Nanofacilitated synergistic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: A 'three-pronged' approach

Med Hypotheses. 2016 Jul:92:44-7. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2016.04.026. Epub 2016 Apr 16.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease of unidentified etiology that affects the joints and causes pain, swelling, stiffness and redness in the joints. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis has not yet been discovered and, consequently, treatment methods have not been optimally effective. It has long been treated with anti-inflammatory and immunosupressants including modern biologics either alone or in combination but all of the drugs have severe life threatening consequences with impaired immune function due to nonspecific targeting. Therefore, a three-pronged approach of local, active and synergistic targeting can be used to optimize delivery of therapeutic agents to reduce toxicity and patient outcome without compromising patient's immunity.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Biological Products / therapeutic use
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Drug Carriers
  • Humans
  • Immune System
  • Immunity
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Nanomedicine / methods*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Drug Carriers
  • Immunologic Factors