title: Targeted chemo-photothermal treatments of rheumatoid arthritis using gold half-shell multifunctional nanoparticles.
abstract: We have developed RGD-attached gold (Au) half-shell nanoparticles containing methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), where MTX is the most widely used disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) for the treatment of RA, and RGD peptide is a targeting moiety for inflammation. Upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, heat is locally generated due to Au half-shells, and the drug release rate is enhanced, delivering heat and drug to the inflamed joints simultaneously. RA is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovial inflammation in multiple joints within the penetration depth of NIR light. When combined with NIR irradiation, these nanoparticles containing a much smaller dosage of MTX (1/930 of MTX solution) showed greater therapeutic effects than that of a conventional treatment with MTX solution in collagen-induced arthritic mice. This novel drug delivery system is a good way to maximize therapeutic efficacy and minimize dosage-related MTX side effects in the treatment of RA. Furthermore, these multifunctional nanoparticles could be applied to other DMARDs for RA or other inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Nanomedical Graduate Program, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: You-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Young Nyun
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo-Kon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung-Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D053769:Nanocapsules; D006046:Gold; D008727:Methotrexate