Abstract

DEVELOPMENT, OPTIMIZATION AND EVALUATION OF PSORALEN LOADED TRANSFERSOMAL GEL FOR TREATMENT OF PSORIASIS

Shivani Santosh Dongare* and Vijaya Prakash Bhogale

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Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder characterized by thickened inflamed skin lesions covered with scaly patches. Psoralen is a phytoconstituent found in plant Psoralea corylifolia L, Family Leguminoseae. It possesses photosensitizing activity and is used conventionally in conjunction with UV irradiation for treatment of psoriasis. But Psoralen therapy shows certain limitations such as poor skin deposition, weak skin permeability and adverse effects such as sunburn, pigmentation etc., which hinders safety and efficacy of topical PUVA in psoriasis. These limitations can be overcome by incorporating the drug into transfersomal vesicles. The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate transfersomal gel for effective drug delivery. Methods: Psoralen was selected as herbal antipsoriatic agent and various preformulation studies were performed. Optimization of parameters were carried out. Transfersomes were prepared by using Ethanol Injection Method and characterized based on various parameters like Particle size, Polydispersity Index, Zeta potential, Entrapment Efficiency, Morphology. Psoralen loaded transfersomes were further formulated into gel and evaluated for Drug content, Appearance, pH, Viscosity, Spreadability and In Vitro Drug Release Study. Results: Optimized batch of Psoralen transfersomes showed Particle Size 121.5 ± 5 nm, %EE 75.38% ± 2%, Zeta potential -57.1 mV ± 0.78 mV. Psoralen loaded transfersomes further formulated into gel and evaluated for its in vitro release. Conclusion: The transfersomes loaded antipsoriatic gel was formulated and evaluated successfully for various parameters. Further preclinical and clinical trials need to be carried out to prove antipsoriatic activity, safety and efficacy of gel for treatment of psoriasis.

Keywords: Novel, Psoriasis, Phytoconstituent, Transfersomes.