Development and Characterization of a Vaccinium vitis-idaea Liposomal Gel for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

In this study, a liposomal gel with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects and improving atopic dermatitis (AD) was prepared using Vaccinium vitis-idaea polyphenol as the main active ingredient, which is safe, effective, of stable quality and has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. The polyphenol extract from Vaccinium vitis-idaea was obtained through ultrasonic extraction and subsequently purified using macroporous resin. A liposome gel incorporating this extract was formulated using poloxamer 188 and poloxamer 407 as the base materials. The gel's physical characteristics, including appearance, vesicle size, and zeta potential, were systematically characterized. Furthermore, its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-AD effects were assessed through both ex vivo and in vivo studies. After process optimization, the yield of Vaccinium vitis-idaea polyphenol was 4.33%; the encapsulation rate of Vaccinium vitis-idaea liposome was 90.45%. The liposome gel prepared by the optimal process had a zeta potential of -33.67 mV, a particle size of 119 nm, a PDI of 0.147, and showed good stability under the conditions of 60 °C, 75% relative humidity, and light intensity of 4500 ± 500 Lux. The results of in vitro studies showed that Vaccinium vitis-idaea polyphenols have antibacterial and antioxidant effects, and the results of in vivo studies showed that the Vaccinium vitis-idaea liposome gel is safe for skin application, effectively reduces dandruff and erythema, reduces the degree of keratinization, reduces the degree of congestion and inflammatory infiltration of local tissues as well as increasing the content of collagen fibers in skin tissues, promotes the restoration of the structural integrity of the skin, and by reducing the inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-4. By reducing the expression level of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-4, IL-13, and MDA, increasing the expression level of SOD, and reducing the diversity of bacterial flora in AD tissues, it can play the role of anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant effects and improve the symptoms of AD. The present study demonstrated that the prepared Vaccinium vitis-idaea liposome gel had an ameliorating effect on AD.