Exploring the photoprotective and antiaging potential of Padina pavonica loaded Hyatocosomes: In-vitro evaluation and biological studies.

The increasing demand for effective natural ingredients has transformed the skincare market, driving interest in physiologically active compounds with proven biological effects. Padina pavonica (PA), a brown alga, is recognized for its antioxidant, anti-aging, and UV-protective properties. This study aimed to enhance the pharmacological benefits of PA via nanoencapsulation in hyatocosomes (HT), a hyaluronic-acid/vitamin-E-based phospholipid system designed to combat UV-induced skin damage. PA-HT measured 155.6 ± 1.45 nm with a zeta potential of -32 ± 0.56 mV and showed high encapsulation efficiency (97.78 ± 1.5%) with sustained release, with approximately 65% of PA released over 24 h. In vivo, PA-HT markedly attenuated UVB-induced inflammation and oxidative stress, reducing IL-6 and TNF-α levels by about 48% and 52%, respectively, compared with PA gel, while nearly restoring catalase activity to non-irradiated control values. Histopathological examination confirmed that PA-HT treated skin closely resembled the negative control, whereas PA gel and blank carrier conferred only partial protection. Collectively, these findings indicate that PA-HT is a promising, first-in-class hyaluronic-acid/vitamin-E phospholipid nanoplatform for PA delivery, providing superior photoprotective and anti-aging effects compared with free PA.