Protective effects of a new active complex with vitamin C nanospheres against UV-induced imbalanced biomarkers of skin aging

Author: Samara Eberlin

Published at: May 23, 2017

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 76(6) Supplement 1, AB206, 2017.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.804
Antônio C. Vanzo, Jr, Liliana B.C. Torloni, Renan Lage, Andréia FC Pereira, Sheila G Silva, Amanda F Pereira, Michelle S Silva, Gustavo Facchini, Samara Eberlin.

Extrinsic aging is attributed to changes in the skin being influenced mainly by ultraviolet radiation (UV). After exposure to UV-A and UV-B, the formation of free radicals occurs, causing damage to cells and triggering an inflammatory response. The cellular redox homeostasis mechanism facilitates the elimination of free radicals through the antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase. The oxidative process leads to decreased synthesis of collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and TGF-β (transforming growth factor beta), which are essential to support the tissue. This decrease, associated with increased proteolytic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), leads to a breakdown of the extracellular matrix and premature signs of photoaging. Furthermore, prolonged exposure of human skin to UV radiation can result in erythema and edema formation due to induction of the inflammatory response as a consequence of the release of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, we evaluated the preclinical effectiveness of a new active complex composed of vitamin C nanospheres in the photoaging process using human cultured cells. Fibroblasts and keratinocytes were incubated with three non-cytotoxic concentrations of the new active complex with vitamin C nanospheres and subjected to UV radiation for later quantification of mediators involved in photoaging. Our results showed that the new active complex with vitamin C nanospheres prevents a significant decrease in the levels of collagen, elastin, GAG, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, which are produced by cells exposed to UV radiation, and protects against UV-induced MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-13. Furthermore, the new active complex with vitamin C nanospheres preserves the consumption of superoxide dismutase and prevents the induction of iNOS and VEGF synthesis. These results allow us to infer that the new active complex composed of vitamin C nanospheres has a beneficial effect in preventing the deleterious effects of UV radiation through mechanisms involving restoration and tissue regeneration, antioxidant activity, and reducing local vasodilation.