A Peptide Hydrogel Responsive to Reactive Oxygen Species and pH for the Protection and Sustained Delivery of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 in Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the leading cause of disability in adults worldwide. This debilitating disease is associated with a relatively high concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced pH in the joints. In this regard, we devised a two-pronged approach to treating OA that combines ROS neutralization and stimuli-responsive drug delivery. Specifically, we developed a series of biocompatible, self-healing short peptide hydrogels that preserve their rheological properties in a wide range of biologically relevant salt concentrations. We evaluated the ROS-responsive release of a cartilage healing promoting growth factor (insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF-1) from these biomaterials. Furthermore, the ROS-responsive peptide hydrogel's ability to sequester ROS can potentially relieve disease-associated symptoms and minimize cell damage. The simplicity and effectiveness of this multistimuli-responsive smart biomaterial suggest promise in OA treatment.