Non-invasive management of rheumatoid arthritis using hollow microneedles as a tool for transdermal delivery of teriflunomide loaded solid lipid nanoparticles

Combined photodynamic therapy and hollow microneedle approach for effective non-invasive delivery of hypericin for the management of imiquimod-induced psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Conventional topical psoriasis treatments suffer from limited delivery to affected areas and skin irritation due to high local drug concentration.

PURPOSE

This study aims to prepare hypericin (HYP) loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and their application in psoriasis treatment through intradermal administration using hollow microneedles assisted by photodynamic therapy.

METHODS

The colloidal characteristics of NLCs, entrapment efficiency and morphology were evaluated. An ex-vivo skin distribution study was conducted along with testing the in vivo antipsoriatic activity in mice with the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model.

RESULTS

The particle size and zeta potential of HYP-NLCs were 167.70 nm and -18.1, respectively. The ex-vivo skin distribution study demonstrated the superior distribution of HYP-NLCs to a depth of 1480 µm within the skin layers relative to only 750 µm for free HYP. In vivo studies revealed that the levels of NF-KB, IL 6, MMP1, GSH, and catalase in the group treated with HYP-NLCs in the presence of light were comparable to the negative control.

CONCLUSIONS

The histopathological inspection of dissected skin samples reflected the superiority of HYP-NLCs over HYP ointment. This could be ascribed to the effect of nanoencapsulation on improving HYP properties besides the ability of hollow microneedles to ensure effective HYP delivery to the affected psoriatic area.

Cutaneous Pharmacokinetics of Topically Applied Novel Dermatological Formulations

Novel formulations are developed for dermatological applications to address a wide range of patient needs and therapeutic challenges. By pushing the limits of pharmaceutical technology, these formulations strive to provide safer, more effective, and patient-friendly solutions for dermatological concerns, ultimately improving the overall quality of dermatological care. The article explores the different types of novel dermatological formulations, including nanocarriers, transdermal patches, microsponges, and microneedles, and the techniques involved in the cutaneous pharmacokinetics of these innovative formulations. Furthermore, the significance of knowing cutaneous pharmacokinetics and the difficulties faced during pharmacokinetic assessment have been emphasized. The article examines all the methods employed for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of novel dermatological formulations. In addition to a concise overview of earlier techniques, discussions on novel methodologies, including tape stripping, in vitro permeation testing, cutaneous microdialysis, confocal Raman microscopy, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry have been conducted. Emerging technologies like the use of microfluidic devices for skin absorption studies and computational models for predicting drug pharmacokinetics have also been discussed. This article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scientists, and pharmaceutical professionals determined to enhance the development and understanding of novel dermatological drug products and the complex dynamics of cutaneous pharmacokinetics.

Natural-Origin Betaine Surfactants as Promising Components for the Stabilization of Lipid Carriers

In the present work, we demonstrate studies involving the influence of the formulation composition on the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers: solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Novel lipid-origin platforms were prepared using two "green" betaine-based surfactants, cocamidopropyl betaine (ROKAmina K30) and coco betaine (ROKAmina K30B), in combination with three different solid lipids, cetyl palmitate (CRODAMOL CP), trimyristin (Dynasan 114), and tristearin (Dynasan 118). Extensive optimization studies included the selection of the most appropriate lipid and surfactant concentration for effective SLN and NLC stabilization. The control parameters involving the hydrodynamic diameters of the obtained nanocarriers along with the size distribution (polydispersity index) were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS), while shape and morphology were evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) and turbidimetric method (backscattering profiles) were used to assess colloidal stability. The studied results revealed that both betaine-stabilized SLN and NLC formulations containing CRODAMOL CP as lipid matrix are the most monodisperse and colloidally stable regardless of the other components and their concentrations used, indicating them as the most promising candidates for drug delivery nanosystems with a diverse range of potential uses.