A new treatment of nanoparticles has been found to be effective for easing the pain of rheumatoid arthritis in the lab.

Just one dose of the state-of-the-art medicine could provide patients with relief if clinical trials using lab mice can be replicated in humans.

A team of Korean scientists published their research after developing a new solution for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which currently has no cure.

First author of the study Dr. Sagang Koo explained that one of the major hurdles in RA treatment is the inability to restore the immune system to its healthy state.

"The disease triggers a mix of troublesome symptoms like inflamed joints, harmful cytokines, and immune system imbalances, which work together to create a relentless cycle of worsening symptoms.

"While targeting some of these factors can provide short-term relief, others remain unresolved, leading to a frustrating cycle of remission and flare-ups."

She said that leaves the body unable to control the continuous production of harmful substances—such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines—leading to persistent inflammation and discomfort.

"The ideal treatment for RA should not only provide immediate relief from inflammation and symptoms but also address the root cause by restoring the immune system to its normal, balanced state."

The research team confirmed the efficacy of their approach using a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model.

She explained that the new treatment involves immobilizing ceria nanoparticles (Ce NPs) onto mesenchymal stem cell-derived nanovesicles (MSCNVs).

"Both of these components can hinder different pathogenic factors, allowing them to work both individually and cooperatively to achieve a comprehensive treatment.

"In short, this approach aims to bridge both innate and adaptive immunity to achieve both short-term pain relief, as well as convert the tissue environment into an immune-tolerant state to prevent the recurrence of symptoms."

The Ce-MSCNV system was able to "comprehensively treat" and prevent RA by simultaneously relieving the immediate and restoring T cell immunity.

"Supporting data suggest that improvement in conditions can be achieved after only a single-dose treatment," reported Dr. Koo in a press release.

"The mice treated with the Ce-MSCNV combination fared far better compared to the ones only treated using the Ce NP or MSCNV group.

"This clearly demonstrates the synergy between anti-inflammation and immunomodulation and underlines the importance of the combined therapy for effective RA treatment.

"In addition, Ce-MSCNV administration prior to booster injection markedly reduced the incidence and severity of symptoms, supporting the prophylactic potential of these nanoparticles."

Dr. Koo believes that a similar approach would also be applicable to other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

"Overall, this study proves the potential of a hybrid nanoparticle system for the comprehensive treatment of autoimmune disease and modulation of the immune system."

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