Design, characterization and skin permeating potential of Fluocinolone acetonide loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for topical treatment of psoriasis

• Short half life of Fluocinolone acetonide (FA) limits its use for psoriasis.
• FA loaded NLCs minimized the problem of short half life.
• FA NLCs showed prolonged drug release as compared to plain FA suspension.
• In vitro accumulation of drug in the epidermis was observed.
• NLCs is the potential carrier of FA for anti psoriatic drug delivery.

The aim of the current study was to develop and optimize Fluocinolone acetonide (FA) loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) and to evaluate its potential as topical delivery system for management of psoriasis. FA loaded NLCs were successfully developed by modified microemulsion method and optimized using 3-level Box–Behnken design. NLCs were evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency and drug loading. Further X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in vitro release, in vitro skin distribution and stability study were also performed. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed spherical shape of prepared NLCs. Complete encapsulation of drug in the nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD and DSC. Release study showed prolonged drug release from the NLCs following Higuchi release kinetics and Zero order release kinetics, whereas pure FA suspension exhibited faster drug release following Zero order release kinetics with R2 value of 0.995. Stability study confirmed that NLCs were stable for 3 months at 4 °C. Furthermore, in vitro skin distribution studies showed presence of significant amount of FA in the epidermal and dermal layer of skin when treated with FA loaded NLCs suspension while plain FA suspension showed significantly lesser amount of FA in the epidermis and dermis. Moreover, selective retention of FA in the epidermis might eliminate adverse side effects associated with systemic exposure. Thus FA loaded NLCs could be a potential system for psoriasis treatment but to create clinical value of the present system further studies are needed in clinically relevant models.