Psoriasis,
a prevalent chronic inflammatory skin ailment affecting
approximately 2–3% of the global population, is characterized
by persistent symptoms. Dexamethasone, a primary corticosteroid for
treating psoriasis, demonstrates notable efficacy; however, its limited
skin permeation results in documented adverse effects. To address
this, the presented study employed a novel strategy to conjugate gold
nanorod and dexamethasone and evaluate their potential for mitigating
psoriatic inflammation using an imiquimod-induced mouse model and
human skin cells. Our findings revealed enhanced cutaneous penetration
of gold nanorod and dexamethasone conjugates compared with that of
dexamethasone, owing to superior skin penetration. Gold nanorod and
dexamethasone conjugates demonstrated an optimal pharmacological impact
at minimal dosages without toxicity during extended use. To further
enhance the effectiveness of gold nanorod and dexamethasone conjugates,
808 nm near-infrared laser irradiation, which reacts to gold, was
additionally applied to achieve thermal elevation to expedite drug
skin penetration. Supplementary laser irradiation at 808 nm significantly
ameliorated psoriatic symptoms following deep gold nanorod and dexamethasone
conjugates penetration. This corresponded with restored peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor-γ levels and accelerated dexamethasone
release from the gold nanorod and dexamethasone conjugates complex.
These findings highlight the potential of gold nanorod and dexamethasone
conjugates to enhance drug penetration through dermal layers, thereby
aiding psoriasis treatment. Moreover, its compatibility with photothermal
therapy offers prospects for novel therapeutic interventions across
various inflammatory skin disorders.