Development and Evaluation of Acitretin-Loaded Hydrogels for Enhanced Topical Delivery in Psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Acitretin is an effective retinoid for psoriasis; however, its physicochemical limitations and potential irritation associated with conventional topical administration may affect therapeutic acceptability. The present study aimed to develop and optimize an Acitretin-loaded hydrogel for controlled topical drug delivery.
Methods: The hydrogel was optimized using a three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken design. Polymer concentration, neutralizer percentage, and crosslinking density were selected as independent variables, while viscosity, pH, drug content, spreadability, and in-vitro drug release were evaluated as responses. Fifteen experimental formulations were prepared and statistically analyzed. The optimized formulation was further evaluated for physicochemical properties, swelling, extrudability, and drug release using a Franz diffusion cell.
Results: The optimized formulation contained 1.5% w/w polymer, 0.3% w/w neutralizer, and 0.1% w/w crosslinking density. It exhibited a smooth, homogeneous appearance, pH of 5.71 ± 0.06, viscosity of 3468 ± 42.5 cP, spreadability of 24.8 ± 0.5 cm/g, extrudability of 92.4 ± 1.3%, swelling index of 68.5 ± 2.1%, and drug content of 93.8 ± 0.6%. Cumulative drug release reached 88.0 ± 0.7% at 12 h.