, 5 k-HAB demonstrates a rational, multifunctional approach for targeted transdermal therapy of AD and other inflammatory skin disorders.

BACKGROUND: The growing consumer preference for natural and sustainable products has heightened interest in biopigments across pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. In this study, we investigate endophytic fungi as a viable and eco-friendly source for the production of bioactive natural pigments. METHODS AND RESULTS: A promising strain, Aspergillus westerdijkiae 17P, was isolated from Betula pendula and assessed for its pigment-producing potential and associated bioactivities. The biomass extract was fractionated, and the resulting components were evaluated for antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist activities. Among the fractions, 17P2 exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, notable antioxidant activity (83% DPPH radical scavenging at 1000 mg/mL), and cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 250 mg/mL. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) demonstrated strong binding affinities of 17P2 to acetylcholinesterase (Kd = 1.63 µM) and butyrylcholinesterase (Kd = 0.03 µM), indicating potential anti-Alzheimer's properties. Additionally, significant interactions with monoamine oxidase A and PPAR-γ suggest possible antidepressant and antidiabetic applications. Four major pigment fractions (17P1-17P4) were purified and structurally characterized using UHPLC-MS and NMR, revealing key metabolites such as aluminium and iron aspergillic acid complexes, penicillic acid, and preussin. Notably, gamma irradiation at 2000 Gy significantly enhanced the red, yellow, and orange pigments yield compared to the non-irradiated control cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings position A. westerdijkiae 17P as a valuable and versatile biotechnological resource for the sustainable production of multifunctional fungal pigments with potential industrial and therapeutic applications.

Skin aging is closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, yet effective delivery of mitochondrial therapeutics to the skin remains a challenge. Here, we report ECG-Lipo, a mitochondria-modulating nanoliposome system that co-delivers hydrophilic ergothioneine (EGT) and lipophilic coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for rejuvenation therapy. ECG-Lipo was fabricated by flash nanoprecipitation using 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside metabolites (PPTGM) as liposome-forming agents, yielding uniform nanosized unilamellar vesicles with high stability and encapsulation efficiency. Compared with free drug solutions, ECG-Lipo significantly enhanced skin penetration and cellular repair, as demonstrated by in vitro Franz diffusion assays, in vivo fluorescence imaging in mouse skin, and fibroblast migration assays. Molecular docking indicated that PPTGM exhibits stronger predicted interactions with the EGT transporter OCTN-1 than cholesterol through combined hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions, suggesting a potential structural basis for the observed biological effects. In oxidative stress-challenged human dermal fibroblasts, ECG-Lipo preserved mitochondrial integrity by maintaining mitochondrial signal and morphology, restoring membrane potential, and suppressing mitochondrial superoxide accumulation. These results highlight ECG-Lipo as a promising mitochondria-modulating nanoliposome system for transdermal delivery with potential for therapeutic intervention against intrinsic skin aging.