What nanotechnology brings in cosmetics? Cosmetics are the chemical substances which increase the odor of Humans.
Food and Drug Administration in United States defined it as the chemical substances applying on human body.For cleansing, beautifying, to increase attractiveness and changing the appearance without any change to human body structure and function (Definitions, 2019).
We know that nanotechnology in the world is fast growing scientific field and billions of dollars (42 billion $ in 2017) are now invested in nanotechnology.
Cosmetics also found some room under the large umbrella of nanotechnology and it grows very quickly because it made so much attraction towards the people.
In nanotechnology we use nanoparticles and nanomaterials in cosmetics and due to the size at which they fall is so small which makes them more efficient than other cosmetic products. They have high tendency to being absorbed by skin and shows results very quickly.
The first company which introduce nanotechnology-based cosmetics was Lancôme, the luxury division of L’Oréal in 1995 (Melo,Amadeu, Lancellotti, Maria de Hollanda,Machado, 2015).
Nanoscale Phyto-bioactive compounds for Skin therapy
First we should know about the Phyto-bioactive compounds, these are the compounds that are found in plants in low quantity. They are very good for human health and promote active biological processes in body and prevents ourselves from cancer and other serious diseases. Some of the examples are lycopene, lignan and indoles etc. (NCI dictionaries, 2019).
Applications of these Phyto-bioactive compounds for Skin therapy
1) Nano-antiaging products: Aging is the phenomena in which skin loses its tightness because of the skin collagen loses its physical appearance. It is not a problem for the older people but also for the youth because they face a very harsh environmental condition.
Some of cosmetic products to delay aging are Hydra Zen cream, Skin Caviar Ampoules and Revitalift. Eysenhardtia platycarpa is the plant and we can extract nanoparticles (flavanones) from their leaves ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, pp. 1987,1988).
2) Nano-sunscreens: Sunscreens protect us from harmful rays that comes from sun. However, commercially available sunscreens protect us from UV rays but have some disadvantages.
These synthetic sunscreens produce chalky, greasy, layer of white on skin which is irritable and have some toxics which is not good for health. Schinus terebinthifolius is the spp. That increase the antioxidants activity in the skin and blocks the harmful radiations from sun ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1989).
3) Nano-cleansers: Skin is coated by a thin hydrolipid layer which contains the cell debris from eccrine, sebaceous, and apocrine glands. If it isn’t removed then there is a chance that bacteria grow and cause acne.
However, in market skin cleanser are available from macro to nanometer scale. Nanoscale cleansers are very effective. Recently, nanosized liposomal lauric acid(113 nm) is produce which is very good for skin and by constant use of that cleanser skin becomes fresh and acne free ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1989).
4) Nano-Nail care products: Nano-nail care is a novel product of cosmetic which is introduced in the market. It is far better than the normal /traditional nail products. It not only brings elegance to the fashion but also strengthens the nails.
These products have these nanoparticles in it which give them color, have zero side-effect and braces the nails so they grow well. These Bioactive compounds from plants are rich in color such as carotene (orange color), chlorophyll (green), and curcumin (yellow), lycopene e (reddish orange), anthocyanin (red/purple), and annatto (yellow/orange) ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1990).
5) Nano-lip care products: Nano-lip care cosmetics is making its room in world of cosmetics. However, we got some nano lip care products which enhance the protection of lips. Usually the bioactive compounds used in lip care cosmetics are the size of macro and micro level like coconut oil and curcumin etc.
But recently plant betalains, a novel dietary-colored indole derived pigment extracted which is used in lip care products. Bixa orellana a spp. Used to produce nanosized bioactive compound which provide a color (orange) to lipsticks and different colors formed by reacting it with metals ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1990).
6) Nano-hair care products: Hair loss is a very common method in men so products made to prevent this loss. Hair loss decrease a person’s social status and it affects its personality so bioactive products which act as nutrients for hair and decrease or stop that phenomena (hair loss).
Recently, phytochemicals from rice and artichokes used to increase the growth of hair ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1990). Hair-loss can be prevented if we use the lipid drug delivery method in which we incorporated minoxidil (nanoparticle) which stops the damaging of follicles and save UV radiations (Gratieri,Pereira,Ushirobira, Cunha-Filho, Gelfuso, 2018, p. 5).
7) Nano-liposomes: Liposomes are very good for drug delivery systems however we can use them in cosmeceuticals too. They are in spherical shape and have high efficiency to transfer drugs to dermal layer. Recently, curcumin-loaded 80 nm sized liposomes used in cosmetics so our desired (bioactive compounds) chemicals easily transported to dermal layer.
The reason that we use that nano-liposomes because it is easy to control and handle these particles and they have no side-effects. That’s why they are highly used in skin therapies and drug delivery systems. ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1993).
8) Nano-quercetin: Quercetin is phyto-active flavonoid compound which is very good for the skin. It has advantage to other flavonoids compounds because of the abundant -OH groups.
However, the main disadvantage to quercetin is its penetration disability which is overcome by joining that particle with the solid lipid nanoparticle. So, quercetin can easily penetrate and showcase its performance ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1997).
9) Nano-resveratrol: Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound having many advantages, the major role of resveratrol is quenching free radicals and protecting skin. Resveratrol is very good but its limitation is, it is easily degradable under the harsh environmental conditions.
This limitation can overcome by using nano-emulsions and transferosomes. This increase the stability of resveratrol and it perform its function very well ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1997).
10) Nano-Green Tea: Green tea contains the natural antioxidants like catechin, epigallectocatechin, epicatechin, and epigallecto-3-catechin etc. which are very good for health as well as for the human skin.
However, the external environment limitized these antioxidants and they don’t show their results. Green tea catechin liposomes with nanoparticle sizes of 130–268 nm is formed which are very useful because their effect is long-lasting ( Ganesan, Choi, 2016, p. 1998).
Risk assessment approaches for nano-particles used in nanoproducts
Rules to assess the hazardous effects of nano-particles:
1) Physicochemical characterization of nanoparticle is important to check its behavior through the life-cycle.
2) Dose-response characterization and careful study the effects of dose on human body.
3) In vitro studies are important for the selection of relevant cell types and cell models that reflect the route of human exposures.
4) Time-course assessments are also important to demonstrate the acute and chronic exposures.
5) Application of proper benchmark controls to improve the interpretation of toxicological outcomes (Warheit, 2018, p. 6).