Tacrolimus and curcumin co-loaded liposphere gel: Synergistic combination towards management of psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by hyper proliferation and poor differentiation of keratinocytes. It significantly affects patient's quality of life. This study reports the anti-psoriatic efficacy of tacrolimus and curcumin loaded liposphere gel formulation. Poor solubility, poor skin penetration and erratic absorption are some problems associated with the topical delivery of these drugs. To overcome these problems, lipospheres containing combination of tacrolimus and curcumin was prepared with a particle size of nearly 50 nm and incorporated into a gel for topical application. Liposphere gel showed slow release of both the drugs and shear thinning behaviour that is desirable property of topical formulation. Further, dermal distribution study using dye loaded formulation suggested penetration of dye into skin layers. The therapeutic efficacy of tacrolimus and curcumin loaded liposphere gel was assessed on imiquimod induced psoriatic plaque model, and the level of expression of psoriatic biochemical markers was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results indicated improvement in the phenotypic and histopathological features of psoriatic skin treated with tacrolimus and curcumin loaded liposphere gel. There was reduction in the level of TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-22 compared to imiquimod group. These results corroborate the premise that liposphere gel containing combination of tacrolimus and curcumin can be an effective strategy for the treatment of psoriasis.