PLGA-Rhodamine from PolySciTech used in development of arthritis treatment

 

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. Recently, researchers at Chungnam National University, Seoul National University and Chungbuk National University (Korea) utilized PLGA-Rhodamine (Cat# AV011) from PolySciTech division of Akina (www.polyscitech.com) to make traceable nanoparticles for tracking the particle location as part of development of osteoarthritis treatment. This research holds promise to improve treatment against arthritis. Read more: Park, Hyewon, Ha-Reum Lee, Hyo Jung Shin, Ji Ah Park, Yongbum Joo, Sun Moon Kim, Jaewon Beom, Seong Wook Kang, Dong Woon Kim, and Jinhyun Kim. "p16INK4a-siRNA nanoparticles attenuate cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis by inhibiting inflammation in fibroblast-like synoviocytes." Biomaterials Science (2022). https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2022/bm/d1bm01941d

“In osteoarthritis (OA), chondrocytes in cartilage undergo phenotypic changes and senescence, restricting cartilage regeneration and favoring disease progression. Although senescence biomarker p16INK4a expression is known to induce aging by halting the cell cycle, therapeutic applications for p16INK4a targeting are limited. Here, we aimed to reduce cartilage damage and alleviate pain using p16INK4a nanoparticles in OA. The p16INK4a expression of human OA chondrocytes and synoviocytes from patients with knee OA was measured and the levels of p16INK4a, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 13 were examined. p16INK4a siRNA was encapsulated into poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles and characterized. The partial medial meniscectomy (pMMx) model was performed for the OA model which was investigated by molecular analysis and behavioral tests. The expression of p16INK4a was increased in the synovium and articular cartilage from OA patients. p16INK4a siRNA-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (p16 si_NP) reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 especially in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), and MMP13 in chondrocytes. Rhodamine-tagged NPs injected into the mouse knee joints were found mainly in the synovium. p16 si_NP injection in the pMMx model alleviated pain-associated behavior, and reduced cartilage damage and p16INK4a in the synovium, and MMP13, collagen X, and NITEGE in cartilage. The preferential reduction of p16INK4a in FLSs by the application of RNAi nanomedicine could contribute to the recovery of osteoarthritic cartilage and relieve pain, suggesting that p16INK4a may be a viable future therapeutic candidate.”