Protective effect of alpha lipoic acid loaded calcium citrate nanoparticles on oxidative stress-induced cellular damage in human epidermal keratinocytes

Abstract

Background: Prolonged oxidative stress leads to apoptosis of keratinocytes and, consequently, results in skin
cell damage.

Objective: To investigate the in vitro effects of alpha lipoic acid (LA) and lipoic acid loaded calcium citrate
nanoparticles (LA loaded CaCitNPs) in terms of cell protection against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage.

Methods: HaCaT cells were preincubated with and without LA and LA loaded CaCitNPs before oxidative stress
induction by H2O2. The protective effects of both LA and LA loaded CaCitNPs on HaCaT cells were assessed
by the percentage of cell viability, percentage of proliferated cells, type of cell death, and ROS generation. In
addition, we evaluated the effect of LA and LA loaded CaCitNPs in regulating expression of the Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)
gene.

Results: Our result has revealed that both LA and LA loaded CaCitNPs have an effect on increasing cell proliferation. H2O2 increases ROS production and decreases SIRT1 expression levels, whereas LA and LA
loaded CaCitNPs pretreatment reverses the situation. The treatment with LA loaded CaCitNPs is more effective
than LA.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the cytoprotective effects of LA and LA loaded CaCitNPs against oxidative
stress induced human epidermal keratinocyte damage.