Sustained release of locally delivered celecoxib provides pain relief for osteoarthritis: a proof of concept in dog patients

Anna R Tellegen, Imke Rudnik-Jansen, Lizette Utomo, Sabine Versteeg, Martijn Beukers, Roelof Maarschalkerweerd, Dick van Zuilen, Nicoline J van Klaveren, Kaat Houben, Erik Teske, P René van Weeren, Nina Karssemakers-Degen, George Mihov, Jens Thies, Niels Eijkelkamp, Laura B Creemers, Björn P Meij, Marianna A Tryfonidou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Drug delivery platforms that allow for gradual drug release after intra-articular administration have become of much interest as a treatment strategy for osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of an intra-articular sustained release formulation containing celecoxib (CXB), a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor.

METHODS: Amino acid-based polyesteramide microspheres (PEAMs), a biodegradable and non-toxic platform, were loaded with CXB and employed in two in vivo models of arthritis: an acute inflammatory arthritis model in rats (n = 12), and a randomized controlled study in chronic OA dog patients (n = 30). In parallel, the bioactivity of sustained release of CXB was evaluated in monolayer cultures of primary dog chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions.

RESULTS: Sustained release of CXB did not alleviate acute arthritis signs in the rat arthritis model, based on pain measurements and synovitis severity. However, in OA dog patients, sustained release of CXB improved limb function as objective parameter of pain and quality of life based on gait analysis and owner questionnaires. It also decreased pain medication dependency over a 2-month period and caused no adverse effects. Prostaglandin E 2 levels, a marker for inflammation, were lower in the synovial fluid of CXB-treated dog OA patients and in CXB-treated cultured dog chondrocytes.

CONCLUSION: These results show that local sustained release of CXB is less suitable to treat acute inflammation in arthritic joints, while safe and effective in treating pain in chronic OA in dogs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)351-362
Number of pages12
JournalOsteoarthritis and Cartilage
Volume31
Issue number3
Early online date5 Dec 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Controlled release
  • Inflammation
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Pain

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