‘Transfersome-embedded-gel’ for dual-mechanistic delivery of anti-psoriatic drugs to dermal lymphocytes

Abstract

Aim

Develop a platform for co-delivering clobetasol propionate (CP) and cyclosporine (CyA) to the epidermis and dermis to treat psoriasis.

Methods

The transfersomes were prepared by thin-film hydration method. Transfersomes were characterised by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Then, the gel stability, viscosity, pH, and spreadability were measured. Cytotoxicity of the CyA-loaded transfersome embedded in CP-dispersed gel (TEG-CyA-CP) was assessed on both human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and Jurkat cells. In vitro cellular uptake and ex vivo dermal distribution was measured. The expression of inflammatory markers was assessed by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR).

Results

Nanoscale (<150 nm) transferosomes with high CyA encapsulation efficiency (>86%) were made. TEG-CyA-CP demonstrated higher viscosity (4808.8 ± 12.01 mPas), which may help control dual drug release. Ex vivo results showed TEG-CyA-CP ability to deliver CyA in the dermis and CP in the epidermis. RT-PCR studies showed the optimised formulation helps reduce the tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) levels to relieve psoriasis symptoms.

Conclusion

The developed TEG-CyA-CP represents a promising fit-to-purpose delivery platform for the dual-site co-delivery of CyA and CP in treating psoriasis.

Keywords:

• Psoriasis
• transfersome-embedded-gel
• dual- anti-psoriatic action
• dermal delivery
• lipid-based drug delivery system

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, India, for supporting research on cancer and diabetes at NIPER Ahmedabad. RKT would like to acknowledge the Science and Engineering Research Board (Statutory Body Established through an Act of Parliament: SERB Act 2008), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for the grant (#CRG/2021/005402) and ICMR, NewDelhi for funding the proposal #ID 2021-14161 for work on arthritis in Dr. Tekade’s Laboaratory. RKT would like to acknowledge the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, for the senior research fellowship grants (IRIS Cell No. 2019-4009; File No-5/3/8/33/ITR-F/2018-ITR; File No-5/3/8/53/ITR-F/2020) in Dr. Tekade laboratory.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.