Ultrasound Guided Intra-Articular Injection of Triptolide-loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticle for Treatment of Antigen-Induced Arthritis in Rabbits

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of triptolide-loaded solid lipid nanoparticle (TP-SLN) for treatment of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in rabbits. Material and Methods: Knee joints of 33 New Zealand rabbits with AIA were injected intra-articularly with triptolide (TP: n = 7), TP-SLN (n = 7), betamethasone (BS: n = 7) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO: n = 6). The remaining six rabbits were untreated as the control group. The injection therapy in intervention groups was initiated 1 week after the last immunization in order to avoid irreversible joint damage in the later induction. The ultrasonic scores of the joints were assessed based on synovitis, synovial blood flow and bone erosion. Meanwhile, the correlations of ultrasonic scores and pathological scores were determined. The efficacy and side effects of each group were determined by combining ultrasonic scores, pathological scores, behavior, appetite, weight, joint diameter, skin temperature and biochemical examination.Results: 1) Compared with the control group, the diameters of knee joints of the TP, TP-SLN and BS groups began to reduce 1 week after intra-articular injection (p < 0.01). 2) With the exception of the DMSO group, the interventions were effective in treating synovitis compared with the control group, with TP-SLN and BS being the best. The ultrasonic and pathological scores in synovitis of the TP group were lower than that of model group (Z = -2.726 and -2.530, p < 0.05). The ultrasonic scores differed significantly between BS group and TP-SLN group (Z = −2.17 and -2.360, respectively, p < 0.05) and pathological scores (Z = −2.687 and −2.082, respectively, p < 0.05). 3) Compared with the control group, the TP, BS and TP-SLN were all effective in treating synovial blood flow and bone erosion and there were no significant differences of ultrasonic and pathological scores among them (p > 0.05). The ultrasonic scores of synovial blood flow (Z = −3.033, −2.842, −3.277, p < 0.01) were lower than in the controls. The ultrasonic scores (Z = -2.948, -3.141, -3.210, p < 0.01) and pathological scores (Z = −2.216, −2.505, −2.505, p < 0.05) of bone erosion were also lower than in the model group.4) There were significant correlations between the ultrasonic and pathological scores of synovial inflammation and bone erosion (r = 0.832 and 0.859 respectively, p < 0.001).Conclusions: The therapeutic effect of TP-SLN on arthritis is better than that of TP, but there is no difference between BS and TP-SLN. Therefore, TP-SLN may be used as an alternative to BS in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the future. The ultrasonic and pathological scores showed significant correlation in synovitis and bone erosion. Ultrasound can provide a useful assessment of synovitis in early arthritis.

Development and Evaluation of Novel Leflunomide SPION Bioemulsomes for the Intra-Articular Treatment of Arthritis

“…On the other hand, Compritol was chosen based on its hydrophobicity as it is composed of long-chain fatty acids [ 42 ]. Moreover, Compritol had been used in many studies for the fabrication of lipid nanocarriers for intraarticular drug injection for the treatment of arthritis [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. In addition, cholesterol was included in the preparation to enhance the stabilization of the outer phospholipid layer besides being capable to augment loading and entrapment of hydrophobic drugs [ 25 ].…”

Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Insights into Cell Signaling Pathways and Nano-Particles as Carriers

“…Nano-particles have drawn a lot of interest in the field of medical research, especially when it comes to the development of drug-delivery systems for the treatment of various diseases [48]. The way RA is treated may drastically change if nanoparticles are used [49]. Recent studies have indicated that the delivery of medication to the desired area utilizing nano-carriers such as nano dendrimer and nano polymer has shown promising results in the treatment of conditions like RA [49].…”

“…The way RA is treated may drastically change if nanoparticles are used [49]. Recent studies have indicated that the delivery of medication to the desired area utilizing nano-carriers such as nano dendrimer and nano polymer has shown promising results in the treatment of conditions like RA [49]. Drug delivery methods using micro-and nanoparticles provide targeted administration of therapeutic medicines to the RA-affected area [49].…”

“…Recent studies have indicated that the delivery of medication to the desired area utilizing nano-carriers such as nano dendrimer and nano polymer has shown promising results in the treatment of conditions like RA [49]. Drug delivery methods using micro-and nanoparticles provide targeted administration of therapeutic medicines to the RA-affected area [49]. In recent years, research has been focused on designing biodegradable and biocompatible nanoparticles capable of delivering and releasing therapeutic drugs for the treatment of RA [49].…”

“…Drug delivery methods using micro-and nanoparticles provide targeted administration of therapeutic medicines to the RA-affected area [49]. In recent years, research has been focused on designing biodegradable and biocompatible nanoparticles capable of delivering and releasing therapeutic drugs for the treatment of RA [49]. The huge surface-to-volume ratio and highly active surface sites of nanoparticles make them perfect for drugs that target RA [49].…”