Development and Evaluation of Methotrexate and Baicalin Loaded Lipid Nano-Carriers for Psoriasis Treatment

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, T-lymphocytes immune-mediated skin disease. In this study skin-permeating nano lipid carriers (NLCs) of Methotrexate (MTX) and Baicalin was formulated. This further gave formulation scientists the possibility of encapsulating the existing potential drug moieties into nanocarriers, which when loaded into gels provided prolonged release and improved permeation.
METHODS: Optimization of formulation of NLCs were prepared and characterized by determination of their particle size, drug permeation, skin irritation, drug loading capacity, stability, in vitro drug release behavior and in vitro cellular viability. Ex vivo skin permeation and in vivo psoriatic efficiency were also evaluated and compared.
RESULTS: Results revealed that dual drugs MTX amount permeating the skin was 2.4 to 4.4-times greater using single NLCs. The optimized dual drug-loaded NLCs had average particle size (150.20 ± 3.57 nm) and PDI (0.301 ± 0.01) and high entrapment (86.32 ± 2.78% w/w). The nanoparticles of MTX exhibiting a positive Zeta potential -38.6 mV. The PASI score obtained from skin irritation study revealed non-irritancy of the developed system. MTX-BL NLCs was therefore able to inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, and IL-17) to a greater extent.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that newer targeting strategies NLCs of dual drug delivery of Lipid-nanocarriers that could be administered topically for the treatment of Psoriasis. Furthermore, this approach opens newer avenues for continued and sustained research in pharmaceuticals with much more effective outcomes.