Sol-gel synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles and their evaluation as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

We synthesized MgO NPs via sol-gel reaction and investigated them as carriers to deliver Mg to the affected joint for osteoarthritis (OA). The physicochemical properties of samples were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The release of Mg was monitored by ICP-MS. The potential cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay. The efficacy and biosafety were evaluated in a rabbit OA model. MgO NPs can prolong the Mg release time from 0.5 h to 12 h. No significant cytotoxicity was observed when concentrations below 250 μg/ml. Intra-articular samples could effectively alleviate the degeneration and destruction of the cartilage. this study demonstrates the potential of MgO NPs as a safe and effective treatment of OA. Simultaneously, the size of the particles may play a significant role in influencing the therapeutic outcome.