Solid lipid nanoparticles and vesicular systems as carrier for lutein: comparing results.

Lutein is one of over 600 know naturally occurring carotenoids. Present in green leafy vegetables, wheat, egg yolk and coloured fruits, lutein plays the role as an antioxidant. The molecule, well know for its role in eye health protection, has also be detected on significant quantities in other tissues including skin, breast and brain. Lutein is a lipophilic molecule and it is insoluble in water. In this work colloidal systems (liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles) have been studied as carriers for thi antioxidant. The encapsulation in lipophilic structures could be a useful strategy to obtain controllode release of the active compound at different level of skin layers, realizing a more complete cutaneous protection.