A polymer coated MNP scaffold for targeted drug delivery and improvement of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory diseases, e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), are associated with an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as the hydroxyl free radical (˙OH) in synovial joint tissues which are accompanied by inflammatory responses. In this study, we develop an efficient ROS-responsive nanosystem for selective and targeted drug delivery profiles in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effects. The nanoplatform system includes a DHAA–Fe₃O₄@HA core/shell structure for sulfasalazine (SSZ) drug release. The DHAA–Fe₃O₄ nanocarrier from ascorbic acid (AA) and FeCl₃·6H₂O, through a hydrothermal process, was constructed and, then, via the sequential chemical modification of DHAA–Fe₃O₄ with hyaluronic acid (HA) and sulfasalazine afforded DHAA–Fe₃O₄@HA@SSZ NPs with bioavailability in physiological conditions. The synthesized NPs were identified by various spectroscopic analyses. The prepared nanocarriers can be used for targeted sulfasalazine delivery, functioning as an in vivo stimuli-responsive system for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as RA, in order to decrease the dosage and side effects of conventional therapeutic methods.