Current status and future prospects of nanocarrier-mediated miRNA delivery for osteoarthritis therapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease whose pathogenesis involves multiple pathways, including inflammatory responses, cartilage matrix metabolism, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Currently, effective clinical treatments are lacking. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with the pathogenesis of OA and represent potential therapeutic agents for this disease. However, issues such as miRNA instability, off-target effects, and low cellular uptake efficiency have limited their clinical application. Nanocarriers, which are widely used for targeted drug delivery, offer a convenient approach for miRNA-based OA therapy. Numerous studies have employed nanomaterials such as polymer-based, lipid-based, inorganic nanoparticles, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) to deliver miRNAs, effectively inhibiting the progression of OA and achieving therapeutic goals. This review summarizes research advances in the use of nanoparticles to deliver miRNAs for the treatment of OA, explores the associated clinical prospects and challenges, and proposes potential pathways toward intelligent, precise, and personalized therapy, with the aim of informing miRNA-mediated gene therapy for OA.