Presentation summary

Background :
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation, synovialinflammation, and subchondral bone changes. Current clinical treatments primarily focus on symptom relief butfail to modify disease progression or promote cartilage regeneration.

Objectives :
This study systematically reviews the therapeutic potential of natural bioactive compounds combined withadvanced drug delivery systems (DDS), with a particular focus on their applicability through pharmacopuncture for OA management.

Methods :
A comprehensive analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies was conducted, evaluating biomaterial-based DDSplatforms—including hydrogels, microspheres, and metal-organic frameworks—loaded with natural compounds such as curcumin, icariin, rhein, salicin, and arctiin. Their effects on inflammation, oxidative stress,cartilage protection, and regeneration were examined.

Results :
Natural compounds demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and chondroprotective effects byregulating cytokine expression, inhibiting matrix-degrading enzymes, and restoring mitochondrial function.DDS platforms effectively prolonged intra-articular retention, enhanced bioavailability, and enabled targetedmodulation of OA pathology. Pharmacopuncture using these systems showed promising outcomes inpreclinical models.

Conclusion :
Integrating natural bioactive compounds with advanced DDS offers a novel therapeutic strategy for OA, shifting treatment paradigms from symptomatic relief toward true disease modification. Further preclinical and clinical studies are warranted to validate efficacy and optimize application protocols.