International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology
Volume 15, Issue 3

Formulation Development and Optimisation of Quercetin Loaded Proniosomes- A Novel Herbal Drug Delivery System for Psoriasis Management 

Ajay Kumar1, Rakesh K Sindhu2*, Satyender Kumar1, Mohammad Rashid3, Sumitra Singh2 

1School of Pharmacy, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh-206310, India

2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana-125001, India

3R.V. Northland Institute, G.B. Nagar, Dadri, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh-203207, India 

Received: 7th Aug, 2025; Revised: 7th Sep; Accepted: 10th Sep; Available Online: 25th Sep, 2025 

ABSTRACT

Background: Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin disorder marked by immunological dysregulation and keratinocyte hyperproliferation. Although quercetin, a natural flavonoid, has demonstrated strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, its clinical utility is hindered by poor water solubility and limited skin permeability. This study aimed to develop and optimize a Proniosomes delivery system to enhance the dermal delivery of quercetin for effective psoriasis management.

Methods: The thin-film hydration method was utilized for the preparation of niosomes loaded with Quercetin, using varying concentrations of cholesterol, Span 60, and soya lecithin. Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize key formulation parameters, targeting minimized particle size, enhanced zeta potential, and maximized drug release. The optimized formulation was characterized for entrapment efficiency (EE%), particle size, in-vitro drug release, ex-vivo skin permeation, and FTIR compatibility studies.

Results: FTIR analysis confirmed the absence of significant drug–excipient interactions. The optimal region was identified which demonstrated high drug release (87%), favorable particle size (275 nm), and excellent zeta potential (-39 mV). The percent entrapment efficiency (% EE) of the optimized formulation was found to be 70.79±5.63%, indicating the preparation method of Proniosomes is good and has the potential for scalability. The study highlights the importance of surfactant concentration in controlling drug release and the need for further optimization in the formulation. In-vitro studies demonstrated an efficient and excellent sustained release formulation profile, reaching nearly ~100% over 24 hours, compared to <20% from pure quercetin.

Conclusion: Quercetin-loaded Proniosomes effectively enhanced the solubility, stability, and skin penetration of the drug, supporting their potential as a scalable and effective transdermal delivery system for herbal therapy in psoriasis. Further in-vivo studies over the developed nano carrier as Proniosomes are warranted to establish therapeutic efficacy and safety in clinical settings.

Keywords: Quercetin, Proniosomes, Psoriasis, Optimization, Box-Behnken Design (BBD)

How to cite this article: Ajay Kumar, Rakesh K Sindhu, Satyender Kumar, Mohammad Rashid, Sumitra Singh. Formulation Development and Optimisation of Quercetin Loaded Proniosomes- A Novel Herbal Drug Delivery System for Psoriasis Management. International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology. 2025;15(3):1065-76. doi: 10.25258/ijddt.15.3.22

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