Nanoferulic: From a by-product of the beer industry toward the regeneration of the skin.

BACKGROUND

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is one of the most abundant by-products of the beer industry and causes serious environmental problems. Ferulic acid (FA) is an antioxidant with potential cosmeceutical applications. FA was extracted from BSG, developing a method of high extraction performance in order to be encapsulated in ultradeformable liposomes (Nanoferulic, NF).

AIMS

To obtain a product with high added value such as FA, from a residue currently underused, using simple and economical chemical methods. To load FA into a nanosystem designed for the topical route, its encapsulation has the purpose to take profit from its photoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in the deep layers of the skin.

METHODS

Ferulic acid was obtained from dried BSG using acid and basic treatments in series. NF was prepared by lipid film resuspension of a solution containing FA obtained from BSG. Size and Z-potential were determined. Cytotoxicity was assessed in vitro. Skin penetration was assessed by NF determination at different skin depths and by confocal microscopy.

RESULTS

The yield of the extraction process was 0.43% on a dry basis. Encapsulation rendered liposomes of around 140 nm with 92% of encapsulation efficiency. No toxicity was observed in all the tested concentrations. Successful results were obtained from the regeneration studies.

CONCLUSIONS

It was possible to develop a nanosystem containing FA, generating a high-value commercial input for the pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industry. The use of BSG generated in industrial scale would help to reduce the volume of highly polluting waste.