Development of liposome-based and injectable hydrogel drug delivery systems for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can lead to significant damage to joint structures. Traditional drug delivery methods often result in unwanted side effects and limited efficacy. In this study, drug-loaded liposomes encapsulated within an injectable hydrogel were developed for the treatment of RA, and their controlled drug release was investigated. Injectable hydrogels offer advantages due to their biodegradability and their ability to improve patient compliance. The hydrogel matrix stabilizes the liposomes, enabling controlled drug release and extending the duration within the therapeutic window. Liposomes enhance drug bioavailability and facilitate targeting to the desired tissue. Dexamethasone-loaded liposomes (DEX@Ls) exhibited a release of 23% within the first 6 hours, while the liposome-hydrogel (LH) system demonstrated a controlled release of 52% of the drug over 48 hours. Additionally, it was observed that the hydrogel completely biodegraded within 7 days. The results indicate that liposome-loaded hydrogels effectively provide controlled release of dexamethasone and are effective in reducing inflammation. This innovative approach improves drug efficacy while minimizing side effects in RA treatment. The study contributes to the literature by presenting injectable liposome-hydrogel systems as a potential solution for controlled drug delivery in RA treatment. Future studies should further validate the clinical efficacy and safety of these systems.