Biomaterials as tools for re-balancing skewed immunity in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease featured by skewed immunity that can cause joint inflammation and cartilage destruction. Existing clinical therapeutic strategies, while alleviating the disease symptoms, are challenged by multiple side effects (i.e., short in vivo half-life, systemic immune suppression, toxicity, etc.). Biomaterials can solve these challenges due to their classical merits, including targeting, controlled release, and co-delivery. In this work, we introduced the use of biomaterials for tuning the skewed immunity in RA. We started by introducing RA pathogenesis and the immunity, followed by describing the features of biomaterials for tuning the immunity. We then discussed the use of classical biomaterials advantages for improved RA treatment. Highlighting the progress in the field, we introduced the cutting-edge biomaterials-based techniques for tuning RA immunity, including cell-mediated techniques, cell-mimicking strategies, and microneedles. This work thus demonstrates that biomaterials could be employed as potent and versatile tools for tuning RA immunity.