Topical and transdermal delivery of L-carnitine

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Cosmetic Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Skin aging involves intrinsic and extrinsic factors with shared molecular changes like increased reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinase expression, alongside decreased procollagen synthesis.
• L-Carnitine L-tartrate is recognized for its potential anti-aging properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the delivery and transport of L-carnitine to the stratum corneum and epidermis-dermis of female abdominal skin.
• To evaluate the efficacy of Pheroid™ as a delivery system for L-carnitine.
• To determine the presence of endogenous L-carnitine in human skin.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Franz diffusion cells to assess skin penetration.
• Employed liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for quantitative analysis.
• Compared L-carnitine delivery with and without the Pheroid™ system.

Main Results:

• The Pheroid™ delivery system demonstrated enhanced diffusion of L-carnitine through the skin layers.
• Phosphate buffer solution (PBS) resulted in a higher concentration of L-carnitine within the skin layers compared to Pheroid™.
• Pheroid™'s lipophilic nature may have facilitated faster diffusion, potentially reducing accumulation in target epidermal and dermal layers.

Conclusions:

• Pheroid™ improves L-carnitine skin diffusion, but PBS achieves higher local concentrations.
• The enhanced lipophilicity of Pheroid™ influences L-carnitine transport dynamics.
• Further research may optimize delivery systems for targeted L-carnitine application in anti-aging skincare.