Biomimetic Epigallocatechin Gallate-Cerium Assemblies for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoidarthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory diseasethat is so far incurable with long-term health risks. The high dosesand frequent administration for the available RA drug always leadto adverse side effects. Aiming at the obstacles to achieving effectiveRA treatment, we prepared macrophage cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles(M-EC), which were assembled from epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)and cerium(IV) ions. Due to its geometrical similarity to the activemetal sites of a natural antioxidant enzyme, the EC possessed a highscavenge efficiency to various types of reactive oxygen species (ROS)and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The macrophage cell membraneassisted M-EC in escaping from the immune system, being uptaken byinflammatory cells, and specifically binding IL-1 & beta;. After tailvein injection to the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model,the M-EC accumulated at inflamed joints and effectively repaired thebone erosion and cartilage damage of rheumatoid arthritis by relievingsynovial inflammation and cartilage erosion. It is expected that theM-EC can not only pave a new way for designing metal-phenolicnetworks with better biological activity but also provide a more biocompatibletherapeutic strategy for effective treatment of RA.