Phytocomplexes extracted from grape seeds and stalks delivered in phospholipid vesicles tailored for the treatment of skin damages

In the present work, red grape seed and stalk extracts were incorporated in vesicular systems designed for topical application. The phytocomplexes were obtained by maceration of biomasses in ethanol and subsequent lyophilisation. Seed extract was rich in catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, while gallic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, quercetin 3-glucoside and malvidin-3-glucoside were detected in higher amounts in the stalk extract. Both extracts were incorporated in liposomes, hyalurosomes and transfersomes. In addition, hyalo-transfersomes were developed for the first time in this work, by combining the main modifiers of hyalurosomes and transfersomes (i.e., sodium hyaluronate and tween 80, respectively). The mean diameter of the vesicles was ∼120 nm, and the zeta potential was strongly negative (∼67 mV), irrespective of the vesicle composition or the extract used. The antioxidant activity of the extracts, measured by the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test, was ∼78%, and increased (∼86%) when loaded in the vesicles. Extract loaded vesicles were biocompatible with keratinocytes and fibroblasts, the main skin cells, and were able to protect the cells from oxidative damage and promote cell proliferation and migration at the wound site.