Injectable hydrogel system prolongs joint retention in osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide. Current intra-articular standards of care, such as analgesics, corticosteroids and viscosupplements, provide only transient symptomatic relief and do not reliably modify disease progression. A major translational barrier is the rapid clearance of small-molecule drugs and biologics from synovial fluid, as well as the…
Osteoarthritis, a leading cause of chronic pain and disability, currently has intra-articular treatments like analgesics, corticosteroids, and viscosupplements that only provide temporary symptom relief and cannot halt disease progression. The issue lies in the rapid elimination of small-molecule drugs and delivery of hydrophobic compounds with therapeutic concentration without causing systemic exposure.
University at Buffalo has developed an injectable hydrogel system to overcome these challenges. This platform allows for sustained local delivery of therapeutics for osteoarthritis through a single minimally invasive injection. Upon injection, the formulation quickly transitions from a liquid to a lubricious semisolid depot at body temperature, enabling localized drug release over weeks.
The biocompatible platform merges a polymer matrix with drug-loaded nanocarriers designed to load high amounts of poorly soluble therapeutics using materials approved for prior regulation, facilitating clinical translation. The drug is released via diffusion and matrix relaxation, ensuring controlled local exposure. The platform has been validated with a SIRT6 activator and can be adapted for other hydrophobic disease-modifying agents, potentially combining sustained drug delivery with viscosupplementation while minimizing systemic exposure.
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