Shah, N: Microemulsion- A novel drug delivery system

Purpose of the study is to develope stable Methotrexate (MTX) loaded Microemulsion based formulation for topical treatment of Psoriasis with improvement in cutaneous deposition and to enhance the local effect. Several treatments of psoriasis are available, each specifically related to certain factors but none of these have curative effects. For practical purposes, patients with less than 15 % body surface involvement can be treated effectively with topical agents. In last few decades there is increasing in understandings of skin & its barrier properties which allowed development of more efficient means of delivering drugs through skin. Methotrexate has been shown to selectively inhibit DNA synthesis in psoriatic epidermal cells, thus decreasing mitotic activity. Localization of MTX in effected layers of skin is likely to improve the role of topical dosage form of drug as a supplementary to oral therapy for treatment of psoriasis. In recent years, Microemulsion is recognized as one good vehicle for the percutaneous absorption of drugs. So in present study, attempt was made for finding powerful formulation of poorly soluble MTX for topical treatment of Psoriasis.