Novel Nano Structured Lipid Carrier System for Topical Delivery of Quercetin for the Treatment of Psoriasis

Psoriasis treatment often faces limitations from current therapies. Quercetin (QCT), a promising flavonoid with antiinflammatory and antimicrobial properties, is hindered by its poor aqueous solubility and low oral bioavailability (BCS Class II). To address this, this study designed a QCT-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC) gel for topical delivery, utilizing Glyceryl Monostearate (GMS), Oleic Acid (OA), and Tween 80. Pre-formulation studies confirmed QCT's pale yellow, crystalline nature, validated its identity via FT-IR and melting point, and determined its λmax (269 nm in PB pH 7.4; 255 nm in methanol) and high solubility in methanol (6.50 ± 0.03 mg/ml). Partition coefficient confirmed its lipophilic nature. Crucially, FT-IR analysis showed excellent physicochemical compatibility between QCT and the selected excipients. A robust Full Factorial Design generated 20 experimental runs for optimizingNLCs. Due to global COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, experimental synthesis and full characterization of NLCs and the gel were not completed. However, this study provides a meticulously designed methodology and strong preliminary data, establishing a comprehensive theoretical and pre-formulation groundwork for future development of a QCT NLC gel for topical treatment of psoriasis.