Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Polymeric Prodrug Nanoparticles for Selective and Effective Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases.

It is challenging to manage inflammatory diseases using traditional anti-inflammatory drugs due to their limited efficacy and systemic side effects, which are a result of their lack of selectivity, poor stability, and solubility. Herein, we report the development of a novel nanoparticle system, called ROS-CA-NPs, which is formed using polymer-cinnamaldehyde (CA) conjugates and is responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS-CA-NPs exhibit excellent drug stability, tissue selectivity, and controlled drug release upon oxidative stress activation. Using mouse models of chronic rheumatoid arthritis and acute ulcerative colitis, we demonstrate that the systemic administration of ROS-CA-NPs results in their accumulation at inflamed lesions and leads to greater therapeutic efficacy compared to traditional drugs. Furthermore, ROS-CA-NPs present excellent biocompatibility. Our findings suggest that ROS-CA-NPs have the potential to be developed as safe and effective nanotherapeutic agents for a broad range of inflammatory diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.