Formulation and optimization of niosomes for topical diacerein delivery using 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design for the management of psoriasis

• Niosomes of diacerein were optimized by employing Box-Behnken design approach.
• Niosomes showed reasonable particle size, entrapment efficiency, and better skin penetration.
• CLSM showed that diacerein niosomes penetrated in the deeper layer of rat skin.
• In conclusion, topical delivery of diacerein was significantly enhanced by optimized niosomes.

This research aimed towards the design of preparations of diacerein loaded cholesterol rich niosomes by employing a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design. Results indicated that Span 60 (90 mg) and cholesterol (10 mg), and 45 min of hydration time were found to be optimum for niosomes preparation. The prepared cholesterol rich niosomes were uniform and spherical in size. Optimized formulation F2 entrapped the drug with 83.02% efficiency in the cholesterol rich niosomes of the size 477.8 nm, presented the flux of 2.820 μg/cm2/h, followed Higuchi model and non Fickian transport mechanism. The confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that niosomes accentuated the penetration of diacerein in the epidermal and dermal layer of rat skin. Stability study confirmed that cholesterol rich niosomes were stable for 2 months at 4 °C. Concisely, the results showed that targeted diacerein delivery might be achieved using topically applied niosomes for enhanced treatment of psoriasis, which might eliminate adverse side effects associated with systemic exposure.