Folate-targeted nanoparticles for rheumatoid arthritis therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease, affecting almost 1% of the world population. Although the cause of RA remains unknown, the complex interaction between immune mediators (cytokines and effector cells) is responsible for the joint damage that begins at the s...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor principal: Nogueira, Eugénia Sofia Costa (author)
Outros Autores: Gomes, Andreia C. (author), Preto, Ana (author), Cavaco-Paulo, Artur (author)
Formato: article
Idioma:eng
Publicado em: 2016
Assuntos:
Texto completo:http://hdl.handle.net/1822/41371
País:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt:1822/41371
Descrição
Resumo:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease, affecting almost 1% of the world population. Although the cause of RA remains unknown, the complex interaction between immune mediators (cytokines and effector cells) is responsible for the joint damage that begins at the synovial membrane. Activated macrophages are critical in the pathogenesis of RA and have been shown to specifically express a receptor for the vitamin folic acid (FA), folate receptor (FR). This particular receptor allows internalization of FA-coupled cargo. In this review we will address the potential of nanoparticles as an effective drug delivery system for therapies that will directly target activated macrophages. Special attention will be given to stealth degree of the nanoparticles as a strategy to avoid clearance by macrophages of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS). This review summarizes the application of FA-target nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for RA and proposes prospective future directions.