Fig. 4: Effective encapsulation of bioactive ingredients of emulsion gels, and their in vivo protection against UV-induced skin burn.
a The storage stability of β-carotene loaded in the dispersed oil phase of bridged emulsion gels in a 37 °C water bath after storage for 35 days as a function of CN. [CP] = 3% w/w, water/oil ratio is 3:7 (v/v). Bulk oil loaded with the same content of β-carotene in a 37 °C water bath served as the control. The retention of β-carotene was analyzed by using UV−vis spectroscopy to determine the β-carotene content in the oil phase at different time intervals. Data are presented as mean values ± SD (n = 3). b Representative images of mouse dorsal swabbed with different protective samples followed by UV irradiation on 1st day through 14th showing their sun protection effect. Bla represents the blank group, that mice were neither coated with samples nor irradiated with UV spot. UV represents the UV group, that mice were treated with UV irradiation. Emu, L’Or, and Emu-G represent the emulsion, L’Oreal and emulsion gel groups, that mice were swabbed with the same amount of emulsion, L’Oreal sunscreen, and emulsion gel sample before UV irradiation, respectively.
