Incorporation in Lipid Microparticles of Acid Red 87, a Colourant Used in Tattoo Inks: Effect on Photodegradation Under Simulated Sunlight and Laser Radiation

摘要： Tattoo colourants decompose under solar radiation and when exposed to laser light for their removal, leading to the accumulation in the dermis of toxic products. Aim of this study was to develop lipid microparticles (LMs) loaded with the colourant, Acid Red 87 (C.I. 45380) used in tattoo inks, and to investigate the effect of this system on the photostability of the colourant under simulated sunlight or laser irradiation. LMs loaded with C.I. 45380 were prepared by melt emulsification using tristearin and phosphatidylcholine as excipients. They were characterized by optical microscopy, laser diffraction, X-ray diffraction and release studies. Free C.I. 45380 and the colourant-loaded LMs were irradiated with a solar simulator or a Q-switched laser. Irradiation with a solar simulator demonstrated that photodecomposition of C.I. 45380 was markedly reduced by incorporation of the dye in the LMs, from 20.5 ± 4.6% to 1.3 ± 1.8%. Conversely, the laser-induced degradation of the colourant (30.1 ± 6.6%) was not significantly influenced by encapsulation in the LMs (the encapsulated C.I. 45380 loss was 27.4 ± 5.5%). Incorporation of C.I. 45380 in lipid microparticles enhances the photostability under sunlight of tattoo inks containing this colourant, without affecting its laser-induced degradation and hence laser removal efficiency.