Folate-conjugated albumin nanoparticles for rheumatoid arthritis-targeted delivery of etoricoxib

Objective: The present study discusses folic acid-etoricoxib-bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (F-ETX-NPs) using folic acid as an over expressed folate receptor ligand for activated macrophages in targeting of rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods: For this purpose etoricoxib-loaded BSA nanoparticles (ETX-NPs) were prepared by desolvation method and activated folic acid conjugation with free amine group of BSA was confirmed by FTIR study and zeta potential measurements. Results: The F-ETX-NPs showed spherical in shape with 215.8 +/- 3.2 nm average size +/- 7.8 mV zeta potential, 72 +/- 1.3% etoricoxib entrapment efficiency and showed 93.1 +/- 2.2% cumulative etoricoxib release upto 72 h. The etoricoxib concentration from F-ETX-NPs was found to be 9.67 +/- 0.34 mu g/g in inflamed joint after 24 h administration revealed remarkably targeting potential to the activated macrophages cells and keep at a high level during the experiment. Discussion and conclusion: These results suggest that F-ETX-NPs are potentially vector for activated macrophages cells targeting of rheumatoid arthritis.