An effort to tailor the solid dispersion loaded, surface-modified, microporous-cryogel formulation of acitretin for the treatment of psoriasis

ABSTRACT

Acitretin is the drug of choice for the treatment of psoriasis, but due to its poor solubility, the development of oral and topical formulations of acitretin has been restricted. The aim of the present investigation was to enhance the solubility of acitretin. Solid dispersions of acitretin were prepared using a lipidic solubilizer, Gelucire® 44/14. These solid dispersions were characterized through FT-IR, DSC, XRD, drug content and solubility studies. The most solubilized dispersion was loaded on an N,N-methylenebisacrylamide microporous cryogel. Physical parameters of the solubilized drug such as the porosity, rheological behaviour, surface properties, appearance, drug content and diffusion behaviour were studied. It was concluded that the solubilized form of acitretin, loaded on a surface-modified cryogel, is the best option for the treatment of psoriasis. The hydration of the skin was excellent, and the permeability of the acitretin into the skin was better.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Acitretin
• Gelucire® 44/14
• N,N-methylenebisacrylamide
• solid dispersion
• cryogel
• microporous

Authors’ contributions

Prakash Kendre: Conceptualization, Methodology Nikita Borawake.: Data curation, Writing- Original draft preparation. Shirish Jain: Visualization, Investigation. Prakash Kendre: Supervision.: Somnath Vibhute: Software, Validation. Ajinkya Pote: Writing- Reviewing and Editing.

Acknowledgments

The authors are very thankful to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Sinner, Nashik, India for providing Tramadol HCl. They are also grateful to Gattefosse India Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai for providing the gift sample of Gelucire® 44/14. I would like to mention the support of the Principal, Sanjivani College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kopargaon and Rajarshi Shahu College of Pharmacy, Buldana for providing facilities to conduct this research study. Finally, the authors extend thanks to all those whose cooperation helped complete this work successfully.

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Data availability statement

Author(s) doesn’t allow to disclose the data.

Disclosure statement

Author(s) declares no conflict of interest.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research is not funded or supported by any funding agencies