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. 2023 Mar;111(3):300-308.
doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.37462. Epub 2022 Oct 24.

Centella asiatica extract-SiO2 nanocomposite: More than a drug-delivery system for skin protection from oxidative damage

Federico Ebau  1 , Alessandra Scano  1 , Maria Letizia Manca  2 , Maria Manconi  2 , Valentina Cabras  1 , Martina Pilloni  1 , Guido Ennas  1
Affiliations

Centella asiatica extract-SiO2 nanocomposite: More than a drug-delivery system for skin protection from oxidative damage

Federico Ebau et al. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

An innovative nanotechnology-based approach was used for the preparation of Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) extract-SiO2 nanocomposites, specifically tailored for skin protection from oxidative damage. Different amounts of C. asiatica glycolic extract (1.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 10.0 wt %) and fumed silica were used to prepare the nanocomposites by means of ball milling method. The influence of both composition of the starting mixture and milling time on the final products was evaluated by different techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and nitrogen sorption analysis. Results confirmed the integrity of the natural extract after the milling process, and its successful loading in the silica matrix. No cytotoxicity was observed for the obtained nanocomposites, which showed high in-vitro ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and to protect human keratinocytes from damages induced with hydrogen peroxide.

Keywords: Centella asiatica; antioxidant activity; ball milling; biomaterial; fumed silica; nanocomposites; oxidative damage; skin protection.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
X‐ray powder diffraction patterns of the milled fumed silica and of the most representative nanocomposites (S1, S2, S6, and S8 samples)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
(A) SEM micrographs of the samples prepared with 1.0 wt % of Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) extract at different magnifications: 250× (upper line) and 250.000× (lower line). From left to right: S1, S2, S3 and S4 samples. (B) SEM micrographs of the samples prepared with 3.0 wt % of C. asiatica extract at different magnifications: 250× (upper line), 65.000× and 200.000× (lower line). From left to right: S5 and S6 samples. (C) SEM micrographs of the samples prepared with 5.0 wt % of C. asiatica extract at different magnifications: 250× and 100× (upper line), 200.000× and 100.000× (lower line). From left to right: S7 and S8 samples
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) glycolic extract (labeled as Ca) and of the C. asiatica‐SiO2 nanocomposites
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms for the Centella asiatica‐SiO2 nanocomposites and the fumed silica at 77 K. Red and green curves refer to adsorption and desorption, respectively
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Thermogravimetric (TG, 5a) and derivative (dTG, 5b) curves of the Centella asiatica‐SiO2 nanocomposites
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Antioxidant activity for the Centella asiatica (C. asiatica)‐SiO2 nanocomposites and for comparison pure C. asiatica glycolic extract (labeled as Ca G.E.)
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Viability of keratinocytes treated for 24 and 48 h with Centella asiatica extract containing nanocomposites at different concentrations. Mean values ± standard deviations (error bars) are reported (n = 8)
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Viability values of keratinocytes stressed for 4 h with hydrogen peroxide and untreated or treated with Centella asiatica extract containing nanocomposites. Mean values ± standard deviations (error bars) are reported (n = 8)
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