Amelioration of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis in mice by DSW therapy inspired hydrogel

Cyclodextrin-Coordinated Liposome-in-Gel for Transcutaneous Quercetin Delivery for Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is difficult to treat. Quercetin (QT) is a dietary flavonoid known for its anti-inflammatory effects and safe use in humans. However, the topical application of quercetin for psoriasis treatment presents a significant challenge due to its poor water solubility and low stability in semisolid preparations, where it tends to recrystallize. This work presents a novel liposome-in-gel formulation for the quercetin-based topical treatment of psoriasis. The quercetin-loading liposomes are stabilized by hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD), which interacts with phospholipids via hydrogen bonding to form a layer of an HPCD coating on the liposome interface, thus resulting in improved stability. Various analytical techniques, such as FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and TEM, were used to characterize the molecular coordination patterns between cyclodextrin and liposomes. The results demonstrated that HPCD assisted the liposomes in interfacing with the matrix lipids and keratins of the stratum corneum, thereby enhancing skin permeability and promoting drug penetration and retention in the skin. The in vivo results showed that the topical QT HPCD-liposome-in-gel improved the treatment efficacy of psoriatic plaque compared to free QT. It alleviated the symptoms of skin thickening and downregulated proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-17A, and IL-1β. The results suggested that the HPCD-coordinated liposome-in-gel system could be a stable carrier for topical QT therapy with good potential in psoriasis treatment.

A Review of Multi-Material 3D Printing of Functional Materials via Vat Photopolymerization

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing of materials is a prominent process technology which involves the fabrication of materials layer-by-layer or point-by-point in a subsequent manner. With recent advancements in additive manufacturing, the technology has excited a great potential for extension of simple designs to complex multi-material geometries. Vat photopolymerization is a subdivision of additive manufacturing which possesses many attractive features, including excellent printing resolution, high dimensional accuracy, low-cost manufacturing, and the ability to spatially control the material properties. However, the technology is currently limited by design strategies, material chemistries, and equipment limitations. This review aims to provide readers with a comprehensive comparison of different additive manufacturing technologies along with detailed knowledge on advances in multi-material vat photopolymerization technologies. Furthermore, we describe popular material chemistries both from the past and more recently, along with future prospects to address the material-related limitations of vat photopolymerization. Examples of the impressive multi-material capabilities inspired by nature which are applicable today in multiple areas of life are briefly presented in the applications section. Finally, we describe our point of view on the future prospects of 3D printed multi-material structures as well as on the way forward towards promising further advancements in vat photopolymerization.

Stat3 Signaling Pathway: A Future Therapeutic Target for Bone-Related Diseases

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is activated by phosphorylation and translocated to the nucleus to participate in the transcriptional regulation of DNA. Increasing evidences point that aberrant activation or deletion of the Stat3 plays a critical role in a broad range of pathological processes including immune escape, tumorigenesis, and inflammation. In the bone microenvironment, Stat3 acts as a common downstream response protein for multiple cytokines and is engaged in the modulation of cellular proliferation and intercellular interactions. Stat3 has direct impacts on disease progression by regulating mesenchymal stem cells differentiation, osteoclast activation, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, and cartilage degradation. Here, we describe the theoretical basis and key roles of Stat3 in different bone-related diseases in combination with in vitro experiments and animal models. Then, we summarize and categorize the drugs that target Stat3, providing potential therapeutic strategies for their use in bone-related diseases. In conclusion, Stat3 could be a future target for bone-related diseases.

Co-delivery of methotrexate and nicotinamide by cerosomes for topical psoriasis treatment with enhanced efficacy

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated skin disorder that affects populations worldwide. Methotrexate (MTX) is a cytotoxic drug with powerful anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects that has gained prominence in treating inflammatory diseases including psoriasis. However, low solubility and side effects through oral administration hinder its systemic application. In this study, we developed a novel niosomes based on ceramide (cerosomes) to co-deliver MTX and nicotinamide (NIC), i.e., MTX/NIC cerosomes, for topically treating psoriasis with the aim to enhancing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity. NIC significantly solublized MTX by forming hydrogen bonds with MTX. In vitro and in vivo permeation studies showed that the cerosomes significantly promoted drug permeation through and retention in the skin, and the enhancing mechanism was clarified by Fourier transform infraredand Raman spectroscopy. MTX/NIC cerosomes exhibited strong anti-proliferation effect on lipopolysaccharide- irritated HaCaT cells by arresting the cell cycle at S phase and inducing apoptosis. Importantly, compared to MTX oral administration, topical application of MTX/NIC cerosomes on imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic mouse model exhibited a superior performance in ameliorating skin lesions, reducing spleen index and epidermal thickness, and downregulating the mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines including TNFα, IL-23, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-22. Taken together, MTX/NIC cerosomes is a promising approach for psoriasis topical treatment.