Magnetically Guided Intracartilaginous Delivery of Kartogenin Improves Stem Cell-Targeted Degenerative Arthritis Therapy

BACKGROUND: Degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Intra-articular injection is the mainstay nonsurgical treatment for OA. However, dense cartilage and a lack of vasculature often limit the ability of drugs to reach cell or tissue targets at the concentrations necessary to elicit the desired biological response. Kartogenin (KGN), a small molecular compound, possesses a strong capacity to promote chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, the rapid clearance of KGN from the intra-articular cavity limits its feasibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We constructed a magnetically guided biodegradable nanocarrier system (MNP) which enabled intracartilaginous delivery of KGN to promote chondrogenic differentiation by MSCs embedded within the articular matrix. Moreover, in preclinical models of OA, KGN-loaded MNPs exhibited increased tissue penetration and retention within the joint matrix under external magnetic guidance. RESULTS: Histological examination showed that compared with KGN alone, KGN-loaded MNPs enhanced chondrogenic differentiation and improved the structural integrity of both articular cartilage and subchondral bone. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a practical method for intracartilaginous delivery using engineered nanocarriers, thus providing a new strategy to improve the efficacy of molecular therapeutic agents in the treatment of OA.