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Injectable hydrogel could keep osteoarthritis treatments working for weeks

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have developed an injectable depot that delivers medications slowly and provides joint lubrication.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 15:30 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • University at Buffalo scientists have created a thermo-responsive hydrogel that remains in arthritic joints for several weeks to release drugs gradually.
  • The material transitions from a liquid to a lubricating semisolid depot at body temperature, addressing the challenge of rapid drug clearance from synovial fluid.
  • The platform aims to reduce the frequency of joint injections and minimize systemic drug exposure by keeping hydrophobic therapies concentrated locally.

Key facts

  • The newly developed hydrogel is administered as a liquid and solidifies into a smooth, lubricating depot upon reaching body temperature inside the joint.[ScienceDaily]
  • The system utilizes a biocompatible polymer matrix combined with nanocarriers to deliver poorly soluble, hydrophobic compounds in high concentrations.[ScienceDaily]
  • Researchers validated the drug delivery platform using a SIRT6 activator.[ScienceDaily]
  • The platform has potential applications for knee osteoarthritis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, and rotator cuff degeneration.[ScienceDaily]

What remains uncertain

  • The clinical translation and effectiveness of this platform in human patients remains untested, though researchers designed the system using materials with prior regulatory acceptance to ease future approval processes.[ScienceDaily]

Sources