Design and optimization of phospholipid vesicles for topical betamethasone dipropionate

Casula, Luca (author), Vitek, Mercedes (author), Zvonar Pobirk, Alenka (author), Gosenca Matjaž, Mirjam (author), Valenti, Donatella (author), Dupont, Aurélien (author), Caddeo, Carla (author)

Betamethasone dipropionate is a topical corticosteroid widely used to treat common dermatoses and skin disorders. However, the poor skin penetration of traditional Betamethasone dipropionate formulations can impair therapeutic outcomes. In the present study, betamethasone dipropionate was formulated in phospholipid vesicles to maximize its benefits and minimize its side effects. Liposomes and transfersomes were developed using the direct sonication method and thoroughly characterized by light scattering, cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), rheological analysis and skin permeation studies. Human skin epithelial-like cells were used to study how the phospholipid vesicles affected cell proliferation and morphology. Both the liposomes and transfersomes were nanosized, spherical and predominantly unilamellar, but the transfersomes were smaller, more homogeneous and stable on storage due to the presence of Tween® 80. The latter was also responsible for a higher viscosity, which decreased at 32°C, the temperature of the skin surface, as determined by rheological analysis. Furthermore, tests of the formulations in skin cells showed the absence of cytotoxicity and increased skin permeation. Phospholipid vesicles represent a promising approach for betamethasone dipropionate delivery, as they are characterized by high stability and cytocompatibility. These properties may improve the therapeutic outcomes and minimize the side effects of betamethasone dipropionate, encouraging further investigation to confirm the effective and safe use of betamethasone dipropionate nanoformulations on the skin.

• Language: English
• Keywords: betamethasone dipropionate, phospholipid vesicles, ultrastructural analysis, keratinocyte proliferation, delivery to the skin
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: art. 107363
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179776
• UDC: 66.017-022.513.2:616-097
• ISSN on article: 1879-0720
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2025.107363
• COBISS.SI-ID: 255995395
• Publication date in RUL: 25.02.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1879-0720
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23290117

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: betametazondipropionat, fosfolipidni vezikli, ultrastrukturna analiza, proliferacija keratinocitov, vnos skozi kožo, dermatološka zdravila, nanodelci, liposomi, fosfolipidi

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P1-0189
• Name: Farmacevtska tehnologija: od dostavnih sistemov učinkovin do terapijskih izidov zdravil pri otrocih in starostnikih