Development and Optimization of a Lupeol-Loaded Bilosomal Gel for Enhanced Topical Therapy of Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow 226028, India.
- 2Chemistry Division, Department of Biotechnology, Era University, Lucknow 226003, India.
- 3Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow 226028, India.
- 4Department of Chemistry, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow 226028, India.
- 5Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5V0A8, Canada.
- 6Department of Physics and Astronomy "E. Maiorana", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Abstract
Lupeol, a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, making it a promising candidate for psoriasis treatment. However, its poor aqueous solubility and limited skin permeation restrict its therapeutic application. This study aimed to develop and optimize a lupeol-loaded bilosomal gel to enhance topical delivery and improve anti-psoriatic efficacy. Lupeol-loaded bilosomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method and optimized through a Box-Behnken experimental design. The optimized formulation was characterized for vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, drug release, and physicochemical properties before incorporation into a Carbopol® 934P gel. The bilosomal gel was further evaluated through in vitro drug release, ex vivo skin permeation, and in vivo efficacy in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mice model. The optimized bilosomes exhibited nanoscale vesicles, high drug entrapment, and sustained drug release. Incorporation into the gel produced a formulation with suitable physicochemical characteristics and significantly enhanced skin permeation compared with a conventional gel. In vivo, the bilosomal gel markedly reduced Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, spleen index, and TNF-α levels while restoring normal skin histology. These findings demonstrate that bilosomal encapsulation substantially improves the topical delivery and therapeutic efficacy of lupeol, highlighting the developed bilosomal gel as a promising nanocarrier-based strategy for the topical management of psoriasis.
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BibTeX
@article{hamza2026development,
title = {{Development and Optimization of a Lupeol-Loaded Bilosomal Gel for Enhanced Topical Therapy of Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis.}},
author = {Mohammad Hamza and Soumya Samanta and Mohammed Faheem Khan and Supriya Roy and Zeeshan Fatima and Ritu Gupta and Salvatore Gallo and Nimisha Srivastava},
journal = {Gels (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/gels12100918},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42929952},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Development and Optimization of a Lupeol-Loaded Bilosomal Gel for Enhanced Topical Therapy of Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis.
AU - Mohammad Hamza
AU - Soumya Samanta
AU - Mohammed Faheem Khan
AU - Supriya Roy
AU - Zeeshan Fatima
AU - Ritu Gupta
AU - Salvatore Gallo
AU - Nimisha Srivastava
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/gels12100918
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42929952
AB - Lupeol, a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, making it a promising candidate for psoriasis treatment. However, its poor aqueous solubility and limited skin permeation restrict its therapeutic application. This study aimed to develop and optimize a lupeol-loaded bilosomal gel to enhance topical delivery and improve anti-psoriatic efficacy. Lupeol-loaded bilosomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method and optimized through a Box-Behnken experimental design. The optimized formulation was characterized for vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, drug release, and physicochemical properties before incorporation into a Carbopol® 934P gel. The bilosomal gel was further evaluated through in vitro drug release, ex vivo skin permeation, and in vivo efficacy in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mice model. The optimized bilosomes exhibited nanoscale vesicles, high drug entrapment, and sustained drug release. Incorporation into the gel produced a formulation with suitable physicochemical characteristics and significantly enhanced skin permeation compared with a conventional gel. In vivo, the bilosomal gel markedly reduced Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, spleen index, and TNF-α levels while restoring normal skin histology. These findings demonstrate that bilosomal encapsulation substantially improves the topical delivery and therapeutic efficacy of lupeol, highlighting the developed bilosomal gel as a promising nanocarrier-based strategy for the topical management of psoriasis.
SN - 2310-2861
ER -