Assessment of nano-enabled technologies in cosmetics.

This report constitutes the culmination of a comprehensive review of the available literature on nano-enabled technologies for cosmetic products, specifically addressing soluble nano-transporters. The project is part of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts on further clarifying possible risks to consumers and the environment from the use of nanomaterials in products on the Danish market. Accompanying this report is an appraised database (web link can be found in Appendix 1) summarising the literature which formed the basis of this review which sought to address the following areas: • types and uses of soluble nano-transporters in cosmetic applications; • assessment of the extent of dermal absorption/ penetration of nano-transporters; • evidence of dermal/ systemic toxicity arising from interactions with nano-transporters; • identification of nano-specific characteristics that may influence dermal absorption/ toxicity of nano-transporters; • assessment of the specific research areas that require more knowledge. • to discuss to which extent provisions on nanomaterials in the cosmetic regulation are to be applied for nano-transporters The literature search strategy is further described in chapter 4 and a web link to the database and a list of the relevant literature are presented in Appendix 1. Description of Nano-transporters Nano-transporters are a diverse array of vehicles which serve the dual purpose of both protecting active ingredient payloads and improving their delivery to the skin. Compositionally they can differ markedly and can include polymers and lipids as well as a diverse range of surfactants. The different forms of nano-transporters such as liposomes, niosomes, SLN (Solid Lipid Nanoparticles), NLC (Nanostructured Lipid Carriers), nanoemulsions, nanospheres/nanocapsules etc. are classified to an extent on structure and within these different groupings, may differ in terms of their specific compositions meaning that, for example, not all nanoemulsions have exactly the same mix of lipids and surfactants