PRP-chitosan thermoresponsive hydrogel combined with black phosphorus nanosheets as injectable biomaterial for biotherapy and phototherapy treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease causing destruction of bone and cartilago articularis. Traditional treatment methods have many side effects, or too concerne about the anti-inflammatory mechanisms but ignore osteanagenesis. In this work, a novel therapeutic platform combined black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNs) into platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-chitosan thermoresponsive hydrogel has been prepared for management of RA. The BPNs generate local heat upon near-infrared irradiation, and delivering reactive oxygen species (ROS) to the inflamed joints simultaneously for removing hyperplastic synovial tissue. The injectable chitosan thermoresponsive hydrogel can take control of the releasing of BPNs degradation products, which provide ample raw materials for osteanagenesis. In addition, the PRP can effectively improve the adhesion and increase capacity of mesenchymal stem cells on chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels. And this thermoresponsive hydrogel can protect articular cartilage by reducing the friction on the surrounding tissue. Drug delayed release property was indicated by the release and uptake of methotrexate. The edema degree of the arthritic mouse was reduced obviously by the BPNs/Chitosan/PRP thermoresponsive hydrogel. Both in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that the thermoresponsive hydrogel can provide a potential possibility for the management of RA.