Cartilage-targeted drug nanocarriers for osteoarthritis therapy

No disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs have successfully passed clinical trials due to insufficient cartilage penetration.

• Osteoarthritis is a prevalent joint disease with no approved therapies that modify its progression.
• Targeting the extracellular matrix is crucial for improving drug delivery to cartilage.
• Cartilage-targeting drug delivery systems may enhance penetration by utilizing their physicochemical properties.
• Positively charged biomaterials can interact with the negatively charged components of the cartilage matrix.
• Cationic nanocarriers could facilitate both passive penetration and prolonged retention in cartilage.
• Active targeting strategies may improve delivery by using specific antibodies or peptides that bind to cartilage components.

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