Injectable self-healing hydrogel loaded PLGA nanoparticles for long-term osteoarthritis therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a significant challenge, necessitating advanced therapeutic strategies.
• Current OA treatments often lack sustained efficacy and face challenges with hydrogel stability.
• Developing injectable, stable, and multi-functional hydrogels is crucial for effective OA therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel injectable, self-healing hydrogel for osteoarthritis (OA) therapy.
• To incorporate icariin-PLGA nanoparticles (ICA NPs) for enhanced therapeutic effects.
• To create a hydrogel responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pH for targeted drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a borate/diol cross-linked hydrogel network.
• Loading of icariin-PLGA nanoparticles (ICA NPs) into the hydrogel matrix.
• In vivo evaluation of joint retention, ROS scavenging, and therapeutic efficacy in an OA model.

Main Results:

• The developed hydrogel demonstrated sustained joint retention for over 30 days.
• Synergistic reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging was achieved through ICA-borate bond interactions.
• The hydrogel exhibited dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidative therapeutic effects in vivo.
• The self-healing property addressed hydrogel damage under mechanical stress.

Conclusions:

• The ROS/pH-responsive self-healing hydrogel loaded with ICA NPs is a promising injectable therapeutic system for OA.
• The unique borate/diol cross-linked network provides mechanical stability and self-healing capabilities.
• This innovative approach offers significant potential for improving OA treatment outcomes through sustained drug delivery and synergistic therapeutic actions.