Nanoparticle based topical drug delivery in the treatment of psoriasis

What is it about?

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) represent an advanced form of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and were introduced to circumvent the drawbacks associated with SLNs such as limited drug loading capacity, drug expulsion during storage and adjustment of the drug release. NLCs are promising drug carriers for topical application because of their improved skin retention properties . Compared with other topical vehicles like creams, tinctures, lotions and emulsions, NLCs have several advantages such as controlled drug release, negligible skin irritation, protection of active compounds and targeted drug delivery. NLCs can be used as potential carriers to improve the drug retention at the target site and reduce the risks of both local and systemic side effects associated with topical corticosteroids

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Why is it important?

MometasoneFuroate (MF), a prodrug of free mometasone, is a non-fluorinated synthetic corticosteroid, mainly used topically to reduce skin inflammation in psoriasis and eczema. It has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic andantihyperproliferative activity. MF penetrates the stratum corneum and binds to glucocorticoid receptors in viable epidermis and dermis and blocks the production of cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha. Several problems have been reported with the conventional drug delivery of mometasonefuroate such as low drug uptake due to barrier function of the stratum corneum, swelling of hair follicles, skin burning and may lead to skin atrophy if used for long period. The systemic absorption of drug through topical route may lead to severe side effects such as reversible suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperglycemia and glucosuria. NLCs can be used as potential carriers to improve the drug retention at the target site and reduce the risks of both local and systemic side effects associated with topical corticosteroids.

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