Innovative drug vehicle for local treatment of inflammatory skin diseases: Ex vivo and in vivo screening of five topical formulations containing poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles.

One of the main goals in the galenic development of innovative topical treatment options for inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis is to selectively deliver the drug at the inflammation site. Recent studies have highlighted the beneficial use of polymeric nanoparticles for anti-inflammatory therapy and topical anti-inflammatory drug delivery due to their ability to form a drug reservoir retaining the drug locally at the site of action. Our approach consisted in designing innovative topical semi-solid formulations of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles as anti-inflammatory drug vehicles for local treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. In the course of this work, five topical formulations containing fluorescent PLA nanoparticles were initially developed, and then screened depending on their physico-chemical properties, toxicity and delivery efficacy. The penetration and permeation of a fluorophore vectorized by PLA nanoparticles into healthy and inflammatory skin were assessed using an alternative device to classical Franz cells: VitroPharma. All these investigations led to the selection of two satisfactory formulations out of five initial candidates.