Clinical Investigation of Collagen-Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Enhanced Delivery of Skincare Ingredients

Abstract

Nanofiber-based materials, due to their unique properties, are of remarkable interest across multiple fields of applications, including cosmetics. Collagen, a primary structural protein in human skin, is well-regarded for its critical role in maintaining skin health, elasticity, and enhancing skin regeneration. This study reports the characterization, safety, and efficacy evaluation of DermaLayr™, a novel collagen-based nanofiber platform, for skincare application. The collagen nanofibers were developed using a sonic electrospinning technique, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses indicated that the nanofibers were uniform with average fiber diameters ranging from 250 to 300 nm. The skin permeation studies on EpiDerm™ indicated that applying the test products resulted in around 5–25% higher collagen permeation into the epidermis, and 16–20% higher collagen permeation into the dermis when compared to the non-treated sample. Additionally, the safety of the developed nanofibers was assessed in vitro and in vivo and both the studies indicated their non-toxic and non-irritant properties. Moreover, clinical trials on human subjects further substantiated the clinical efficacy of DermaLayr™ by demonstrating significant improvement in several skin parameters such as hydration, elasticity, and overall skin health. In summary, the findings of this study emphasize the huge potential of DermaLayr™ nanofiber products for their safe application in cosmetics and skin therapeutics.