Hyaluronic acid Hydrogels Hybridized with Au-Triptolide Nanoparticle for Intra-articular targeted multi-therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Triptolide (TP) is a DMARD highly effective in patients with RA. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels loaded RGD-attached gold nanoparticles containing TP were synthesized to alleviate the toxicity and increase therapeutic specificity. The hydrogels can be applied for targeted photothermal-chemo therapy, and in vivo imaging of RA. Heat was locally generated at the inflammation site after degradation of HA chains due to near-infrared resonance (NIR) irradiation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and TP was released. Administration of the hybrid hydrogels containing low dosage of TP combined with NIR irradiation alleviated arthritic conditions and improved the inflamed joint in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. In vitro effect of the hydrogel was mediated through decrease of phosphorylation of mTOR and its substrate, p70S6K1, thus inhibiting mTOR pathway.