The efficient delivery of therapeutic molecules to the cartilage of joints is a major obstacle in developing useful therapeutic interventions;\nhence, a targeted drug delivery system for this tissue is critical. We have overcome the challenge by developing a system that employs\nelectrostatic attraction between the negatively charged constituents of cartilage and a positively charged polymer, poly-beta amino esters\n(PBAEs). We have demonstrated cartilage uptake of dexamethasone (DEX) covalently bound to the PBAE was doubled and retention in\ntissues prolonged compared to the equivalent dose of the commercial drug formulation. Moreover, no adverse effects on chondrocytes were\nfound. Our data also show that PBAEs can bind not only healthy cartilage tissues but also enzymatically treated cartilage mimicking early\nstages of OA. Our PBAEs-prodrug technology's advantages are fourfold; the specificity and efficacy of its targeting mechanism for cartilage,\nthe ease of its production and the low-cost nature of the delivery system.
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