Liposome-Based Interventions in Knee Osteoarthritis

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative disease of the joints, causing significant disability and socio-economic burden in the aging population. Simultaneously, however, it is a common occurrence in younger individuals, initiated by joint injuries or obesity alongside other factors. Intravenous and oral pharmaceutical OA management have both been associated with systemic adverse effects, thereby resulting in a growing interest in intra-articular (IA) treatment. IA-administered drugs circumvent the requirement for high dosage, offering immediate access to the site of interest while minimizing any unfavorable effects. Nonetheless, IA-injected drugs, administered in their free form, present low retention time in the knee joint raising the need for multiple injection dosage regimens, while their capability to target the cartilage or specific cell populations is limited. Liposomes, due to their unique characteristics and tunable nature, have proven to be excellent candidates for the management of knee OA. This review explores the last decade's research on the efficacy of various IA liposomal formulations, investigating their multifaceted properties as pharmaceutical carriers, lubricating agents, and a basis for combinatorial approaches paving the way to novel treatment solutions for OA.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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