Under-eye patch based on PVA-gelatin nanocomposite nanofiber as a potential skin care product for fast delivery of the coenzyme Q10 anti-aging agent: in vitro and in vivo studies

Nanofibers are excellent non-invasive carriers for active ingredients as they can eliminate the necessity for common cosmetics preservatives and effectively deliver ingredients to the skin. In this study, a nanofibrous under-eye patch was manufactured based on the electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/gelatin (Gel) nanofibers loaded with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). The biocompatibility and anti-aging potential of the nanofibrous under-eye patch (NFEP) were evaluated using MTT assay and the measurement of the collagen in fibroblasts and keratinocytes cell cultures, respectively. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and antioxidant activity assays were also performed to assess whitening and antioxidant properties, respectively. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) results showed that the diameter of the PVA/Gel/CoQ10 nanocomposite nanofibers was in the range of 295 +/- 57 nm. In vivo studies also revealed no cytotoxicity of NFEP was as it did not cause any symptoms of skin sensitivity or irritation. In vitro biodegradation results indicated that NFEP could release 94% of the CoQ10 within 35 min due to its ultra-fast degradability. Moreover, the anti-aging feature of the eye patch was confirmed by X-gal staining. The results indicated that the prepared PVA/gelatin/CoQ10 NFEP was effective, fast-degradable, and non-toxic.