Zinc sulfate monohydrate (ZnSO 4 )-loaded nanocomposites (NCs) were fabricated by using a hot-melt extruder (HME) system. Soluplus (SP) was adopted as an amphiphilic polymer matrix for HME processing. The micro-size of ZnSO 4 dispersion was reduced to nano-size by HME processing with the use of SP. ZnSO 4 could be homogeneously dispersed in SP through HME processing. ZnSO 4 /SP NCs with a 75 nm mean diameter, a 0.1 polydispersity index, and a −1 mV zeta potential value were prepared. The physicochemical properties of ZnSO 4 /SP NCs and the existence of SP in ZnSO 4 /SP NCs were further investigated by solid-state studies. Nano-size range of ZnSO 4 /SP NC dispersion was maintained in the simulated gastrointestinal environments (pH 1.2 and 6.8 media). No severe toxicity in intestinal epithelium after oral administration of ZnSO 4 /SP NCs (at 100 mg/kg dose of ZnSO 4 , single dosing) was observed in rats. These results imply that developed ZnSO 4 /SP NC can be used as a promising nano-sized zinc supplement formulation. In addition, developed HME technology can be widely applied to fabricate nanoformulations of inorganic materials.

The therapeutic potentials of the ethanol extract of Artemisia capillaris (ACE) for psoriasis were verified in HaCaT cells (as an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line) and imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse models. In HaCaT cells, IC value of ACE was 37.5 μg/ml after incubating for 72 hr. The antiproliferation activity of ACE in HaCaT cells was further verified by apoptosis assays. The percentage of apoptotic population in ACE-treated group was significantly higher than that of control group (p < .05). The result of cell cycle arrest assay also supported the observed antiproliferation efficacy of ACE in HaCaT cells. In IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse models, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score of ACE (50 mg/ml; ACE50)-treated group was significantly lower than that of IMQ group on Day 4 (p < .05). After topical application of ACE on psoriasis-like lesion for 4 days, the epidermal thickness of (IMQ + ACE50) group was significantly lower than that of IMQ group (p < .05). The expression levels of Ki-67 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 in excised skin tissues of (IMQ + ACE50) group were also lower than those of IMQ group. All these findings suggest that ACE can be used as a promising antipsoriatic agent.

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