The present study was performed to determine the therapeutic effects of tioconazole (Tz)-loaded novel transferosome carriers (TFs) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Method: Tioconazole transferosomes suspension (TTFs) was formulated and optimized using a 3² factorial design. After that, the optimized batch of TTFs loaded into Carbopol 934 and sodium CMC was prepared with hydrogel and noted as TTFsH. Subsequently, it was evaluated for pH, spread ability, drug content, in vitro drug release, viscosity, in vivo scratching and erythema score, skin irritation, and histopathology study. Result: The optimized batch of TTFs (B4) showed the values of vesicle size, flux, and entrapment efficiency to be 171.40 ± 9.03 nm, 48.23 ± 0.42, and 93.89 ± 2.41, respectively. All batches of TTFsH showed sustained drug release for up to 24 h. The F2 optimized batch released Tz in an amount of 94.23 ± 0.98% with a flux of 47.23 ± 0.823 and followed the Higuchi kinetic model. The in vivo studies provided evidence that the F2 batch of TTFsH was able to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) by reducing the erythema and the scratching score compared to that of the marketed formulation (Candiderm cream, Glenmark). The histopathology study supported the result of the erythema and scratching score study with intact skin structure. It showed that a formulated low dose of TTFsH was safe and biocompatible to both the dermis and the epidermis layer of skin. Conclusion: Thus, a low dose of F2-TTFsH is a promising tool that effectively targeted the skin for the topical delivery of Tz to treat atopic dermatitis symptoms.

Introduction: Rhein, a natural bioactive lipophilic compound with numerous pharmacological activities, faces limitations in clinical application due to poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. Thus, this study aimed to develop a rhein-loaded self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system (RL-SNEDDS) to improve solubility and bioavailability. Methods: The RL-SNEDDS was prepared by aqueous titration method with eucalyptus oil (oil phase), tween 80 (surfactant), and PEG 400 (co-surfactant) and optimization was performed by 3² factorial design. The optimized formulation was characterized for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powdered X-ray diffraction, and Field emission scanning electron microscopy. Further, the oral bioavailability study and brain tissue pharmacokinetics study were performed on Sprague-Dawley rats. Results: The optimized RL-SNEDDS had an average droplet size of 129.3 ± 1.57 nm, zeta potential of − 24.6 mV ± 0.34, % transmittance of 94.82 ± 0.61, and encapsulation efficiency of 98.86 ± 0.23. Furthermore, RL-SNEDDS was transformed into solid RL-SNEDDS (RS-SNEDDS) to increase stability. In vitro release of rhein from RS-SNEDDS showed prolonged release up to 24h with 99.03± 1.04% drug release. Differential scanning calorimetry and powdered X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the reduction in drug crystallinity and supported the results of the dissolution study. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the smooth and spherical nanosized globule of SNEDDS. Moreover, the in vivo pharmacokinetic study showed a significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) value of C_max and AUC_0-t of RS-SNEDDS (8 ± 0.930 μg/mL and 37.79 ± 2.01 μg/mL*hr) compared to free rhein suspension (1.96 ± 0.712 μg/mL and 7.32 ± 0.946 μg/mL*hr) which indicated the enhancement of bioavailability of RS-SNEDDS. We also examined the C_max and AUC_0-t of RS-SNEDDS in the brain and it was found to be 2.90 ± 0.171 μg/mL and 18.18 ± 1.68 μg/mL*hr respectively. Conclusion: This study concludes that the RS-SNEDDS improves brain tissue concentration and oral bioavailability, both of which increase therapeutic potential.

