Folate-conjugated albumin nanoparticles for rheumatoid arthritis-targeted delivery of etoricoxib

Objective: The present study discusses folic acid-etoricoxib-bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (F-ETX-NPs) using folic acid as an over expressed folate receptor ligand for activated macrophages in targeting of rheumatoid arthritis.

Materials and methods: For this purpose etoricoxib-loaded BSA nanoparticles (ETX-NPs) were prepared by desolvation method and activated folic acid conjugation with free amine group of BSA was confirmed by FTIR study and zeta potential measurements.

Results: The F-ETX-NPs showed spherical in shape with 215.8?±?3.2?nm average size?+?7.8?mV zeta potential, 72?±?1.3% etoricoxib entrapment efficiency and showed 93.1?±?2.2% cumulative etoricoxib release upto 72?h. The etoricoxib concentration from F-ETX-NPs was found to be 9.67?±?0.34?µg/g in inflamed joint after 24?h administration revealed remarkably targeting potential to the activated macrophages cells and keep at a high level during the experiment.

Discussion and conclusion: These results suggest that F-ETX-NPs are potentially vector for activated macrophages cells targeting of rheumatoid arthritis.