Nanogel Loaded with Perilla frutescens Leaf-Derived Exosome-like Nanovesicles and Indomethacin for the Treatment of Inflammatory Arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis (IA) is a chronic condition marked by joint dysfunction and pain, posing significant challenges for effective drug delivery. This study separated Perilla frutescens leaf-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PFE) to effectively penetrate the stratum corneum barrier. These nanovesicles and indomethacin (IND) were subsequently developed into a nanogel designed for topical drug delivery systems (PFE-IND-GEL). PFE exhibited a typical vesicular structure with a mean diameter of 98.4 ± 1.3 nm. The hydrodynamic size and zeta potential of PFE-IND-GEL were 129.6 ± 5.9 nm and −17.4 ± 1.9 mV, respectively. Mechanistic investigations in HaCaT keratinocytes showed that PFE significantly downregulated tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Occludin, p < 0.01) via modulation of the IL-17 signaling pathway, as evidenced by transcriptomic analysis. In a sodium urea crystal-induced rat IA model, the topical application of PFE-IND-GEL significantly reduced joint swelling (p < 0.05) and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1α, TNF-α) compared to control groups. Histopathological analysis confirmed the marked attenuation of synovial inflammation and cartilage preservation in treated animals. These findings underscore the dual role of PFE as both a topical permeation enhancer and an anti-inflammatory agent, presenting a promising strategy for managing IA.