Application of PLGA microsphere as a new DDS of statin for osteoarthritis

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K10478
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University (2017); Kyushu University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Okazaki Ken 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (10398092)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 変形性関節症 / 軟骨代謝 / 軟骨変性 / スタチン / 薬物療法 / drug delivery system

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated therapeutic effects of the local administration of statin in osteoarthritis (OA). We assessed clinically used statins and selected fluvastatin for further experimentation, as it showed potent anabolic and anti-catabolic effects on human OA chondrocytes. To achieve controlled intra-articular administration of statin, we developed an intra-articular injectable statin using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)
(PLGA) as a drug delivery system (DDS). The release profile of the statin was evaluated in vitro. Finally, therapeutic effects of fluvastatin-loaded PLGA microspheres (FLU-PLGA) were tested in a rabbit OA model.
Histological analysis 5 weeks after intra-articular injection revealed that OARSI scores were lower in FLU-PLGA-treated group than PLGA alone or saline control groups. This study indicates that a single intra-articular injection of fluvastatin-loaded PLGA microspheres could be a novel therapeutic approach for treating patients with OA.

Free Research Field

整形外科学