Glucocorticoid‐Loaded Core‐Cross‐Linked Polymeric Micelles with Tailorable Release Kinetics for Targeted Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Polymerizable and hydrolytically cleavable dexamethasone (DEX, red dot in picture) derivatives were covalently entrapped in core-cross-linked polymeric micelles that were prepared from a thermosensitive block copolymer (yellow and gray building block). By varying the oxidation degree of the thioether in the drug linker, the release rate of DEX could be controlled. The DEX-loaded micelles were used for efficient treatment of inflammatory arthritis in two animal models.