Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-based Therapeutics for Osteoarthritis: Addressing Limitations of Conventional Treatments
Sejal Sharma, Parina Gill, Rajni Bala, Rishi Kumar, Rhythm SoodIntroduction:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogeneous whole-joint disorder for which current care mainly reduces pain and improves function without reliably modifying structural progression.
Methods:
This narrative review used a structured search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar through August 2026. English-language peer-reviewed studies and regulatory guidance addressing OA mechanisms, nanocarrier performance, safety, or clinical translation were included; duplicate, non-scholarly, and non-OA reports were excluded. Evidence was synthesized by carrier, biological target, and development stage, without metaanalysis.
Results:
Liposomes, transferosomes, ethosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, micelles, extracellular vesicles, nanozymes, and stimuli-responsive systems can improve local exposure and protect small-molecule or nucleic-acid cargos. Most OA-specific evidence remains in vitro or animal-based, and no nanotechnology-enabled disease-modifying OA drug (DMOAD) has regulatory approval. Artificial intelligence (AI) may assist imaging, trial enrichment, formulation optimization, and treatment monitoring, but prospective validation is limited.
Discussion:
Nanotechnology can integrate joint retention, tissue targeting, responsive release, imaging, and combination therapy, but added functionality increases manufacturing, safety, cost, and regulatory burdens.
Conclusion:
Biodegradable polymeric or lipid carriers combined with injectable depots appear closest to translation because they balance cargo flexibility, joint residence, and manufacturing precedent; progress requires reproducible production, long-term biodistribution data, phenotype- aware trials, and endpoints linking structural change with patient benefit.