Immunomodulatory Nanoparticles for Inflammatory Arthritis

DMARDs, or Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, are frontline therapeutic drugs used in treatment of autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune arthropides.¹ These drugs operate by suppressing the hyperactive immune response responsible for inflammation and joint damage in these diseases.¹ Aside from their beneficial effects, there are noteworthy challenges associated with DMARDs, such as the potential for adverse side effects ranging from gastrointestinal problems to increased susceptibility to infections.¹ Additionally, not all patients respond equally well to DMARDs, making it essential to explore alternative therapies or combinations of medications.^1,2 In the research presented here, I explore the anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effects of a poly lactic(co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticle (NP) encapsulating the immune modulating compound all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on T-cells and dendritic cells (DCs) cultured in vitro. At a glance, it was observed that the ATRA loaded NPs significantly decreased the amount of proinflammatory cytokine IL-17 and increased the amount of anti-inflammatory FoxP3 expressed from T-cells in conditions set to polarize Naïve T-cells into Th17s. Additionally, the nanoparticles significantly decreased the expression of key markers CD80, CD86, and MHC II in dendritic cells; indictive of ATRAs suppressive properties on DC maturation.