Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid-Assisted Preparation of Nano-Spheres Loaded with Bio-Active Peptides to Decrease...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Osteoarthritis is a prevalent chronic disease characterized by joint inflammation and pain.
• Current treatments often involve anti-inflammatory drugs that hinder pro-inflammatory cytokine production.
• Targeted drug delivery offers a promising approach to enhance efficacy and reduce side effects in osteoarthritis treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a non-invasive, efficient, and targeted drug delivery system for osteoarthritis.
• To utilize thermoresponsive nanoparticles for the delivery of anti-inflammatory therapeutic peptides.
• To reduce persistent inflammation in an osteoarthritis model via targeted peptide delivery.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of temperature-sensitive hollow dextran/poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) nanoparticles using specific crosslinking and ionic liquids.
• Incorporation of sulfur functionalities via copolymerization for enhanced therapeutic peptide loading (KAFAK peptides).
• Characterization of nanoparticle structure and thermal responsiveness using spectroscopy and microscopy techniques (UV-Vis, FTIR, XPS, DLS, SEM, TEM).

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized hollow dextran/PNIPAM nanoparticles with incorporated sulfur functionalities.
• Demonstrated thermal responsiveness and confirmed the chemical structure and morphology of the nanoparticles.
• Ex vivo studies showed that KAFAK-loaded nanoparticles effectively delivered peptides to cartilage explants, suppressing inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Thermoresponsive nanoparticles provide an effective platform for targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory peptides in osteoarthritis.
• This approach holds potential for reducing drug dosage and mitigating side effects in osteoarthritis management.
• The developed nanoparticles represent a promising strategy for treating inflammation in osteoarthritic environments.