Self-microemulsification-assisted incorporation of tacrolimus into hydrophilic nanofibers for facilitated treatment of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene induced atopic dermatitis like lesions

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, pruritus and dry skin are the principal signs of AD. Many people around the world are affected by this disease and their quality of life is severely diminished. The goal of this study was to design a patient friendly topical formulation containing tacrolimus to facilitate its application. Tacrolimus which is a highly hydrophobic drug was dispersed through an adopted self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) which incorporated into a polymeric nanofibrous membrane. Through morphological and surface wettability analysis, sufficient proof was provided for the role of SMEDDS as a discrete structure that interacts with its surrounding polymers. Nanofibers were uniformly fabricated containing even distribution of tacrolimus that may reasonably justify membrane sustained drug release profile. Physicochemical characterization of the selected nanofibrous membrane showed molecular integration of amorphous form of tacrolimus into the nanofibers. Additionally, the membrane showed a desirable tensile strength. Evaluation of the effect of tacrolimus on AD model induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in mice showed that tacrolimus nanofibrous membrane could be considered as a promising substitute for tacrolimus ointment due to its sustained release profile and less need for frequent application which would consequently result in less drug side effects.