MicroRNA-targeting nanomedicines for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration

Low back pain stands as a pervasive global health concern, afflicting almost 80% of adults at some point in their lives with nearly 40% attributable to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). As only symptomatic relief can be offered to patients there is a dire need for innovative treatments. Given the accumulating evidence that multiple microRNAs (miRs) are dysregulated during IVDD, they could have a huge potential against this debilitating condition. The way mills can profoundly modulate signaling pathways and influence several cellular processes at once is particularly exciting to tackle this multifaceted disorder. However, mill delivery encounters extracellular and intracellular biological barriers. A promising technology to address this challenge is the vectorization of mills within nanoparticles, providing both protection and enhancing their uptake within the scarce target cells of the degenerated IVD. This comprehensive review presents the diverse spectrum of mills' connection with IVDD and demonstrates their therapeutic potential when vectorized in nanomedicines.