Abstract

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR METHOTREXATE LOADED NANO EMULSION

Yashvardhan Srivastava and *Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha

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Abstract

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder of the skin characterized by relapsing episodes of inflammatory lesions and hyperkeratosis plaques with worldwide occurrence of around 2–5%. Psoriasis is a disease known to be caused by multitude of both genetic and environmental factors such as trauma, drugs, infection, alcohol, smoking and stress but its accurate origin is still not known. Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory condition, is increasingly prevalent and associated with various life-threatening diseases. Nanotechnology based drug delivery system has immense potential to enhance the bioavailability and effectiveness of drugs in their dosage forms, especially lipophilic drugs. Lipid based carrier system can overcome the lipid imbalance and normal moisturizing factors. The formulation was assessed for physicochemical properties, entrapment efficiency, drug release kinetics, and stability. FTIR analysis showed that the optimized Methotrexate Nano emulsion formulation effectively fluidized both the epidermis and dermis, potentially enhancing drug permeability and retention. In vivo studies on rabbit skin demonstrated that the increased penetration of methotrexate-loaded Nano emulsion gel was not due to structural changes in the intercellular lipid layers of the stratum corneum. These results suggest that Methotrexate nano emulsion based on neem oil could be a potential treatment for psoriasis and might reduce the recurrence of psoriasis-like symptoms.

Keywords: Nano emulsion, Methotrexate, Psoriasis.