Enzyme Immobilization for Enhanced Transdermal Penetration of Bioactive Compounds for Treating Skin Diseases: ENHANCE-SKIN

Programme(s): HORIZON.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence

Grant agreement ID: 101180616

Topic(s): HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-02-01 - ERA Fellowships

Call for proposal: HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-02

Funding Scheme: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

Objective:
The use of natural bioactive compounds (NBCs) in dermatological treatment is a promising healthcare frontier, however their effectiveness is hindered by limitations in skin penetration. Enhancing their delivery to target skin layers or specific disease sites remains a significant challenge. Encapsulation of NBCs within nanodispersions (NDs) and their embedding in a biopolymer hydrogel matrix has demonstrated promising outcomes in terms of improving the delivery of NBCs through the skin. However, there's still a need for more significant enhancement in penetration, while the reasons behind this effect remain uncertain. This project aims to overcome these challenges through the immobilization of enzymes, like hyaluronidase, that breaks down hyaluronic acid (major skin component) within the biopolymer hydrogel matrix. By prioritizing enzyme immobilization as a catalyst for enhanced penetration, this project pushes the boundaries beyond traditional encapsulation methods. This project plans to extract bioactive compounds from natural sources and investigate effective biocompatible encapsulation methods. Additionally, it will assess the biopolymer hydrogel matrix where the developed NDs and enzymes will be incorporated and immobilized. The equilibrium of the immobilized enzyme will be carefully studied to achieve optimal association and dissociation, aiming to enhance transdermal delivery while maintaining skin health. Moreover, comprehensive bioavailability and cytotoxicity studies, as well as in vitro and ex vivo analyses for in depth characterization of the transdermal delivery of NBCs are planned. By merging biocatalysis and nanomaterials, this project offers a more effective alternative to conventional treatments, including skin cancer, minimizing the ecological impact.