Authors
Tao Chen, Weiliang Zhi, Guangcheng Wu, Xiangming He, Hanbo Wang, Ziyue Wang, Xianyi Yang, Xiling Qi, Long Chen, Sixiang Rao, Liming Zheng, Jiankun Xu, Guangtao Zan, Wei Liu, Yifan Liu, Jinwu Wang, Hui Wang, Yifeng Zhang
Published in
Bioactive materials. Volume 65. Pages 593-608. Epub Jun 16, 2026.
Abstract
The spatiotemporal histopathological features of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA) remain inadequately characterized, which impedes the advancement of strategies to halt irreversible joint deterioration. Herein a murine OA model, the initial phase (<10 days post-surgery) is characterized by pronounced mitochondrial dysfunction in chondrocytes and concurrent activation of subchondral osteoclasts. Beyond this period, irreversible cartilage degeneration ensues, marked by chondrocyte apoptosis and subchondral bone sclerosis. We further identified magnesium (Mg) as a key regulator of cellular metabolic balance, capable of reinstating homeostasis in inflamed chondrocytes while modulating osteoclast overactivity. Based on this, we developed dual-concentration Mg-releasing biphasic microspheres that effectively halted early OA progression in vivo. In contrast, delayed administration conferred benefits predominantly limited to the subchondral bone, without achieving cartilage preservation. These results underscore the existence of a critical therapeutic window for metabolic intervention in OA, wherein Mg-based biomaterials exert protective effects exclusively during the early disease stage. Thus, this study offers a new strategic perspective for the clinical management of OA.
PMID:
42359363
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 26 Jun 2026.
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