Localized Delivery of Nanoemulsified Curcumin Ameliorates Joint Edema, Cartilage Fibrillation and Synovial Inflammation in the Osteoarthritis Model, and Macrophage Recruitment in Stimulated Chondrocytes

Apr 22, 2026

Localized delivery of nanoemulsified curcumin (n-Cur) was evaluated in a rat knee osteoarthritis model for effects on joint microenvironment changes and macrophage recruitment. In monoiodoacetate-induced OA, intra-articular n-Cur reduced joint edema and articular cavity stenosis, and improved cartilage by decreasing fibrillation and hypocellularity while restoring matrix proteoglycan. Reduced synovial inflammation correlated with lowered macrophage recruitment in stimulated chondrocytes, supporting n-Cur as a chondroprotective agent.

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Apr 22, 2026