Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Topical treatments are the primary choice for up to 80% of psoriasis patients; however, their effectiveness is often limited by poor penetration into the skin. Nanocarriers represent a promising advancement in drug delivery systems by enhancing bioavailability and tissue penetration and reducing the frequency of dosing. This study conducted a narrative review and analyzed the characteristics of clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) that investigated the use of nanocarriers for psoriasis treatment. The findings indicate that the proportion of registered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on nanocarriers for psoriasis treatment is exceedingly limited, comprising only 0.2% (11 out of 5338) of all registered RCTs related to psoriasis treatment. Among these 11 RCTs, six types of nanocarriers were identified: microemulsion/nanoemulsion, chitosan nanoparticles, liposomes, ethosomes, micelles, and niosomes. Five trials reported complete or partial outcomes using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) as the primary efficacy measure. However, many trials had incomplete baseline and follow-up PASI data. Studies have shown that encapsulating APIs within nanocarriers generally yields a more significant reduction in PASI scores than administering empty nanocarriers. Additionally, no study has directly compared nanocarriers with traditional formulations. The APIs used in these RCTs primarily comprised lipophilic drugs. In conclusion, although nanocarriers for psoriasis treatment demonstrate significant potential, they continue to face challenges, including incomplete regulatory frameworks, difficulties in large-scale production, and high production costs.
