Formulation and ex vivo characterization of a kaempferol transethosomal hydrogel for the prevention of UV-induced cutaneous damage
11 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- 2Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- 3Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
- 4Department of Life Science, Health and Health Professions, Link Campus University, Roma, Italy
- 5SOLARIS, National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- 6Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- 7Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- 8Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- 9Department of Environmental Sciences and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- 10Animal Science Department, Plants for Human Health Institute, NC Research Campus, NC State University, Kannapolis, NC, United States
- 11Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Abstract
In this study, lipid nanovesicular systems such as ethosomes and transethosomes dispersions were studied as potential vehicles for the cutaneous administration of kaempferol, a flavonol with antioxidant and chemopreventive properties. The lipophilicity of kaempferol requires specialized delivery systems suitable for transdermal administration. Kaempferol loading in ethosomes and transethosomes, prepared by ethanol injection methods, was investigated. The morphology of the vesicles was studied by cryogenic electron microscopy and by small angle X-ray scattering, while the size distribution was assessed by photon correlation spectroscopy. To make transethosome dispersions suitable for cutaneous application, Pluronic F-127 was used as a gelling agent. The physicochemical stability of the formulations was evaluated over a period of 3 months. To study the effect of the applied formulations on the skin, spreadability and leakage tests were performed. In vitro permeation studies were conducted using Franz diffusion cells and HPLC, to evaluate the diffusion kinetics of Kaempferol from the formulations. The evaluation of the dispersion macroscopic stability enabled to select transethosomes, loaded with 0.25 mg/ml of kaempferol. The results showed a promising 96% entrapment capacity, corresponding to 0.24 mg/ml and physicochemical stability of transethosomes, both in terms of size distribution and kaempferol content. Quantitative analysis via HPLC revealed that the drug diffuses more slowly from Pluronic-containing lipid formulations. Conversely, enhanced permeation through the membrane was observed for transethosomes. The ex vivo study on human skin explants demonstrated that the kaempferol-loaded transethosomal gel is able to limit the oxidative damage induced by UV exposure.
Related
- Gelled Oil-in-Water Microemulsions Stabilized with Natural Surfactant Decyl Glucoside as Cutaneous Nanocarriers for Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil: Formulation and Comprehensive Pharmacotechnical Characterization.
- 1190 Spatial and phenotypic characterization of tertiary lymphoid structures and immune organization in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma using multiplex immunofluorescence
- Thalidomide dose selection for prevention of camrelizumab-induced reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation: a multicenter, randomized phase II trial
- Histopathologic Characterization of Cutaneous Oxalosis Mimicking Calciphylaxis: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Polarized Light Evaluation
- European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline for invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Part 1: Diagnostics and prevention – Update 2026
BibTeX
@article{santamaria2026formulation,
title = {{Formulation and ex vivo characterization of a kaempferol transethosomal hydrogel for the prevention of UV-induced cutaneous damage}},
author = {Federico Santamaria and Andrea Galvan and Nicholas Castaldini and Valentyn Dzyhovskyi and Paolo Mariani and Alessia Pepe and Maria Grazia Ortore and Michal Rawski and Debora Santonocito and Mascia Benedusi and Nicolas Huang and Elisa Marlot and Giuseppe Valacchi and Manuela Malatesta and Laura Calderan and Elisabetta Esposito},
journal = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fbioe.2026.1963532},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1963532},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Formulation and ex vivo characterization of a kaempferol transethosomal hydrogel for the prevention of UV-induced cutaneous damage
AU - Federico Santamaria
AU - Andrea Galvan
AU - Nicholas Castaldini
AU - Valentyn Dzyhovskyi
AU - Paolo Mariani
AU - Alessia Pepe
AU - Maria Grazia Ortore
AU - Michal Rawski
AU - Debora Santonocito
AU - Mascia Benedusi
AU - Nicolas Huang
AU - Elisa Marlot
AU - Giuseppe Valacchi
AU - Manuela Malatesta
AU - Laura Calderan
AU - Elisabetta Esposito
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
DO - 10.3389/fbioe.2026.1963532
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1963532
AB - In this study, lipid nanovesicular systems such as ethosomes and transethosomes dispersions were studied as potential vehicles for the cutaneous administration of kaempferol, a flavonol with antioxidant and chemopreventive properties. The lipophilicity of kaempferol requires specialized delivery systems suitable for transdermal administration. Kaempferol loading in ethosomes and transethosomes, prepared by ethanol injection methods, was investigated. The morphology of the vesicles was studied by cryogenic electron microscopy and by small angle X-ray scattering, while the size distribution was assessed by photon correlation spectroscopy. To make transethosome dispersions suitable for cutaneous application, Pluronic F-127 was used as a gelling agent. The physicochemical stability of the formulations was evaluated over a period of 3 months. To study the effect of the applied formulations on the skin, spreadability and leakage tests were performed. In vitro permeation studies were conducted using Franz diffusion cells and HPLC, to evaluate the diffusion kinetics of Kaempferol from the formulations. The evaluation of the dispersion macroscopic stability enabled to select transethosomes, loaded with 0.25 mg/ml of kaempferol. The results showed a promising 96% entrapment capacity, corresponding to 0.24 mg/ml and physicochemical stability of transethosomes, both in terms of size distribution and kaempferol content. Quantitative analysis via HPLC revealed that the drug diffuses more slowly from Pluronic-containing lipid formulations. Conversely, enhanced permeation through the membrane was observed for transethosomes. The ex vivo study on human skin explants demonstrated that the kaempferol-loaded transethosomal gel is able to limit the oxidative damage induced by UV exposure.
SN - 2296-4185
ER -