Plant-derived antioxidants play a critical role in protecting against skin ageing-related oxidative damage, yet their therapeutic use is limited by instability, low absorption, reduced bioavailability, and restricted skin penetration. Nanocarriers such as coaxial electrospun nanofibers provide a promising delivery system, enhancing stability and penetration while enabling synergistic effects. In this study, we investigated a novel approach combining liposomal vitamin C, a widely used antioxidant, with Physalis extract enriched in secondary metabolites obtained through tissue culture techniques.

Physalis stem cell cultures were successfully established and treated with elicitors to boost metabolite production, where jasmonic acid (JA) proved the most effective compared to salicylic acid (SA). Liposomal vitamin C was formulated by thin-film hydration and characterized using electron microscopy, revealing nanosized vesicles with an average diameter of 250 nm, a zeta potential of –3.0 ± 0.5 mV, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.23 ± 0.02, confirming good stability and homogeneity. Both components were incorporated into coaxial electrospun nanofibers, which exhibited uniform morphology, smooth surface, and nanoscale dimensions as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.

In vivo testing on a mouse dorsal skin model showed that the nanofiber patch significantly enhanced antioxidant defense. Elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels, alongside reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), indicated strong protection against lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.

Collectively, these findings highlight that JA-elicited Physalismetabolites, when co-delivered with liposomal vitamin C in a coaxial nanofiber patch, represent a novel and effective therapeutic strategy for improving antioxidant efficacy and preventing oxidative stress-induced skin damage.