Bone Targeting Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis (OP) affects millions of people worldwide, especially postmenopausal women and the elderly. Although current available anti-OP agents can show promise in slowing down bone resorption, most are not specifically delivered to the hard tissue, causing significant toxicity. A bone-targeted nanodrug delivery system can reduce side effects and precisely deliver drug candidates to the bone. This review focuses on the progress of bone-targeted nanoparticles in OP therapy. We enumerate the existing OP medications, types of bone-targeted nanoparticles and categorize pairs of the most common bone-targeting functional groups. Finally, we summarize the potential use of bone-targeted nanoparticles in OP treatment. Ongoing research into the development of targeted ligands and nanocarriers will continue to expand the possibilities of OP-targeted therapies into clinical application.

Keywords: bone targeting; nanomedicine; osteoporosis therapy.

Graphical abstract

Figure 1

NPs are classified into different categories according to their properties, shape or size. Each class of NPs has several subclasses, with advantages and limitations are presented here.

Figure 2

Targeted ligands and their targets for the treatment of OP. Bone-targeted nano-delivery systems can be specifically delivered to bone matrix, bone marrow, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts by using various targeting ligands, including BPs, peptides, antibodies, and many other synthetic chemical molecules.

Figure 3

General structures of bisphosphonate, tetracycline, Asp-rich peptides, and its analogues with variable groups extending the function for bone target.