Betamethasone Dipropionate Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Enriched Jojoba Oil Gel for Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract Aim- To develop and evaluate topical gel containing Betamethasone Dipropionate-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for the management of Atopic dermatitis. Background- Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, recurrent skin inflammatory condition that affects both children and adults. Betamethasone Dipropionate, a commonly used topical corticosteroid, has limitations such as low bioavailability, inadequate penetration, and potential skin irritation. Objective- To evaluate the nanostructured lipid carriers gel by comparison with its marketed formulation and to improve epidermal targeting and minimize the side effects associated with the conventional formulation of betamethasone dipropionate. Method- A hot homogenization process was used to create the NLCs, and their particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and in-vitro release were all measured. Next, the NLCs were mixed with 0.1% jojoba oil to create a gel. Results- The optimized formulation of Betamethasone dipropionate nanostructured lipid carriers had a particle size of 164 nm, PDI 0.188, zeta potential of -11.6 mv, entrapment efficiency of 92.65%, and an in-vitro release of 90.62% after 12 hours. 0.1% jojoba oil was added to the improved recipe to increase the moisturizing effect and integrated into the gel. NLC mixed in Jojoba oil gel demonstrated much higher spreadability, occlusive action, and regulated release of 91.28% after 12 hours when compared to the marketed gel. The ex-vivo investigation on porcine ear skin demonstrated enhanced penetration and retention of Betamethasone dipropionate in skin layers. There was no sign of skin irritation, indicating that the topical application was safe. Conclusion- The results of the cytotoxicity study (MTT assay) suggested NLC dispersion has cell proliferation potency on HaCaT cells and was non-toxic. Results indicated that betamethasone dipropionate's therapeutic efficacy might be enhanced by NLC formulation.