Nanomedicine Delivers Promising Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

An increased understanding in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, reveals that the diseased tissue and the increased presence of macrophages and other overexpressed molecules within the tissue can be exploited to enhance the delivery of nanomedicine. Nanomedicine can passively accumulate into chronic inflammatory tissues via the enhanced permeability and retention phenomenon, or be surface conjugated with a ligand to actively bind to receptors overexpressed by cells within chronic inflammatory tissues, leading to increased efficacy and reduced systemic side-effects. This review highlights the research conducted over the past decade on using nanomedicine for potential treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and summarizes some of the major findings and promising opportunities on using nanomedicine to treat this prevalent and chronic disease.

Inflammatory Monocyte/Macrophage Modulation by Liposome-Entrapped Spironolactone Ameliorates Acute Lung Injury in Mice

“…The efficacy of MR antagonism by SP is also supported by the decreased levels of CCL2 and IL-1β after Lipo-SP and Free-SP intervention in this study, because the expression of these two cytokines, as the core components involved in inflammatory as well profibrotic response, is both dependent Spironolactone liposome ameliorates pulmonary injury Research Article on MR-downstream signaling [40,41]. Therefore, our data support the emerging concept that active elimination and subsequent degradation of drug-loaded liposomes by monocytes/macrophages is a novel approach for the treatment of diseases dominated by monocyte/ macrophage-mediated pathogenesis [42,43].…”

Nanomedicine in rheumatology: A new field in the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases

“…Using nanocarriers permits an enhanced site-specific drug delivery to areas of inflammation by boosting the penetration or changing the pH of inflamed tissues and by making use of monocytes as active targets for drug delivery [2]. However, when treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the nanoparticles dosage may be adapted orally as the intestine is the drug target [2].…”

“…Promising candidates are the nanoparticles which are already in use as contrast enhancers for magnetic resonance imaging due to their favorable physicochemical properties and biocompatibility [19]. In RA, nanomedicine passively accumulates into chronic inflammatory tissues through the increased permeability and retention phenomenon, or be surfaceconnected with a ligand and attach to receptors overexpressed by cells, leading to an improved effectiveness and diminished side-effects [2].…”

“…Nanoparticles containing a much smaller dosage of methotrexate (MTX) for treatment of RA have been developed [2]. Nanomedicine has flourished and is currently providing new avenues for using nanomaterials in drug delivery and tissue regeneration of medical purpose.…”

“…Corticosteroid nanoparticles reserve the capability to dampen proinflammatory cytokines at the least effective dose with the advantage of reducing the broad immunosuppression that occurs with many biologicTNF-α inhibitors [2]. More interestingly, a nanomedicine polymeric prodrug exhibited a superior and prolonged therapeutic efficacy in LN compared to free dexamethasone with reduction of the systemic side effects [15].…”