Polymeric colloidal nanocarriers entrapped with Centella asiatica extract

Nanoparticle technology plays an important role in loading active ingredients and being able to increase their stability and performance. In this work, Centella asiatica extract, a plant with known dermatological and cosmetic applications, was incorporated into colloidal polymer nanocarriers, dispersed in silicophilic medium. Nanocarriers were prepared and characterized for particle size (Dynamic Light Scattering), morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and entrapment efficiency of madecassoside. Physical and chemical stability of the encapsulated extract was monitored for 60 days of storage under specific conditions (25 and 40 °C), quantifying the content of madecassoside by HPLC and the particle size distribution. In vitro safety assays, including halo diffusion, cell viability and cell transformation assay were evaluated for free and encapsulated extracts. Nanocarriers showed an average diameter around 210 nm (Polidispersity Index—PDI 0.2) and the entrapment efficiency of 97.7%. The concentration of madecassoside remained stable over time, indicating that the nanocarriers proposed here were able to protect madecassoside against degradation. In addition, nanocarriers showed non-cytotoxic effects and did not induce cell transformation.