Implementation of Design of Experiments in Development and Optimization of Transfersomal Carrier system of Tacrolimus for the Dermal Management of Psoriasis in Albino Wistar Rat

The present study was aimed to deal with development and optimization of transfersomal system for enhancement of transdermal drug delivery of tacrolimus drug for the treatment of psoriasis. Transfersomes containing tacrolimus was prepared by rotary evaporation method using Box- Behnken design. The levels of the drug, phosphatidylcholine and sodium desoxycholate (independent variables) were varied to study the influence on particle size, % entrapment efficiency and flux. The results of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies proved that transfersomes were significantly superior in terms of drug permeation across the rat skin, with mean residence time of 52.58 ± 3.62 min. This was further confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopic study. Transfersomes showed better antipsoriatic activities, compared to liposomes by virtue of better permeation through Wistar albino rat skin. Finally, it was concluded that the transfersomes accentuates the transdermal flux of tacrolimus and could be used for the management of psoriasis.