Development and Characterization of a Gel Formulation Containing Golden Cherry Exosomes (Physalis minima) as a Potential Anti-Photoaging

Abstract

Aim: The present study aims to produce a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of photoaging. Background: Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) are nano-sized vesicles containing biomolecules released by multivesicular bodies. Recently, studies have shown the efficacy of exosomes in treating photoaging through increasing collagen synthesis and decreasing collagen degradation. In addition, some PDENs were also proven to contain bioactive metabolites, which also have potential antioxidant activity to mitigate the risk of photoaging. Objective: Formulating and developing a gel and incorporating it with exosomes derived from golden cherry (Physalis minima). Methods: The formulation was developed by first preparing various base formulations with different compositions and selecting the best through evaluation tests. The results showed that only polymer base natrosol with a concentration of 0.25% was suitable for incorporating exosomes. The selected base was then incorporated with various concentrations of golden cherry exosomes and was evaluated regarding its physical and stability profile. Result: The result demonstrates that the incorporated gel displayed pleasant organoleptic properties and a pH compatible with the skin, with pseudoplastic flow and a suitable viscosity for topical application. The stability study also only revealed minor changes in viscosity and pH without affecting the general stability of the formulation. Formulation incorporating 0.25% golden cherry exosomes had shown the best stability profile compared to other concentrations. On characterization, although the incorporated exosomes showed heterogeneous particle size distribution (PI > 0.3), they still maintained their structural integrity. In addition, the incorporated exosomes showed antioxidant activity with IC50 of 372.435 μg/mL, which can help mitigate the risk of photoaging. Conclusion: Golden cherry exosomes have been successfully incorporated into gel and, thus, can be potentially utilized as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of photoaging.