Work

Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin co-delivery hydrogel of crisaborole and curcumin for combinational antioxidant/anti-inflammatory therapy of vitiligo

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Vitiligo is a depigmenting autoimmune disease driven by oxidative stress and immune-mediated melanocyte destruction. Current therapies are limited by poor drug permeability, systemic side effects, and insufficient efficacy. Herein, we developed a novel carbomer-based hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-encapsulated crisaborole/curcumin hydrogel (Cri/Cur@CD-Gel) for combinational transdermal intervention of vitiligo via dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways. Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) inclusion complexation overcame the inherent hydrophobicity of crisaborole (Cri) and curcumin (Cur), significantly enhancing their aqueous solubility, stability, and transdermal permeability. Leveraging its skin-adhesive properties, the carbomer hydrogel matrix enhanced drug retention and enabled sustained release at lesion sites, thereby improving drug bioavailability. In vitro , Cri/Cur@CD, leveraging the solubilizing power of HP-β-CD, restored melanocyte viability under oxidative stress, scavenged ROS, normalized mitochondrial membrane potential, and elevated cAMP levels to enhance melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity. In vivo , Cri/Cur@CD-Gel achieved significant repigmentation in monobenzone-induced vitiligo mice, markedly reducing epidermal ROS, CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). This study demonstrates that the combination of HP-β-CD-based encapsulation and carbomer hydrogel delivery serves as a potential topical administration platform for co-delivering hydrophobic crisaborole and curcumin, and establishes a promising strategy to alleviate vitiligo, that concurrently addresses oxidative damage, inflammatory responses, and melanocyte regeneration. A carbomer-based hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-encapsulated crisaborole/curcumin hydrogel (Cri/Cur@CD-Gel) was prepared for combinational transdermal treatment of vitiligo via dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways. Thanks to the inclusion complex hydrogel system, the solubility and transdermal ability of Cri and Cur were significant improved, for which the anti-inflammatory activity of Cri and the antioxidant capacity of Cur were fully exerted on the vitiligo lesion. And significant relief of oxidative stress, reduction of inflammatory response, and restoration of fur color were observed in the treatment of vitiligo mouse models.

Source: Materials Today Bio

DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102728