In the present research work, we addressed the changes in skin by which deep eutectic solvents (DES) enhanced transdermal permeation of bioactive compounds and propose a rationale for this mechanism. Several studies showed that these unusual liquids were ideal solvents for transdermal delivery of biomolecules, but to date, no histological studies relating the action of DES to changes in the structure of the outer skin barrier have been reported. In the research effort described herein, we presented an in-depth analysis of the changes induced in the skin by choline geranate DES, a compound with proven capabilities of enhancing transdermal permeation without deleterious impacts on the cells. The results obtained showed that a low percentage of DES acted as a transient disruptor of the skin structure, facilitating the passage of bioactive compounds dissolved in it.

Aim: Two lytic phages were isolated using P. aeruginosa DSM19880 as host and fully characterized. Materials & methods: Phages were characterized physicochemically, biologically and genomically. Res...

In recent decades, there has been an increase in environmental problems caused by cosmetic products derived from toxic substances. Based on this issue, researchers and developers of new beauty cosmetics are looking for new natural alternatives that work well for the consumer and have biodegradable characteristics. This systematic review highlights the major publications of bacterial cellulose used strictly for cosmetics in the last 10 years. Bacterial cellulose is a natural product with great cosmetic properties and low cost that has shown excellent results. This study aimed at collecting rigorous information on bacterial cellulose in the cosmetic field in the last decade to produce a systematized review. A comprehensive search was conducted with selected descriptors involving the topic of “bacterial cellulose”, “cosmetics”, “clean beauty”, and “skin mask”. Seventy studies were found, which went through exclusion criteria that selected only those related to the topic that was searched. In the 12 remaining studies that met the criteria, bacterial cellulose showed conditions for use as a mask-forming product for facial care. The increase in the number of publications concerning bacterial cellulose in cosmetics in the last ten years is a strong indicator that this is a growing area for both research and the industry.

Based on the previous study, in which nisin and bacterial cellulose were utilized, this new experiment loads nisin into bacterial cellulose (N–BC) and evaluates the morphological characteristics, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity and stability of the developed system. The load efficiency of nisin in BC was evaluated by an agar diffusion assay, utilizing Lactobacillus sakei, and total proteins. After having found the ideal time and concentration for the loading process, the system stability was evaluated for 100 days at 4, 25 and 37 °C against Staphylococcus aureus and L. sakei. Thus, in this study, there is a system that proves to be efficient, once BC has enhanced the antimicrobial activity of nisin, acting as a selective barrier for other compounds present in the standard solution and protecting the peptide. After 4 h, with 45% of proteins, this activity was almost 2 log₁₀ higher than that of the initial solution. Once the nisin solution was not pure, it is possible to suggest that the BC may have acted as a filter. This barrier enhanced the nisin activity and, as a consequence of the nisin loading, a stable N–BC system formed. The N–BC could create meaningful material for pharmaceutical and food applications.