Transdermal transport of collagen and hyaluronic acid using water in oil microemulsion

Collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA) are biopolymers that affect the appearance and condition of the skin. Delivery of these compounds into the skin is highly challenging since have a number of disadvantageous properties, such as high molecular weight and hydrophilicity. Here, we evaluated the transdermal penetration of low and high molecular weight collagen and HA from microemulsions. A number of microemulsion formulations, differing in the content of polymers and surfactants (i.e. penetration promoters), were used for the permeation study. In addition, a correlation was made between the composition of these microemulsions and the polymers transport efficiency. The results indicate that, microemulsions enable transdermal permeation of collagen and HA. The concentration of polymers and the solubilization capacity of microemulsions had the greatest influence on the permeation. Surprisingly, the molecular weight of polymers and the content of other components affected the size of microemulsion particles, and thus these parameters had an indirect influence on the permeation process. This study demonstrated therefore the potential therapeutic use of microemulsion with collagen and HA in improving and regenerating the barrier of aged or diseased skin.