Folate-Targeted Liposomal Formulations Improve Effects of Methotrexate in Murine Collagen-Induced Arthritis.

ABSTRACT: Methotrexate (MTX) is first-line therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however, its use may be limited by side effects notably post-injection malaise. When patients are intolerant or become unresponsive, second-line or antibody therapy may be indicated. A folate-targeted liposomal formulation of MTX (FL-MTX) is tropic to arthritic paws and prevents the onset of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in the mouse. We optimized the drug-to-lipid molar ratio to 0.15 and demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of this form at 2 mg/kg MTX intraperitoneal (i.p.) twice a week. These improved liposomes were present in inflamed joints in proportion to the degree of swelling of the paw and bone remodeling activity. FL-MTX had lower hepatic and renal elimination of MTX than the free substan

SUBMITTER: Guimaraes D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8869739 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature