The use of nanotechnology in the formulation of cosmetics

Abstract

Nanotechnology is based on the use of particles at nanometric scales. The implantation of nanotechnology in the area of the cosmetic industry has advantages such as controlled release of actives, reduction of side effects and improved bioavailability. There is a wide variety of nanostructures that are used in the formulation of cosmetics, including liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles subdivided into nanocapsules and nanospheres, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions and niosomes. Most cosmetics have action only on the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the epidermis, this layer is rich in lipids and proteins, causing the permeation of some actives in deeper layers to be compromised. With the application of nanotechnology, these barriers are more easily overcome due to the reduced size of the molecules of active substances that penetrate the skin more effectively. In this work, a bibliographic survey was carried out with a focus on nanotechnology in cosmetics, highlighting the most used nanosystems. Articles were searched in the Lilacs, Scielo, Medline and Google Scholar electronic databases. For this study, the objective was to understand the advantages of nanotechnology applied to cosmetics, seeking to demonstrate the benefits of each system used to solve problems such as: bioavailability, stability and toxicity of dermocosmetics. However, even with all the benefits found in the systems under study, it is important to emphasize that there are still some unknowns about the application of nanotechnology in cosmetics, as its limitations and risks are not yet known by researchers, since each system has a behavior different depending on the organism submitted. As a result of the research, it became evident that there are few or no deficiencies in each type of nanostructure mentioned in this work. Currently, the main challenge for nanotechnology is to develop adequate, safe and low-cost formulations.