Research Progress on Self-Assembling Delivery Systems in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-affected joints are characterized by a distinct pathological microenvironment, featuring acidic pH, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and overexpressed matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), along with synovial hyperplasia, infiltration of activated immune cells (eg, M1 macrophages and Th17 cells), and pannus formation. Self-assembled drug delivery systems (SADDS) are constructed through non-covalent interactions-such as hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, metal coordination, and electrostatic interactions-enabling the formation of stable nanocarriers, including micelles, nanoparticles, and hydrogels. By leveraging intelligent, microenvironment-responsive design, SADDS demonstrate strong potential to enhance the targeting accuracy, controllability, and overall safety of RA treatment. This review, for the first time, systematically evaluates the design principles and synergistic mechanisms of local administration strategies based on self-assembled drug delivery systems for rheumatoid arthritis therapy from the perspective of four carrier types-nanoparticles, micelles, microneedles, and hydrogels.