Oat β-Glucooligosaccharides: Preparation, Characterization, Skin Permeability, and Photodamage Repair for Skincare Applications

Oat β-glucan, a natural polysaccharide extracted from Avena sativa (oats), possesses significant biological activity and various health benefits. In recent years, it has been widely used in the field of skin health management. The molecular weight of oat β-glucan varies depending on the plant source and extraction method, which can affect its absorption and utilization by the skin. Drawing on strategies from other polysaccharide materials, β-glucan can be converted into smaller oligosaccharides which may exhibit better solubility and bioavailability, through enzymatic hydrolysis or other degradation methods. In this study, we optimized the enzymatic hydrolysis and purification conditions to successfully obtain oat β-glucan oligosaccharides(β-GOS), which have an average molecular weight of 1 kDa and a narrow molecular weight distribution. Compared to the original high-molecular-weight β-glucan, these oligosaccharides showed significantly improved solubility. Furthermore, β-GOS was demonstrated to exhibit superior skin permeability and the enhancement of fibroblast activity. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis revealed that skin photodamage is closely associated with biological processes such as oxidative stress, immune imbalance, apoptosis, and aging. Our in vitro study showed that oat β-GOS can modulate these biological processes. Furthermore, we identified potential gene targets of β-GOS, including VEGFA, LGALS-3, and CDK1, linked to angiogenesis, aging, and apoptosis, respectively. Finally, using a UVB-induced acute skin injury mouse model, we also confirmed that β-GOS promotes skin repair. These findings highlight the potential value of oat β-GOS in skincare management and its promising application in the repairing UVB-induced skin damage.