TTargeted Drug Delivery Systems for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Advancing Precision Medicine in Autoimmune Therapies

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) demand targeted therapies to overcome the limitations of conventional immunosuppression. This review highlights advancements in drug delivery systems (DDS), particularly nanomedicine, for ADs treatment, focusing on rheumatoid arthritis. Nanocarriers like liposomes, polymer micelles, and biomimetic nanoparticles enable passive/active targeting to inflamed tissues or immune cells. Stimuli-responsive designs enhance drug release precision in pathological microenvironments. Overcoming barriers like the blood-brain barrier or gastrointestinal tract is achieved via ligand modification or microneedle technologies. Cell-specific targeting strategies, including macrophage polarization, neutrophil modulation, and synovial cell targeting, demonstrate efficacy in preclinical models. Subcellular approaches offer mechanistic precision. Challenges in scalability, safety, and regulation are acknowledged, with future directions emphasizing AI-driven material design, personalized medicine via single-cell profiling, and cross-disciplinary translational partnerships. DDS represent a transformative frontier in ADs therapy, merging precision and efficacy to address unmet clinical needs.