Fabrication, optimization and characterization of Triamcinolone acetonide loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for topical treatment of psoriasis: Application of Box Behnken design, in vitro and ex vivo studies

Psoriasis is a highly inflamed, chronic, autoimmune skin disorder affecting 2-5% of the world population. Complete cure for psoriasis is still lacking and there remains a substantial challenge for world health systems to explore a new drug moiety or delivery system which could safely and effectively manage psoriasis without compromising patient compliance. Present work was aimed to develop, optimize and investigate the potential of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for secure and efficient delivery of Triamcinolone acetonide (TA). TA loaded NLCs were effectively fabricated by modified microemulsion method and examined for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, drug entrapment efficiency, drug loading, transmission electron microscopy, X ray diffraction and Differential scanning calorimetry study. Release study demonstrated prolonged TA release from NLCs TA suspension following Higuchi release kinetics with r(2) = 0.995, while plain TA suspension showed quicker drug release obeying Zero order kinetics with R-2 value of 0.993. In vitro skin distribution studies demonstrated the presence of significant quantity of TA on the epidermis when treated with NLCs TA suspension. Adverse side effects linked with systemic exposure might be removed by selective drug accumulation in the epidermis. Conclusively TA loaded NLCs might be a efficient carrier for effective management of psoriasis. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.