Formulation and Characterization of a 3D-Printed Cryptotanshinone-Loaded Niosomal Hydrogel for Topical Therapy of Acne

• DOI: 10.1208/s12249-020-01677-1
• Publication Date: 2020-05-31T15:02:22Z
• Authors: Zhuxian Wang; Li Liu; Shijian Xiang; Cuiping Jiang; Wenfeng Wu; Shifa Ruan; Qunqun Du; Tingting Chen; Yaqi Xue; Huoji Chen; Lidong Weng; Hongxia Zhu; Qun Shen; Qiang Liu
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Skin Absorption; Hydrogels; Phenanthrenes; Administration, Cutaneous; Rats; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Drug Delivery Systems; Acne Vulgaris; Liposomes; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Animals; Particle Size; Skin

Cryptotanshinone (CPT) is an efficacious acne treatment, while niosomal hydrogel is a known effective topical drug delivery system that produces a minimal amount of irritation. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies have the potential to improve the field of personalized acne treatment. Therefore, this study endeavored to develop a 3D-printed niosomal hydrogel (3DP-NH) containing CPT as a topical delivery system for acne therapy. Specifically, CPT-loaded niosomes were prepared using a reverse phase evaporation method, and the formulation was optimized using a response surface methodology. In vitro characterization showed that optimized CPT-loaded niosomes were below 150 nm in size with an entrapment efficiency of between 67 and 71%. The CPT-loaded niosomes were added in a dropwise manner into the hydrogel to formulate CPT-loaded niosomal hydrogel (CPT-NH), which was then printed as 3DP-CPT-NH with specific drug dose, shape, and size using an extrusion-based 3D printer. The in vitro release behavior of 3DP-CPT-NH was found to follow the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Permeation and deposition experiments showed significantly higher rates of transdermal flux, Q24, and CPT deposition (p < 0.05) compared with 3D-printed CPT-loaded conventional hydrogel (3DP-CPT-CH), which did not contain niosomes. In vivo anti-acne activity evaluated through an acne rat model revealed that 3DP-CPT-NH exhibited a greater anti-acne effect with no skin irritation. Enhanced skin hydration, wide inter-corneocyte gaps in the stratum corneum and a disturbed lipid arrangement may contribute towards the enhanced penetration properties of CPT. Collectively, this study demonstrated that 3DP-CPT-NH is a promising topical drug delivery system for personalized acne treatments.