Multifunctional nanoparticles encapsulating methotrexate and curcumin for holistic management of rheumatoid arthritis: and pre-clinical assessment.

Purpose: Bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (BSA-MTX-CUR-NPs) encapsulating methotrexate (MTX) and curcumin (CUR) was developed with an aim to co-deliver the drugs at the inflamed joint so as to maximize the therapeutic efficacy and alleviate toxic side effects associated with MTX.

Methods: Nanoparticle albumin-bound technology was used to formulate nanoparticles, followed by characterization for its particle size, polydispersity index, encapsulation efficiency, zeta potential, surface morphology, drug release and drug release kinetics. Further, we investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the developed nanoparticles in the adjuvant-induced arthritis model.