Retinaldehyde skin delivery using chitosan

Abstract

In this research, nanoparticles of retinilidenesuccinylchitosan (R-NSC) were successfully prepared. N-succinylchitosan was synthesized based on reaction of chitosan with succinic anhydride. The obtained polymer could self-assemble into spherical nanoparticles in aqueous medium. The amino groups on the surface of the N-succinylchitosan particles could form Schiff base with retinaldehyde. The R-NSC nanoparticles gave the particle size of 181 ± 8.71 nm as observed by scanning electron microscope. The stability study under light, heat (40 °C) and oxygen exposure indicated that the retinilidene moieties in the N-SC nanoparticles was significantly more stable comparing to free retinaldehyde. The result showed at 120 min the free retinaldehyde was degraded while the R-NSC was degraded at 180 min. In addition, when antioxidant was loaded into the R-NSC particles, stability of retinilidene moieties was further improved comparing to R-NSC particles. The vitamin E loaded R-NSC particles was undegraded at 300 min. The penetration study of the R-NSC and vitamin E-loaded R-NSC particles indicated accumulation of the particles at the hair follicles, thus implying that the particles could penetrat into the skin via hair follicles. Both the grafted retinaldehyde and the loaded vitamin E could be released from the particles into the surrounding skin tissue.