Exploration of bromelain laden nanostructured lipid carriers: An oral platform for bromelain delivery in rheumatoid arthritis management.

Bromelain, a cysteine protease exhibits promising potential in amelioration of wide variety of inflammatory disorders. Its denaturation or aggregation in gastric milieu depletes its therapeutic potential along with unpredictable prophylactic hypersensitivity reactions. Hence, efficient carrier system to improve bromelain's stability and avoid related side effects is of utmost importance. Therefore, present investigation was undertaken to prepare bromelain loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (Br-NCs) with high drug loading, stability and efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis management. Br-NCs fabricated via double emulsion solvent evaporation method were characterized for physical properties, morphology and stability. Optimized batch exhibited spherical shape, nanometric size (298.23 nm) and entrapment efficiency ~77% with sustained release behavior and improved gastric stability. Br-NCs exhibited 4.63-folds improvement in shelf-life compared to bromelain at room temperature. The protective potential of orally administered Br-NCs in rheumatoid arthritis was evaluated via assessing arthritis severity in wistar rats along with biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters. Br-NCs remarkably (p < 0.05) diminished paw edema, joint stiffness, mechanical allodynia and tissue damage along with alleviation of oxidative stress and immunological markers. Radiological joint alterations were also notably preserved with Br-NCs. Thus, preclinical studies distinctly manifested that Br-NCs formulation opens new avenue for development of novel effective therapeutic modality for rheumatoid arthritis management.