Development, Characterization, and Antipsoriatic Efficacy of a Ginger-Mediated Silver Nanoparticle-Loaded Hydrogel in an Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Dermatitis Model
Rusul Harbi Yousif
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Toaa Ashraf Abdelrahman
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Germeen N. S. Girgis
*
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that may be useful for topical management of inflammatory skin diseases.
Objective: To develop a ginger-mediated AgNP-loaded hydrogel and evaluate its preliminary efficacy in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis.
Methods: AgNPs were synthesised under 12 combinations of pH, temperature, and reaction time and characterised by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Candidate hydrogel bases were evaluated for pharmaceutical properties and in vitro release. Twenty-four BALB/c mice were block-randomised into four groups: normal control, imiquimod disease control, blank hydrogel, or AgNP-loaded hydrogel (n = 6/group). Clinical outcomes were analysed by mixed-effects models, and skin was evaluated using H&E histopathology and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry.
Results: Among the 12 AgNP synthesis conditions, F12 (pH 11, 60 °C, 60 min) was selected for its favourable combined colloidal profile, including the smallest hydrodynamic diameter (87.00 ± 0.93 nm), relatively low PDI (0.31 ± 0.02), highest absolute zeta potential (−26.80 ± 0.65 mV), and characteristic surface-plasmon-resonance band near 430 nm; TEM showed a mean particle diameter of 30.20 ± 6.26 nm. PF2 (25% F127/5% F68) was subsequently selected because it provided the highest 24-h release (62.8 ± 1.8%) together with suitable pH (6.42 ± 0.02), lower viscosity (19,200 ± 390 cP), good spreadability, and consistent AgNP distribution (RSD 3.16%). In vivo, the cumulative modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was lower with the AgNP-loaded hydrogel than with the blank vehicle (7.50 ± 0.56 vs 9.50 ± 0.34; difference, 2.00; 95% CI, 0.37–3.63; adjusted P = .011), accompanied by lower epidermal thickness (39 vs 60 µm) and less extensive Ki-67 immunoreactivity.
Conclusion: The optimised ginger-mediated AgNP-loaded poloxamer hydrogel showed suitable pharmaceutical characteristics and reduced psoriasis-like disease severity relative to the matched blank vehicle, supporting further topical investigation.
Keywords: Silver nanoparticles, Zingiber officinale, green synthesis, Pluronic F127/F68, hydrogel, imiquimod, psoriasis