Engineered Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery in Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis: Translational Insights and Current Advances

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) is a degenerative disorder involving cartilage degeneration, synovial inflammation, and abnormal bone remodeling. Current clinical treatments are limited by low delivery efficiency and short intra-articular drug retention. This review summarizes recent advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for TMJ OA therapy. Various nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymer nanoparticles, nanomicelles, metal-organic frameworks, and hydrogels, have been investigated for their ability to improve joint targeting, extend intra-articular residence time, and enable sustained or stimuli-responsive drug release. In addition, emerging nanomaterials, such as nanozymes, inorganic nanomaterials, and carbon-based materials, show potential in modulating the inflammatory microenvironment and supporting cartilage repair. However, most current evidence is derived from non-TMJ OA models or related nanoplatform studies, and direct TMJ-specific validation remains limited, which constrains translational interpretation. Despite these advances, several challenges remain, including limited penetration across physiological barriers, insufficient durability of therapeutic effects, and unresolved safety issues in clinical translation. Future studies should place greater emphasis on TMJ-specific validation, the development of intelligent responsive delivery systems, and the establishment of standardized evaluation approaches. The integration of patient-specific factors may further support precision treatment and facilitate the clinical translation of nanotherapeutic strategies for TMJ OA.