Transdermal Transport of a Geometric Self-Oscillating Copper Nanosystem for Topical Treatment of Psoriasis

Abstract

Neogeometric copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) in drug delivery can be exploited for its cytotoxic effects and enhanced cellular uptake in dermatological conditions. The nanosystem, designed herein, is embedded in a Self-Oscillating Polymeric Network (SOPN) to stimulate the permeation of cubic CuNPs across the stratum corneum of induced psoriasiform-plaques in a BALB/c mouse model. Polymerization and cross-linking of the SOPN from NIPAM (N-isopropylacrylamide) and a metal salt exerted thermal and molecular differences of the resulting poly-NIPAM whilst maintaining inherent NIPAM thermo-responsive properties to control CuNP-permeation in an inflammatory environment. From an experimental design consisting of 15 formulations, it was found that thermo-responsive changes between 27–35˚C in the SOPN promoted the oscillatory behavior required for skin permeation of CuNPs where an oscillatory duration of 40 min was obtained. Viability analysis of the SOPN established biocompatible concentrations of the system for use in the in vivo model at reduced CuNP concentrations to control cytotoxicity (64.26–72.58%). The CuNP-loaded SOPN gel (60ug/mL) effectively promoted psoriatic-plaque resolution and hair growth, after 7 and 14 days of treatment, compared to the comparative (0.5% hydrocortisone cream). The geometric nanosystem embedded in an aqueous cream vehicle and the SOPN gel exhibited promising results in the reduction of in vivo psoriasiform-plaques compared to the gold standard.

Graphical Abstract