Development of Biodegradable Cosmetic Patch Using a Polylactic Acid/Phycocyanin-Alginate Composite.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Cosmetic Science

Background:

• Non-degradable polymers in cosmetic patches contribute to environmental pollution.
• Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) offers a sustainable alternative with comparable mechanical properties.
• Phycocyanin from spirulina provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for skin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biodegradable cosmetic patch using polylactic acid (PLA) and phycocyanin.
• To investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of phycocyanin on skin cells.
• To optimize the fabrication of a PLA/phycocyanin-alginate composite for enhanced cosmetic delivery.

Main Methods:

• Preliminary assessment of phycocyanin's antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity.
• Fabrication of PLA/phycocyanin-alginate composite via solvent casting.
• Optimization of preparation conditions (ratio, time, temperature) using the one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method.
• Analysis of composite properties using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and surface morphology observation.

Main Results:

• Phycocyanin exhibited significant antioxidant activity and no cytotoxic effects on skin cells.
• The optimal PLA/phycocyanin-alginate composite was achieved with a 40/60 phycocyanin/alginate ratio, prepared at 20°C for 20 hours.
• This optimized composite demonstrated superior film flexibility and phycocyanin release properties.

Conclusions:

• A biodegradable cosmetic patch based on PLA, phycocyanin, and alginate was successfully developed.
• The optimized composite formulation ensures effective delivery of active cosmetic ingredients with good material integrity.
• This study presents a sustainable and effective approach for advanced cosmetic patch technology.