Intra-articular drug delivery systems: Overcoming the shortcomings of joint disease therapy.
BACKGROUND
Intra-articular drug delivery is very useful for treating local disease flare-ups, synovitis and pain in joints. However, the effectiveness of drugs following intra-articular administration is limited by drug delivery issues.


OBJECTIVE
This review addresses critical drug delivery parameters that influence the biocompatibility, tolerability and efficacy of intra-articular administrations and offers an opinion on aspects of formulation design.


METHODS
The relevant literature was reviewed, focusing on factors influencing tissue targeting, safety and effectiveness of particulate formulations.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapeutic applications of novel drug delivery systems for the localized treatment of joints have lagged significantly. Future innovations in the field will require the discovery of new therapeutic agents for regional delivery, combination regimens, novel biomaterials as drug carriers and targeting carriers to specific molecules.
Burt
Helen M
HM
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. burt@interchange.ubc.ca
Tsallas
Antonia
A
Gilchrist
Samuel
S
Liang
Linda S
LS
D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers