Single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics revealed that the coacervate–cell–drug system effectively protects articular cartilage in osteoarthritic rats from wear and degenerative deterioration.

Single-cell profiling of macrophages demonstrated that the coacervate–cell–drug system effectively reversed the pro-inflammatory phenotype by driving the transition of M1 macrophages toward a reparative M2c phenotype. Single-cell analysis of joint tissues further revealed strong interactions between exogenous GFP-labeled stem cells delivered by the coacervate–cell–drug system and endogenous joint-resident cells.

Spatial transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that the coacervate–cell–drug system effectively promotes extracellular matrix repair in osteoarthritic cartilage.