Targeting Strategies for Osteoarthritis: Biomaterials, Joint-Specific Drug Delivery, and Translational Progress - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #biomaterials
- #drug-delivery
- #osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease causing joint structure destruction and mobility loss.
- Current therapies face limitations due to cartilage's dense extracellular matrix, rapid drug clearance, and complex joint anatomy.
- Recent advances focus on targeting OA-specific microenvironmental cues like acidic pH and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- Bioreactor technologies simulate joint environments for studying OA pathogenesis and therapy screening.
- Microscopic changes in joint structure, composition, and mechanical properties present both barriers and therapeutic opportunities.
- Smart biomaterials responsive to pH or ROS enable site-specific drug delivery and controlled release.
- Tissue-specific targeting strategies address superficial and deep cartilage layers and complex joint structures.
- Translational progress includes disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug candidates and clinically tested delivery systems.
- Emerging approaches aim to bridge laboratory research and clinical application.