Liposome-Mediated Transdermal Delivery of Neferine for Enhanced Protection Against Skin Photoaging
- 1Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi’an 710061, China
- 2Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
- 3MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Abstract
Chronic ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced skin photoaging is driven by oxidative stress, extracellular matrix degradation, and cellular senescence. To overcome the poor skin permeability and rapid clearance of neferine (Nef), PEGylated liposomes were prepared via thin-film hydration. The Nef-loaded liposomes (Lipo) were spherical, with a mean diameter of 137.90 ± 0.56 nm, a PDI of 0.117 ± 0.016, an encapsulation efficiency of 68.79% ± 1.01%, and a drug loading of 13.38% ± 0.22%. Ex vivo Franz diffusion cell assays demonstrated significantly higher cumulative transdermal permeation over 24 h for Lipo compared with free Nef, along with sustained-release behavior. In a chronic UVA-induced mouse photoaging model, epidermal thickness, dermal collagen networks, and fibroblast mitochondrial ultrastructure were restored by topical Lipo application, with superior effects over free Nef. In UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity was reduced, intracellular ROS accumulation was eliminated, and SOD activity was restored by the treatment of Lipo. These redox modulations were associated with downregulation of the p53/p21 senescence signaling pathway. Collectively, the antioxidant and anti-senescence efficacy of Nef was enhanced by this liposomal nanoencapsulation strategy through improved transdermal kinetics and cellular responses, providing a functionalized nanoplatform for localized anti-photoaging therapy.
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BibTeX
@article{kou2026liposomemediated,
title = {{Liposome-Mediated Transdermal Delivery of Neferine for Enhanced Protection Against Skin Photoaging}},
author = {Yi-Yin Kou and Wen-Jun Tang and Xin-Feng Hu and Zhuo-Ran Li and Yu-Fan Xue and Chi Zhang and Jia Zhao and Yi-Chen Zhou and Feng-Cheng Yang and Li-Wen Li and Zhi-Wei Yang and Zhuan-Li Bai},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209321},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9321},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Liposome-Mediated Transdermal Delivery of Neferine for Enhanced Protection Against Skin Photoaging
AU - Yi-Yin Kou
AU - Wen-Jun Tang
AU - Xin-Feng Hu
AU - Zhuo-Ran Li
AU - Yu-Fan Xue
AU - Chi Zhang
AU - Jia Zhao
AU - Yi-Chen Zhou
AU - Feng-Cheng Yang
AU - Li-Wen Li
AU - Zhi-Wei Yang
AU - Zhuan-Li Bai
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209321
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9321
AB - Chronic ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced skin photoaging is driven by oxidative stress, extracellular matrix degradation, and cellular senescence. To overcome the poor skin permeability and rapid clearance of neferine (Nef), PEGylated liposomes were prepared via thin-film hydration. The Nef-loaded liposomes (Lipo) were spherical, with a mean diameter of 137.90 ± 0.56 nm, a PDI of 0.117 ± 0.016, an encapsulation efficiency of 68.79% ± 1.01%, and a drug loading of 13.38% ± 0.22%. Ex vivo Franz diffusion cell assays demonstrated significantly higher cumulative transdermal permeation over 24 h for Lipo compared with free Nef, along with sustained-release behavior. In a chronic UVA-induced mouse photoaging model, epidermal thickness, dermal collagen networks, and fibroblast mitochondrial ultrastructure were restored by topical Lipo application, with superior effects over free Nef. In UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity was reduced, intracellular ROS accumulation was eliminated, and SOD activity was restored by the treatment of Lipo. These redox modulations were associated with downregulation of the p53/p21 senescence signaling pathway. Collectively, the antioxidant and anti-senescence efficacy of Nef was enhanced by this liposomal nanoencapsulation strategy through improved transdermal kinetics and cellular responses, providing a functionalized nanoplatform for localized anti-photoaging therapy.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -