Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Nanocarrier-Mediated Drug Delivery in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that leads to severe joint damage, persistent inflammation, and an increase in synovial tissue. While existing treatment modalities such as corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can alleviate symptoms, they frequently come with systemic side effects and do not always achieve satisfactory disease remission. Moreover, the broad distribution of these medications can result in off-target toxicity and inadequate drug levels at the affected joints. This study aims to explore the therapeutic capabilities of drug delivery systems (DDs) utilizing nanocarriers for RA management. The focus is on evaluating how these nanocarriers can facilitate targeted, efficient, and safer drug delivery by concentrating on inflamed joint tissues, minimizing systemic toxicity, and enhancing drug uptake at the disease site. This review analyzes various nanocarrier types, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), dendrimers, micelles, and hybrid systems. A review of over 100 original research articles on RA treatment was conducted, drawing from platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, official websites, and raw data. The application of nanocarriers in RA therapy has demonstrated considerable potential in enhancing the precision and effectiveness of drug delivery. By enabling higher concentrations of medication directly at the inflammation site, nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery systems can mitigate systemic side effects and improve therapeutic outcomes. These systems present a promising approach to overcoming the limitations of current RA treatments, offering more targeted, efficient, and safer therapeutic alternatives. Nonetheless, additional research and development are essential to fully harness the capabilities of nanocarrier systems in RA treatment and to refine their clinical implementation.