Nanotechnology based topical drug delivery systems for psoriasis addressing current strategies clinical progress and manufacturing challenges

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disorder affecting more than 40 million individuals worldwide, with prevalence rising steadily over the past three decades. Conventional topical formulations, including creams and ointments, show limited clinical success due to poor drug penetration through the hyperkeratotic psoriatic stratum corneum, instability of actives, and suboptimal patient adherence. Although systemic and biologic agents offer higher therapeutic efficacy, their use is restricted by immunosuppression, cost, and long-term safety concerns. Nanotechnology-based topical delivery systems including lipid-based carriers, polymeric nanosystems, microneedles, nanoemulsions, nanosponges and nanofibers have emerged as promising alternatives capable of enhancing skin penetration, improving drug stability, enabling controlled release, and reducing systemic exposure. Several preclinical and clinical studies have reported improved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index reductions, enhanced drug retention, and superior tolerability with methotrexate, tacrolimus, and calcipotriol based nanoformulations. Despite these advancements, challenges remain related to manufacturing scale-up, quality-by-design implementation, batch reproducibility, regulatory evaluation, and economic feasibility. This review critically summarizes current nanotechnology-enabled approaches for topical management of psoriasis, compares their therapeutic performance, highlights translational limitations, and discusses future perspectives for clinical adoption and commercialization.