When alpha-lipoic acid was wrapped in tiny nanoparticles (8-15 nanometers) to help it penetrate skin better, it reduced UV-induced dark spots and thickened the epidermis in mouse skin. The improvement came specifically from the alpha-lipoic acid itself, not from the encapsulation materials used.
Researchers created a nanoencapsulated version of alpha-lipoic acid designed to penetrate skin more effectively, then tested it on mouse skin to see if it could improve UV damage and pigmentation.
Funding not disclosed in abstract