Development of Mao Tea Polyphenol-Loaded Sophorolipid Nanomicelles for Shampoo

Increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly and safe cosmetic products has highlighted the need to replace environmentally toxic antifungal agents like Zinc Pyrithione (ZPT) in anti-dandruff shampoos. This study developed nanomicellar co-delivery systems using microbial- fermented sophorolipids (SL) and catechin-rich Mao tea polyphenols (MTE) encapsulated within a shampoo base. Four formulations (F1-F4) with varying SL-to-MTE ratios were prepared and characterized. The nanomicelles exhibited a mean size of 85.3 ± 4.2 nm (F4) and high encapsulation efficiency (>92% for MTE). Antifungal efficacy against Malassezia furfur showed concentration-dependent inhibition, with F4 (1.8% SL, 0.5% MTE) producing the largest inhibition zone (23.64 mm). All formulations demonstrated potent antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging: 71.0% for F4 at 5% dilution) and significantly suppressed sebum secretion in SZ95 sebocytes (up to 83.3% for F4). The HET-CAM assay confirmed mild irritancy (IS < 4.9) for all 2% diluted shampoos. In a 4-week clinical trial (n=80), the F4 formulation significantly reduced dandruff severity by 73.9% (p<0.001), seborrhea level by 63.4% (p<0.001), erythema/scaling by 62.9% (p<0.001), and itch severity by 64.5% (p<0.001) compared to baseline. Sophorolipid-loaded Mao tea polyphenol nanomicelles present a promising, sustainable, and effective alternative to traditional chemical agents for dandruff control.