Impact of the Transfersome Delivered Human Growth Hormone on the Dermal Fibroblast Cells

Abstract

Objective: Transfersomes are highly flexible vesicles that are capable of passing through pores smaller than their own sizes due to their elastochemical characteristics, and thus play a key role in drug delivery to the skin. Methods: In this study, we used transdermal delivery of growth hormone-encapsulated transferosomes (F1 and F2) as antiaging strategy, with the resulting effects being subsequently evaluated. The size, distribution and zeta potential of the particles, together with the in vitro skin permeation and biological activity of the growth hormone loaded onto the transfersomes were measured. Results: The data demonstrated that treatment of fibroblasts with encapsulated hGH increased cell migration, proliferation and collagen I and III gene expression. According to our results, the maximum amount of growth hormone that passes through the skin during a 24 h time period was 489.54 and 248.46 ng/cm3, for the F1 and F2 transfersomes, respectively. In addition, it was determined that F1 formula as the more efficient carrier, showed no toxicity against cells. With regard to fibroblasts, as one of the most important cells involved in collagen synthesis, skin aging and wound healing, concentrations of growth hormone encapsulated in transferosomes that had an effect on fibroblast growth and division, were determined. The results demonstrated that effective concentrations of the encapsulated growth hormone increased the expression of collagen I and collagen III genes. Conclusion: Furthermore, analyzing the rate of fibroblast cell migration showed that migration increased significantly at 700 ng/ml growth hormone concentrations, as compared to that of the control.