Solid lipid nanoparticles-loaded topical gel containing combination drugs: an approach to offset psoriasis.

Aim: The primary aim of present work was to develop effective combination drug therapy for topical treatment of psoriasis.
Methods: Betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriol loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (CT-BD-SLNs) were prepared by hot melt high shear homogenization technique, which were then incorporated in Carbopol gel matrix. The anti-psoriatic potential was tested by sequential in vitro (skin permeation and dermal distribution, anti-proliferative effect in HaCaT cells) and in vivo (Draize patch irritation, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and anti-psoriatic mouse tail studies) experiments.
Results: A negligible amount in receptor compartment, yet confined distribution of drugs to epidermal and dermal region of skin was observed in case of SLNs, which is essential for safe and effective anti-psoriatic therapy. Draize patch test and TEWL demonstrated negligible skin irritation and better skin tolerability of SLNs. The in vitro HaCaT cell line study demonstrated that SLNs delayed the abrupt growth of keratinocytes, while in vivo mouse tail model showed that SLNs gel significantly decreased the epidermal thickness and increased melanocyte count in comparison to commercial Daivobet® ointment.
Conclusions: The developed SLNs gel is expected to be potential strategies for treatment of psoriasis and other topical diseases.