Novel Nano Carriers for the Treatment of Progressive Auto Immune Disease Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most commonly occurring, progressive, autoimmune disease, affecting 1% of the population and the ratio of affected women is three times as compared to men in most developing countries. Clinical manifestations of RA are the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) in blood, tendered joints and soreness of the muscles. Some other factors which may lead to chronic inflammation are genetic and environmental factors as well as adaptive immune response. Several conventional drugs are available for the treatment of RA but have their own drawbacks which can be overcome by the use of novel drug delivery systems. The objective of the present review is to focus on the molecular pathogenesis of the disease and its current conventional treatment with special reference to the role of novel drug delivery systems encapsulating anti-rheumatic drugs and herbal drugs in passive and receptor-mediated active targeting against RA. On reviewing the conventional and current therapeutics against RA, we conclude that although the current therapy for the treatment of RA is capable enough, yet more advances in the field of targeted drug delivery will sanguinely result in effective and appropriate treatment of this autoimmune disease.