NANOCARRIERS: A NOVEL TREATMENT APPROACH FOR ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is a major cause of disability conventionally treated for long term with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. NSAIDs are nonselective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and cause GI toxicity, antiplatelet effects, cardiotoxicity, renal toxicity and anaphylactic reactions in selected patients. Corticosteroids have multiple side effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, upset stomach, thinning of bones, high blood pressure, cataracts, and increased infections. The currently available dosage forms of NSAIDs and steroids possess inherent risk of adverse effects in many different tissues in patients. The most satisfactory delivery system that overcomes the difficulties cited above shall be capable of delivering appropriate concentration of drug at site of action without involvement of other tissue and organs. This review focuses on current trends of development of drug delivery system in particular carriers, with enhanced localization to the target site and sustained drug release. The most prominent advantage of nanoscaled drug carriers such as liposomes, transferosomes, and niosomes over conventional drug delivery systems is the option to improve selective delivery of drugs to the site of action and sustained release.