Oxygen-sparing photodynamic therapy via dissolving microneedles for rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent joint inflammation, which leads to significant morbidity and disability. Although current therapies offer benefits to some patients, they often fail to fully address the intricate pathophysiology of RA, particularly the inflammatory proliferation and hypoxic microenvironment in synovial tissue. Herein, we propose an oxygen-sparing photodynamic therapy (PDT) strategy via dissolving microneedles (DMNs), in which both the photosensitizer and glycolysis inhibitor are simultaneously loaded into the DMNs for RA treatment. The strategy integrates PDT to target and suppress synovial hyperplasia and alleviate joint inflammation and bone damage. Additionally, an oxygen-sparing strategy was employed through glycolys

SUBMITTER: Zheng L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808617 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature