Formulation and Evaluation of Mometasone Furoate loaded Niosomal Topical Gel for Enhanced Psoriasis Treatment: In vitro Characterization and In Vivo Therapeutic Potential

Psoriasis is a long-term disease of the skin, which is characterized by inflammation and increased rate of skin cells' division as well as impaired skin barrier integrity. This is because, in conventional treatments, it becomes very hard to administer the drugs to the affected region. Niosomes which are non-ionic surfactant-based vesicles have been established as an improved drug delivery system to boost the permeation and effectiveness of drugs applied on the skin. This research work is centered on the development and assessment of Mometasone furoate Niosomal Gel for management of psoriasis. Mometasone niosomal formulations were prepared by ether injection method and the physicochemical properties, including particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency, drug release from niosomes were determined. These niosomes were then added to a gel matrix to obtain the niosomal gel formulation. The physico-chemical properties such as pH, viscosity and yield stress were determined. The MF niosomal gel was compared to the conventional gel in terms of in vitro drug release, permeation studies across excised mice skin and in vivo efficacy assessment in an Imiquimod-induced psoriasis model in albino mice. Parameters including the morphological skin changes, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), the degree of hydration in the stratum corneum, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and spleen index were determined in addition to histology of the treated skin. Based on the results, niosomal drug delivery system holds a lot of promise for further studies which could aid in effective topical treatment for psoriasis.