biostudies-literatureFragassi ANational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesH2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie ActionsNIAMS NIH HHS60145-60161https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12598699biostudies-literatureUnknown17(44)Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, characterized by a vicious cycle of synovial inflammation and cartilage degradation. Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based products, one of the currently available treatments, provides only temporary symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying inflammation. Here, we engineered several configurations of 20 × 5 μm square-shaped HA-based hydrogel microparticles (μHA) by photopolymerizing HA-methacrylate chains within a sacrificial template. The μHA mechano-pharmacological properties were tuned by adjusting the HA concentration, molecular weight, and degree of methacrylation, resulting in microparticles with a Young's modulus ranging from a few tens (30 kPa) to a few hundred (200 kPa) kilopascals; a structure staACS applied materials & interfacesHyaluronic Acid Microplates for Intra-articular Lubrication and Cartilage Protection in Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis.PMC12598699R01 AR078666872648Francesco MDSoltes ADecuzzi PGoldoni LGreco APalomba RYu FFragassi AKasem HAmmar AADuvall CGonzalez De Anleo MEGranero-Molto FCeseracciu LPapa VKeech MBrahmachari SD'Arcy RfalseHyaluronic Acid Microplates for Intra-articular Lubrication and Cartilage Protection in Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis.Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, characterized by a vicious cycle of synovial inflammation and cartilage degradation. Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based products, one of the currently available treatments, provides only temporary symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying inflammation. Here, we engineered several configurations of 20 × 5 μm square-shaped HA-based hydrogel microparticles (μHA) by photopolymerizing HA-methacrylate chains within a sacrificial template. The μHA mechano-pharmacological properties were tuned by adjusting the HA concentration, molecular weight, and degree of methacrylation, resulting in microparticles with a Young's modulus ranging from a few tens (30 kPa) to a few hundred (200 kPa) kilopascals; a structure sta2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Nov2026-06-05T13:13:15.036Z2026-05-17T03:13:18.787ZS-EPMC125986994107658210.1021/acsami.5c11890