Quercus Suber Bark from Quercus suber L. is a natural, renewable and biodegradable\nbiomaterial with multifunctional proprieties. In this study, we used it as solid particles to stabilize\na Pickering emulsion. The main goal was to produce an optimized topical formulation using\nbiocompatible organic particles as stabilizers of the emulsion instead of the common surfactants,\nwhilst benefiting from Quercus suber L. proprieties. In this work, a Quality by Design (QbD) approach\nwas successfully applied to the production of this emulsion. A screening design was conducted,\nidentifying the critical variables of the formula and process, affecting the critical quality attributes of\nthe emulsion (droplet size distribution). The optimization of the production was made through the\nestablishment of the design space. The stability was also investigated during 30 days, demonstrating\nthat Quercus Suber Bark-stabilized emulsions are stable since the droplet size distribution lowers.\nIn vitro studies were performed to assess antioxidant and antiaging efficacy, which revealed that the\nformulation had indeed antioxidant proprieties. A physicochemical characterization demonstrated\nthat the formulation presents a shear-thinning fluid, ideal for topical administration. The in vivo\ncompatibility study confirmed that the final formulation is not skin irritant, being safe for human\nuse. A sensorial analysis was also performed, using a simple sensory questionnaire, revealing very\npositive results. Thus, the use of Quercus Suber Bark particles as a multifunctional solid ingredient\ncontributed to achieve a stable, effective and innovative Pickering emulsion with a meaningful\nsynergistic protection against oxidative stress.
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