Preventative therapy for post-traumatic osteoarthritis

Abstract

Compositions comprising a reverse-temperature sensitive hydrogel comprising a biopolymer such as a polysaccharide and a synthetic polymer, and a compound in an amount that reversibly inhibits respiratory enzyme complex I, and methods of using the composition, are provided.

1 . A composition comprising a reverse-temperature sensitive hydrogel comprising a polysaccharide and a synthetic polymer, and a compound that prevents or inhibits chondrocyte death or enhances chondrocyte function. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide comprises hyaluronic acid (HA), hydroxypropylcellulose, karaya gum (KG), guar gum (GUG), or gellan gum (GEG). 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the hydrogel includes about 0.2 wt/vol to about 4% wt/vol HA. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the HA has a MW of 1.5 M Dalton or greater. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the HA has a MW of about 1,600,000 to 3,200,000. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the synthetic polymer comprises a polaxamer. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the compound comprises amobarbital or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the compound comprises adenosine diphosphate ribose, or metformin. 
     
     
         9 . A method to prevent or inhibit post-traumatic osteoarthritis after injury in a mammal, comprising administering to an injured joint of the mammal an effective amount of the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating articular injury in a mammal, comprising: injecting into an injured joint of a mammal an effective amount of the composition of  claim 1 .