Osteoarthritis: pathogenesis and alternative therapies

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disease that affects the whole joint, causing significant pain, disability, and a decreased quality of life in many cases. Clinical treatments for OA have typically emphasized symptom relief for joint discomfort rather than slowing the spread of the condition. The focus of OA prevention strategies has recently switched to early detection and slowing or stopping the disease's progression before it causes extensive damage. Nanotechnology has been applied in several medical fields including the treatment of OA. Nanoparticles (NPs) may pass through a variety of obstacles, and the development of NPs that encapsulate or bind drug molecules can increase pharmaceutical solubility, stability, and absorption capacity.