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Advancements in pH-Responsive nanoparticles for osteoarthritis treatment: Opportunities and challenges
Shuai Liao1,2,3, Shicheng Jia4, Yaohang Yue1,2,5
1Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Abstract:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease linked to aging and obesity. The global aging population has led to an increasing number of OA patients, imposing a significant economic burden on society. Traditional drugs treatment methods often fail to achieve satisfactory outcomes. With the rapid advancement of nanomaterial delivery systems, numerous studies have focused on utilizing nanomaterials as carriers to achieve efficient OA treatment by effectively loading and delivering bioactive ingredients (e.g., drugs, nucleic acids) tailored to the unique pathological conditions, such as the weakly acidic microenvironment of synovial fluid in OA patients. This review highlights the latest advancements in the use of pH-responsive nanoparticles for OA treatment, emphasizing the principle of targeted drug delivery leveraging the acidic microenvironment of inflamed joints. It further discusses the composition, synthesis, response mechanism, target selection, application, and recent research findings of nanoparticles, while also addressing the challenges and future directions in this promising field.
Insights
pH-responsive nanoparticles offer a novel approach to osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. These advanced nanomaterials target the acidic joint environment, improving drug delivery for better OA management.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease, exacerbated by aging and obesity.
- Increasing OA prevalence poses a significant socioeconomic burden, with traditional treatments often yielding suboptimal results.
- Nanomaterial delivery systems present a promising avenue for enhanced OA therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the latest advancements in pH-responsive nanoparticles for osteoarthritis treatment.
- To highlight the targeted drug delivery mechanism utilizing the acidic microenvironment of inflamed joints.
- To discuss the composition, synthesis, mechanisms, applications, and future prospects of these nanoparticles.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on pH-responsive nanoparticles for OA.
- Analysis of nanoparticle design principles for targeting acidic microenvironments.
- Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials for drug and nucleic acid delivery.
Main Results:
- pH-responsive nanoparticles effectively load and deliver bioactive agents to OA joint tissues.
- Targeted delivery leverages the weakly acidic synovial fluid characteristic of OA.
- Recent studies demonstrate improved therapeutic outcomes in preclinical OA models.
Conclusions:
- pH-responsive nanoparticles represent a significant advancement in targeted osteoarthritis therapy.
- Further research into nanoparticle design and clinical translation is warranted.
- This approach holds promise for overcoming limitations of conventional OA treatments.
