Adhesive hydrogels in osteoarthritis: from design to application

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease impacting over 500 million globally.
• Current OA treatments face challenges with stable integration of therapeutic delivery systems.
• Adhesive hydrogels offer a promising solution for enhancing implant and scaffold integration in OA therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current advancements in adhesive hydrogels for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment.
• To summarize hydrogel adhesion mechanisms, components, and bioactive therapeutic strategies for OA.
• To provide insights into designing novel bioadhesive systems for OA therapy by integrating chemistry and biology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of adhesive hydrogels used in OA treatment.
• Analysis of hydrogel adhesion mechanisms and components.
• Summary of bioactive therapeutic strategies for OA, considering its complex biological mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Adhesive hydrogels present a viable strategy for overcoming integration challenges in OA treatment systems.
• A comprehensive overview of hydrogel types, adhesion principles, and therapeutic additives is provided.
• The review highlights the interdisciplinary approach needed for developing effective bioadhesive hydrogels.

Conclusions:

• Adhesive hydrogels are crucial for stable integration of therapeutic systems in osteoarthritis treatment.
• Understanding adhesion mechanisms and incorporating bioactive strategies are key for novel OA therapies.
• This review offers a comprehensive perspective for designing advanced bioadhesive hydrogels for OA management.