Hanmei Li#
Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Rui Gou#
School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Jiaying Liao
Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Yao Wang
Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Rui Qu
Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Qi Tang
Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China++State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
Jingyao Gan
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Liang Zou*
Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Sanjun Shi*
State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
# contributed equally to this work
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease that can lead to articular cartilage destruction and periarticular bone erosion, which ultimately compromise joint integrity and function. Anti-inflammatory drugs and biological agents are commonly used to treat RA, but they cannot selectively target inflamed joints due to their systemic mechanism, short half-life, and low bioavailability. Therefore, these agents must be used at high doses that are delivered frequently, which increases costs and the risk of side effects. Drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, liposomes and micelles can significantly prolong drug half-life in the body and targeting delivery them into the joints. In this review, we introduce the pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis comprehensively, and summarize the recent advances in targeted therapeutic strategies especially nano-targeting systems for rheumatoid arthritis.