Researchers have developed neutrophil "nanosponges" made of biodegradable polymer-coated nanoparticles to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The nanosponges mimic white blood cells and absorb inflammatory proteins that cause arthritis progression. By interrupting these cytokines, the nanosponges inhibit the inflammatory process and prevent neutrophils from invading joints and causing inflammation. Tests in mice found the nanosponges effectively treated arthritis by neutralizing various proteins involved in the disease.

1. Nanosponges: A New Invention To Cure Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Researchers in the United States of America has developed a neutrophil “nanosponges”
for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This new invention is said to be a better
alternative to the current treatments for arthritis. The findings appeared in the journal of
Nature Nanotechnology.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints in the
human body. It is also called autoimmune disease, as the body’s immune system
attacks its own tissue, including the joints. The typical symptoms of arthritis are joint
pains, joint swelling, joint stiffness, and loss of joint function. The severe attack of
rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint deformity and bone erosion. There is no cure for
rheumatoid arthritis, but there are treatment options to manage the disease-
physiotherapy and medication. Recently, the researchers have found a neutrophil
‘nanosponges’ to cure arthritis., which absorbs the protein that causes the progression
of rheumatoid arthritis.
What are “Nanosponges”?
Nanosponges are nano-sized particles which are crafted to look like red blood cells and
protect the body. These nanosponges block the pathological molecules from triggering
disease in the body. Rather than developing treatments that block only a few types of
pathological molecules, the researchers are aiming for developing a platform that
prevents and treats a broad spectrum of diseases effectively.
How does Nanosponges work?

2. Nanosponges are designed in a such a way that it neutralizes the variety of protein that
causes rheumatoid arthritis. The Nanosponges are made of biodegradable polymer
coated nanoparticles with the cell membranes of neutrophils- a type of white blood cell.
Injecting these nanoparticles are found to be effective in treating arthritis.
When rheumatoid arthritis develops, the cells in the joints produce cytokines-
inflammatory proteins. This release of cytokines signals the neutrophils to invade the
joints. Here the cytokines bind with the neutrophils causing inflammation in the joints.
The nanosponges inhibit this inflammatory process from the start by interrupting the
cytokines and stops them from signaling for neutrophils.
Nanosponges an effective treatment
Nanosponges have emerged as an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The
senior researcher Zhang explained, “Neutralising just one or two types might not be as
effective. So our approach is to take neutrophil cell membranes, which naturally have
receptors to bind all these different types of cytokines, and use them to manage an
entire population of inflammatory molecules.”
This is an excellent innovation as nanosponges can also be used as a preventive
treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.