MINI REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Translational Pharmacology
This article is part of the Research TopicAdvancements in Bioactive Nanomaterials for Disease ManagementView all 8 articles
Recent Developments in Quercetin Nanomedicine and Application in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Rherapy
Provisionally accepted
- 1Yichun University, Yichun, China
- 2Xiamen Siming Meiyingyahan Medical Aesthetic Clinic, Xiamen, China, Xiamen, China
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Quercetin has attracted increasing attention in the research of treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis due to its excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and joint-protective effects. However, the bioavailability of quercetin is relatively low, primarily due to its poor solubility, rapid metabolism, and high clearance rate. Nanotechnology offers new opportunities to enhance the bioavailability of quercetin. Nanoformulations possess many advantages, such as a larger surface area, which can effectively improve the solubility of quercetin. Encapsulating quercetin in nanocarriers can prolong its residence time in the body, thereby improving its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Targeted delivery can be achieved by modifying the surface of nanocarriers with ligands, allowing for direct transport of the drug to the site of injury and increasing the concentration at the lesion site. Nanocarriers can improve drug targeting and release behavior by adjusting their surface properties, thereby enhancing therapeutic effects. This article first summarizes the general preparation methods, drug-loading approaches, and common nanoformulations for quercetin. It then lists and summarizes the applications of quercetin nanoparticle formulations in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Finally, it concludes with a summary and outlook on the clinical applications and challenges associated with quercetin nanoformulations.
Keywords: applications, Nanoformulations, Osteoarthritis, Quercetin, Rheumatoid arthritis
Received: 17 Jan 2026; Accepted: 05 Feb 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Zhu, Chen, Yi, Zhou, Zhou and Zhong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Shenghui Zhong
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