Improved topical delivery of curcumin by mussel adhesive protein functionalized ethosomes for effective psoriasis treatment.

Psoriasis is a prevalent inflammatory skin disorder exhibiting a rapidly increasing incidence. Curcumin (Cur) serves as an effective therapeutic agent for psoriasis and is commonly administered through the cutaneous route. Nevertheless, the poor skin permeability and retention of Cur restrict its therapeutic efficacy against psoriasis. In this study, we fabricated mussel adhesion protein (MAP)-modified Cur-loaded ethosomes (Cur-MAP-Es) aimed at enhancing both the permeation and retention of Cur within the skin for improved topical treatment of psoriasis. The average particle size of Cur-MAP-Es was 197.17 nm, and the encapsulation efficiency was 90.84%. The Cur-MAP-Es exhibited a spherical morphology, along with high elasticity, favorable stability, and a prolonged release pattern within 24 h. Additionally, the Cur-MAP-Es exhibited a 3.47-fold higher skin retention compared to the Cur-Es. Intradermal fluorescence distribution analysis indicated that most of the Cur in the Cur-MAP-Es was effectively retained in the epidermis after being delivered into the skin via vesicles. The interaction mechanisms of Cur-MAP-Es with the skin have revealed that Cur-MAP-Es can weaken the skin barrier, thereby facilitating enhanced permeability and drug retention. Furthermore, Cur-MAP-Es could significantly alleviate the inflammation in the mouse model of psoriasis. These results suggest that Cur-MAP-Es may serve as an effective strategy to enhance the topical delivery efficiency of Cur, thereby showing considerable potential in the management of psoriasis.