Background:
There is an unmet need for optimized drug delivery system of
psoriasis therapy because of various issues like adverse reaction, permeation problem associated
with convention treatment (oral and topical) available for psoriasis.
Objective:
The goal was to develop an ethosomal gel of methotrexate (MTX)-incorporated
ethosomes and salicylic acid (SA) and to evaluate and study its ethosomal gel potential in
Imiquimod-induced psoriasis animal model to treat symptoms of psoriasis.
Methods:
MTX-SA ethosomal gel was prepared by the cold method given by Touitou et
al. and optimized by comparing it with MTX ethosomal gel and drug solution. Particle
size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and ex-vivo study were selected as the critical
quality checking attributes. Psoriatic Area and Severity Index (PASI) score & histopathological
examination were done for checking Antipsoriatic potential of MTX-SA ethosomal
gel by using the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model.
Results:
Optimized MTX-SA exhibited a particle size of 376.04 ± 3.47nm, EE(Entrapment
efficiency) of 91.77 ± 0.02%. At the end of 24h, MTX-SA ethosomal gel exhibited a slow
and prolonged release of MTX (26.13 ± 1.61% versus 6.97 ± 0.06%) compared to MTX
drug solution. It also attributes of 43% retention study as compared to drug solution (13%).
Besides, it essentially decreased the PASI score with the recuperation of normalcy of the
mice's skin, while the MTX-SA gel displayed indications of gentle hyper and parakeratosis
toward the completion of investigation when contrasted with the blank gel.
Conclusion:
The developed MTX-SA ethosomal gel formulation can be a promising alternative
to existing MTX formulation in topically treating psoriasis.
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