Comprehensive Evaluation of Betamethasone Valerate Loaded Ethosomal Gel: Physiochemical and Ex-Vivo Permeation Studies

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin illness characterized by excessive growth of skin cells, causing substantial discomfort and a lower quality of life for those affected. The studies aim to develop and test an ethosomal gel formulation for the effective treatment of psoriasis by combining ethosomes improved skin permeability with the controlled release features of a hydrogel matrix. Phospholipids and ethanol were used to generate the ethosomal gel, which encapsulates proven anti-psoriatic medications. These ethosomes were incorporated into hydrogels formulated with varying concentrations of Carbopol 940 (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%). The ethogels were assessed for their physicochemical characteristics, including appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, and drug content uniformity. Among the formulations, eG2 (1.0% Carbopol) demonstrated optimal spreadability, homogeneity, and drug content distribution. Ex vivo permeation studies using goat ear skin indicated that EG2 achieved the highest steady-state flux, permeability coefficient was 2.06cm/h, and cumulative drug permeation was 36.18mg/cm2 over 24 hours. The results suggest that ethosomes-loaded gels significantly enhance the permeability and stability of topical betamethasone valerate, providing a promising formulation strategy for psoriasis treatment. Further clinical evaluations are warranted to substantiate these findings and explore broader dermatological applications.