Development of biomedical hydrogels for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that hinders the normal functioning of bones and joints and reduces quality of human life. Every year millions of people are diagnosed with RA worldwide which particularly includes elderly and women groups. Therefore, this global cause warrants the development of new biomaterials, medicines, and therapeutic methods for RA treatment. This will improve Healthcare Access and Quality Index and will also relieve administrative and financial burdens of healthcare service providers at a global scale. Hydrogels are soft and cross-linked polymeric materials that can store a certain number of fluids, drugs and biomolecules for hydration and therapeutic applications. Hydrogels are biocompatible and exhibit excellent mechanical properties like providing elastic cushions to articulating joints by mimicking the natural synovial fluid. Hence, hydrogels create a natural biological environment within the synovial cavity to decrease autoimmune reactions and friction. Hydrogels also lubricate the articulating joint surfaces to prevent degradation of synovial surfaces of bones and cartilage, thus conceiting high potential to treat RA. This work reviews the progress in injectable and implantable hydrogels, synthesis methods, types of drugs, advantages and challenges, and also discusses the role of targeted drug delivery, mechanistic behaviour, and tribological performance for RA treatment.