Green preparation and evaluation of anti-psoriatic activity of vesicular elastic nanocarriers of kojic acid from Aspergillus oryzae N12; repurposing of dermo-cosmetic lead

Abstract Psoriasis is a skin disorder characterized by impaired epidermal differentiation that is regularly treated by many systemic drugs with numerous side effects. Our present work aims to investigate an efficient topical bio-friendly vesicular system loaded with kojic acid as an alternative way for the management of psoriasis to avoid systemic toxicity. To achieve our goal, kojic acid was isolated from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus oryzae N12 obtained from the stems of Tecomaria capensis (Bignoniaceae). Kojic acid-loaded spanlastics were prepared by ethanol injection technique; employing span 60 along with birj35 and cremophor rh40 as edge activators with the complete in vitro characterization of kojic acid-loaded spanlastics. The optimal formulation displayed spherical morphology under transmission electron microscopy, optimum particle size of 234.2 ± 1.65 nm and high entrapment efficiency (87.4 ± 0.84%). The selected formulation demonstrated significant sustained drug release compared with the drug solution. Kojic acid-loaded spanlastics demonstrated superior relief of psoriasis symptoms and the ability to maintain healthy skin with the least changes in mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines compared to kojic solution in vivo studies. Moreover, in vivo, histopathological studies confirmed the safety of topically applied spanlastics. Concisely, our results suggest that a topically applied vesicular system loaded with kojic acid could lead to expansion in the dermo-cosmetic use of kojic acid as a natural bio-friendly alternative for occasionally used systemic anti-psoriatic drugs.