Topical Formulations Based on Ursolic Acid-Loaded Nanoemulgel with Potential Application in <i>Psoriasis</i> Treatment
Małgorzata Miastkowska,
Agnieszka Kulawik-Pióro,
Elwira Lasoń,
Karolina Śliwa,
Magdalena Anna Malinowska,
Elżbieta Sikora,
Tomasz Kantyka,
Ewa Bielecka,
Anna Maksylewicz,
Emilia Klimaszewska,
Marta Ogorzałek,
Małgorzata Tabaszewska,
Łukasz Skoczylas,
Krzysztof Nowak
Affiliations
Małgorzata Miastkowska
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Agnieszka Kulawik-Pióro
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Elwira Lasoń
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Karolina Śliwa
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Magdalena Anna Malinowska
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Elżbieta Sikora
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Tomasz Kantyka
Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
Ewa Bielecka
Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
Anna Maksylewicz
Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
Emilia Klimaszewska
Department of Cosmetology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences, Casimir Pulaski University of Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, Poland
Marta Ogorzałek
Department of Cosmetology, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Sciences, Casimir Pulaski University of Radom, Chrobrego 27, 26-600 Radom, Poland
Małgorzata Tabaszewska
Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Mushroom Processing, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 122, 30-149 Cracow, Poland
Łukasz Skoczylas
Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Mushroom Processing, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 122, 30-149 Cracow, Poland
Krzysztof Nowak
Wellnanopharm, Jerzego Samuela Bandtkego 19, 30-129 Cracow, Poland
Psoriasis is a chronic disorder that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches. It affects nearly 2–5% of the worldwide population and has a negative effect on patient quality of life. A variety of therapeutic approaches, e.g., glucocorticoid topical therapy, have shown limited efficacy with systemic adverse reactions. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents and physicochemical formulations are in constant need and should be obtained and tested in terms of effectiveness and minimization of side effects. For that reason, the aim of our study was to design and obtain various hybrid systems, nanoemulgel–macroemulsion and nanoemulgel–oleogel (bigel), as vehicles for ursolic acid (UA) and to verify their potential as topical formulations used in psoriasis treatment. Obtained topical formulations were characterized by conducting morphological, rheological, texture, and stability analysis. To determine the safety and effectiveness of the prepared ursolic acid carriers, in vitro studies on human keratinocyte cell-like HaCaT cells were performed with cytotoxicity analysis for individual components and each formulation. Moreover, a kinetic study of ursolic acid release from the obtained systems was conducted. All of the studied UA-loaded systems were well tolerated by keratinocyte cells and had suitable pH values and stability over time. The obtained formulations exhibit an apparent viscosity, ensuring the appropriate time of contact with the skin, ease of spreading, soft consistency, and adherence to the skin, which was confirmed by texture tests. The release of ursolic acid from each of the formulations is followed by a slow, controlled release according to the Korsmeyer–Peppas and Higuchi models. The elaborated systems could be considered suitable vehicles to deliver triterpene to psoriatic skin.
