Novel Strategies for Enhancing the Therapeutic Effect of Bioactive Compounds in the Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases

Dear Colleague,

A special interest in the field of nanomedicine is the development of the innovative and efficient nanocarriers with controllable properties for drug delivery and site-specific targeting able to achieve greater efficacy and minimize the toxic effects associated with conventional therapies. The therapeutic profiles of biological and pharmacological agents can be improved by incorporation into nanocarrier systems. Many of them are already approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in pharmaceutical products. In the case of rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), nanoparticles containing bioactive compounds can offer tremendous opportunities in diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. For both conditions, no prevention methods are known, and optimal management is based on early diagnosis. Treatment of irreversible joint damage is achieved through oral, parenteral, or intra-articular drugs administration. The interest in using nanocarriers containing bioproducts from natural sources to treat inflammatory and rheumatic diseases is growing, encouraging researchers to investigate this aspect.

This Special Issue will highlight novel strategies exploring the potential of nanocarriers-based bioproducts of natural origin (included but not limited to vegetal and animal sources), with a focus on rheumatic diseases. Data regarding the design, physico-chemical properties, biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative potential of the pharmaceutical nanoformulations are encouraged. Their performance in vitro and in vivo—especially for local/intra-articular applications (but not limited to these)—and clinical assays are welcome.

Authors are invited to submit original and review articles exploring the therapeutic potential of nanocarriers-based bioproducts, especially for controlled and/or targeted drug delivery applications in rheumatic diseases.

Dr. Mihaela Trif
Guest Editor

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