Hydrogel for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Worldwide, the prevalence of osteoarthritis has grown significantly in recent years, and the rate of growth is accelerating. In recent years, the number of people with osteoarthritis has increased rapidly worldwide, and the rate of increase is on the rise. The development of osteoarthritis at an advanced stage can cause significant physical and psychological damage to patients. This article will introduce the application of natural and synthetic hydrogels in the field of osteoarthritis treatment. Natural hydrogels such as gelatin, alginate and polysaccharide have good biocompatibility and biodegradability and can be used for intra-articular drug delivery after modification. Synthetic hydrogels such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and poly (lactic acid-hydroxyacetic acid) copolymer have good mechanical properties and can be used for intra-articular drug delivery and joint lubricants. In this article describes the application of hydrogels to carry a range of drugs and cell growth factors for the treatment of osteoarthritis, to act as scaffolds for cell growth, to lubricate joint cavities, and to reduce loads on joints, as well as several hydrogel modification methods to give them better biological or mechanical properties.