Prospective applications of hydrogels for the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis

Abstract

Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that leads to gradual loss of cartilage and the formation of osteophytes, and consequently to joint instability, pain, and limited mobility. Treatment options include drug therapy, physiotherapy, lifestyle changes and surgery to correct or replace the joint. Intra-articular treatments, such as the injection of hydrogels modified for specific clinical tasks, are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to provide targeted and effective relief with minimal side effects.Purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of hydrogels for the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) based on a review of scientific literature.Materials and methods Literature sources for the evaluation of the use of hydrogels for the intraarticular treatment of OA were selected using the subject search queries “hydrogel” AND “intra? articular” AND “osteoarthritis” in the PubMed, ScienceDirect and SciSpace databases. The search period was limited to 2018–2023 years of publication. An initial selection of articles by search glories resulted in 1,576 articles; after analysis and application of exclusion criteria, 53 of the most relevant sources were included in the review.Results Two types of hydrogels for intra-articular use have been dentified: injectable and implantable. Injectable hydrogels are used to replace synovial fluid, deliver drugs or fill focal cartilage defects. Implantable hydrogels are used to replace or repair damaged cartilage in joints affected by OA, thereby restoring surface integrity, reducing pain and improving function.Discussion Hydrogels demonstrate promise as a potential material for the treatment of OA as they offer several advantages, such as biomimicry, biocompatibility, minimally invasive administration and the ability to deliver therapeutic agents directly to the affected joint. However, there are limitations: uncontrolled degradation, low durability and a high likelihood of negative local and systemic immune reactions.Conclusion Further research is needed to optimize the design and composition of hydrogels for clinical use, including the development of new compositions with programmable properties, studying long-term effects and comparing effectiveness with other OA treatment.