Self‐Lubricating and Self‐Healing Polyurethane Elastomer as a Meniscal Prosthesis to Delay Osteoarthritis Progression

Abstract The absence of a meniscal prosthesis that fully accommodates the complex motion demands of the human knee joint remains a challenge in clinical practice. This study synthesized a polyurethane elastomer with enhanced mechanical properties, featuring a dynamic dimethyldioxime‐urethane structure that provides self‐healing capabilities. Additionally, adamantane‐grafted hyaluronic acid has been integrated into polyurethane containing cyclodextrin, imparting self‐lubricating properties through supramolecular host‐guest interactions between adamantane and cyclodextrin. This innovative polyurethane elastomer is utilized to fabricate a meniscal prosthesis (DPU@HA). In vitro experiments demonstrated DPU@HA's exceptional cytocompatibility with chondrocytes. In vivo studies revealed that DPU@HA significantly protected articular cartilage following meniscus removal by reducing the high mechanical stress within the cartilage, thereby inhibiting Piezo1 overactivation and subsequent chondrocyte apoptosis. With its self‐healing and self‐lubricating properties, the meniscal prosthesis (DPU@HA) holds promise for clinical applications in preventing the progression of osteoarthritis after meniscectomy.