Fish Oil-Loaded Nanofiber Skin Patches: An Early-Stage Lab Study

This laboratory study explored a new way to deliver omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA, derived from fish oil) directly to the skin using a specially engineered nanofiber patch. Because omega-3 oils break down easily when exposed to air and water, researchers designed a two-layer fiber structure: an inner core holding the omega-3 oil and an outer shell made of plant-based gel polymers (alginate and carrageenan) to protect it and control its release.

Using a technique called coaxial electrospinning, the scientists fine-tuned the manufacturing process to create smooth, defect-free fibers. Lab testing showed the patches released their omega-3 content slowly and steadily over about five days, with the release process following a mathematical pattern typical of diffusion-based transport rather than the material simply dissolving.

When tested on human skin cells (fibroblasts) in a dish, the patches were well tolerated, with over 90% of cells remaining viable, and cells showed increased movement that is often used as a lab indicator of wound-closing behavior. Separate bacterial tests found that patches containing oxidized (partially broken-down) omega-3 oils suppressed growth of a common skin bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) more effectively than a common gut bacterium (E. coli), while non-oxidized versions were less active.