Chitosan self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles for percutaneous delivery of betamethasone in contact dermatitis

Abstract

Objective The study was performed with an aim to investigate the efficiency of two treatment options in experimental nickel-induced contact dermatitis (CT), with either betamethasone or chitosan cross-linked nano-encapsulated betamethasone lanoline solutions (nano-betamethasone). Methods Male Wistar rats were used. The differences were compared based on lesion visual appearance, skinfold thickness, white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), blood serum prooxidant-antioxidant balance (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS; supersoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, KAT), blood cytokine profile (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-4), and histological examination of affected skin. Results All animals treated with nickel sulfate developed CT and systemic inflammatory response on day 12, which only slightly lessened, if left untreated, on day 20. The therapeutic effectiveness of nano-betamethasone was significantly far superior (p < 0.01) compared to betamethasone. Specifically, the visual appearance of lesion severity of betamethasone vs. nano-betamethasone ± SD was 1.82 ± 0.18 vs. 1.17 ± 0.24 points, skinfold thickness—2.68 ± 0.12 vs. 2.12 ± 0.10 mm, ESR—6.38 ± 0.27 vs. 5.12 ± 0.20 mm/h, WBC—8.47 ± 0.28 vs. 7.17 ± 0.24 109/L, TBARS—1.09 ± 0.04 vs. 0.94 ± 0.02 µmol/L, SOD—3.38 ± 0.26 vs. 4.12 ± 0.18 r.u./L, KAT—11.54 ± 0.14 vs. 10.02 ± 0.19 mkatal/L, respectively. The nano-betamethasone formulation was also more effective (p < 0.01) in increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines level, IL-10 (8.96 ± 0.32 vs. 7.54 ± 0.52 pg/mL) and IL-4 (13.16 ± 0.45 vs. 11.43 ± 0.58 pg/mL); and decreasing in pro-inflammatory TNF-α (20.94 ± 2.30 vs. 26.98 ± 1.16 pg/mL) and IL-1β (19.35 ± 1.28 vs. 24.77 ± 1.75 pg/mL), respectively. These findings were also supported with histological examination. Conclusions Nano-betamethasone may be considered as a more successful transcutaneous therapy for managing contact dermatitis compared to ointments consisting of betamethasone in traditional form.