This study aimed to develop and optimize karanjin-loaded ethosomal nanogel formulation and evaluate its efficacy in alleviating symptoms of psoriasis in an animal model induced by imiquimod. These karanjin-loaded ethosomal nanogel, were formulated to enhance drug penetration into the skin and its epidermal retention. Karanjin was taken to formulate ethosomes due to its potential ani-psoriatic activity. Ethosomes were formulated using the cold method using 3² full factorial designs to optimize the formulation components. 9 batches were prepared using two independent variables X ₁: concentration of ethanol and X ₂: concentration of phospholipid whereas vesicle size (Y ₁) and percentage entrapment efficiency (Y ₂) were selected as dependent variables. All the dependent variables were found to be statistically significant. The optimized ethosomal suspension (B3) exhibited a vesicle size of 334 ± 2.89 nm with an entrapment efficiency of 94.88 ± 1.24% and showed good stability. The morphology of vesicles appeared spherical with smooth surfaces through transmission electron microscopy analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the drug existed in an amorphous state within the ethosomal formulation. The optimized ethosome was incorporated into carbopol 934 to develop nanogel for easy application on the skin. The nanogel underwent characterization for various parameters including spreadability, viscosity, pH, extrudability, and percentage drug content. The ethosomal formulation remarkably enhanced the skin permeation of karanjin and increased epidermal retention of the drug in psoriatic skin compared to marketed preparation and pure drug. A skin retention study showed that ethosomal nanogel formulation has 48.33% epidermal retention in 6 h. In vivo, the anti-psoriatic activity of karanjin ethosomal nanogel demonstrated significant improvement in psoriasis, indicated by a gradual decrease in skin thickness and scaling as reflected in the Psoriasis Severity Index grading. Therefore, the prepared ethosomal nanogel is a potential vehicle for improved topical delivery of karanjin for better treatment of psoriasis.

Skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis affect babies, children, and adults and are characterized by red skin/spots, severe itching that appears on the face, head, legs, neck, and hands, and various causes of illness caused by various external and internal factors. AD is a type IIgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Herbal preparations treat various dermatological diseases like dry skin, melasma, acne, and eczema. Cosmeceuticals are the connection between cosmetics and medicine, one of the world's most used forms of medicine. Cosmeceuticals products are beneficial in treating AD. Herbal cosmetics play a major role in curing various skin diseases. Today, various herbs used in cosmeceuticals have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiseptic effects. Compared to synthetic preparations, herbal preparations have fewer side effects. This review paper introduces Atopic dermatitis, cosmeceutical, and various phytoconstituents like gallic acid, ferulic acid, boswellic acid, quercetin, and naringenin tetra hydroxyl flavanol glycoside, glycyrrhizic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, etc., used in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Efavirenz (EFZ) is an anti-HIV drug that has been administered as first-line treatment, which exhibits low solubility and poor oral bioavailability. Therefore, the current study aimed to develop a solid dispersion adsorbate (SDA) to enhance the dissolution rate and flow properties of EFZ for solid oral dosage forms. Methods: The SDA of EFZ was prepared using the fusion method with PEG-6000 and poloxamer-188 as carriers, along with avicel PH-102 and aerosil-200 as adsorbents. 3² full factorial approach was employed to formulate the SDA and evaluate the effects of two independent factors X₁: the ratio of PEG-6000 to EFZ in the solid dispersion, and X₂: the ratio of aerosil-200 to the solid dispersion. The dependent factors analyzed were Y₁: the time required for 85% of the drug release, and Y₂: angle of repose. Results: The optimized formulation (F9) was selected through numerical optimization, demonstrating the desired drug release and excellent flow properties of the pre-compressed SDA. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of SDA showed the transformation of crystalline to amorphous form of EFZ, which is responsible for improving drug dissolution. The direct compression method was used to prepare SDA-EFZ tablets (equivalent to 25 mg EFZ) along with plain EFZ. The dissolution efficiency increased from 50.68% for plain EFZ tablets to 96.18% for EFZ-SDA tablets. Furthermore, the cumulative percentage drug release (%CDR) from SDA tablets was nearly double that of plain EFZ tablets. Stability testing indicated no significant changes in drug content and %CDR of the SDA tablets. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the SDA method is an effective approach for enhancing the dissolution and flow characteristics of EFZ and may serve as an alternative strategy for preparing solid dosage forms in commercial applications.