Advanced nanoparticles in osteoarthritis treatment

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanomedicine
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease affecting millions worldwide.
• Current OA treatments offer only symptomatic relief, lacking disease-modifying capabilities.
• OA involves abnormal remodeling of all joint tissues, not just articular cartilage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review OA as a whole-joint disease, exploring its pathophysiology across multiple tissues.
• To classify nanoparticles used in OA treatment based on composition and structure.
• To summarize recent advances, challenges, and future directions of nanoparticle-based OA therapies.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on osteoarthritis pathophysiology and nanoparticle applications.
• Classification of nanoparticles (lipids, polymers, inorganic, peptides/proteins, extracellular vesicles).
• Analysis of nanoparticle-based strategies for OA treatment and diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Nanoparticles demonstrate potential for extended drug retention, enhanced targeting, and improved drug properties in OA.
• Various nanoparticle compositions and structures are being explored for OA management.
• Nanoparticle-based systems show promise for both therapeutic intervention and diagnostic applications in OA.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticle-based nanosystems represent a promising advancement for osteoarthritis treatment.
• These systems offer enhanced drug delivery, targeting, and stability for managing OA.
• Further research into nanoparticle applications holds significant potential for improving OA diagnosis and therapy.