|
| Target | Desired properties of nanocarrier | Potentially suitable nanocarrier |
|
| Cartilage matrix | (i) Size smaller than 38 nm*
(ii) Positive surface charge
(iii) Ability to couple peptide ligands (WYRGRL) to target collagen II α1 | Micelles, dendrimers |
|
| Subchondral bone | (i) Size smaller than 38 nm*
(ii) Positive surface charge
(iii) Ability to couple peptide ligands (WYRGRL) to target collagen II α1 to make ECM as a drug reservoir for drugs that can reach subchondral bone in case of early OA
(iv) Ability to target hydroxyapatite of subchondral bone in case of advance OA where subchondral bone is exposed due to cartilage degradation | Micelles, dendrimers |
|
| Cartilage surface | (i) Variable sizes can be used but if penetration into cartilage has to be avoided, sizes greater than 60 nm are recommended.
(ii) Positive surface charge
(iii) Ability to couple antibodies against epitopes of cartilage degradations such as VDIPEN and NITEGE | Liposomes, dendrimers of higher generation, micelles, nanoparticles |
|
| Synovial membrane | (i) Variable size can be used but if penetration into cartilage has to be avoided, size greater than 60 nm is recommended
(ii) Ability to retain in intra-articular space with a targeting aspect towards a synovial joint component and subsequent uptake by synovial fibroblast | Liposomes, Dendrimers of higher generation, Micelles, Nanoparticles |
|
| Intra articular space | (i) Variable size can be used but if penetration into cartilage has to be avoided, sizes greater than 60 nm are recommended
(ii) Ability to form complexes with synovial fluid components that can help in retention of nanocarrier in intra-articular space | Liposomes, Dendrimers of higher generation, Micelles, Nanoparticles |
|
| Infrapatellar fat pad | (i) Lipophilic properties that allow preferential absorption by fat tissue | Liposomes, Dendrimers of higher generation, Micelles, Nanoparticles |
|
