Injectable hydrogels have emerged as a promising approach for controlled drug delivery in cartilage therapies, particularly for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. This review discusses the latest developments in utilizing injectable hydrogels for targeted drug delivery to promote cartilage repair and regeneration. OA is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage deterioration and inflammatory changes in the underlying bone. The pathogenesis of OA involves the imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix components by chondrocytes, leading to cartilage damage, subchondral bone thickening, and joint inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNFα play a significant role in OA progression by inducing catabolic effects on cartilage and promoting inflammation. The Wnt-β-catenin and Notch signaling pathways also contribute to OA pathogenesis by affecting cartilage and subchondral bone remodeling. Injectable hydrogels offer a sustainable solution for drug delivery, enabling long-term treatment for OA. These hydrogels possess desirable characteristics such as biofunctionality, biocompatibility, and tunable properties, including a porous framework, high water absorption, and mechanical stability. They can be designed to crosslink rapidly, enabling in situ hydrogel formation upon injection. Injectable hydrogels offer advantages such as convenient synthesis, good biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, high drug loading capacity, encapsulation, and controlled release of therapeutics. They are particularly advantageous for targeting irregularly shaped sites affected by OA, providing precise treatment at the desired location. Various types of injectable hydrogels have been developed for intra-articular delivery of OA therapeutics. These hydrogels can be crosslinked using physical or chemical crosslinking strategies. Physical crosslinking involves noncovalent interactions such as ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals, dipole-dipole, or London dispersion forces. Chemical crosslinking involves the formation of covalent bonds using strategies such as click chemistry, Michael addition, Schiff base reaction, enzyme-mediated reaction, or photopolymerization. Dual crosslinking combines physical and chemical crosslinking to improve the mechanical strength, swelling properties, stability, and degradation rates of hydrogels. Physically crosslinked injectable hydrogels, such as those formed by electrostatic interaction between anionic and cationic polymers, can entrap therapeutic agents and release them as they dissolve under in vivo conditions. Covalently crosslinked injectable hydrogels, such as those formed via click chemistry, offer stability and robust mechanical strength. These hydrogels can be used to deliver small molecule drugs, peptides, proteins, and cells. Enzyme-mediated crosslinking, such as using tyrosinase or horseradish peroxidase, allows for the crosslinking of natural polymers without compromising their bioactivity. These hydrogelsInjectable hydrogels have emerged as a promising approach for controlled drug delivery in cartilage therapies, particularly for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. This review discusses the latest developments in utilizing injectable hydrogels for targeted drug delivery to promote cartilage repair and regeneration. OA is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage deterioration and inflammatory changes in the underlying bone. The pathogenesis of OA involves the imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix components by chondrocytes, leading to cartilage damage, subchondral bone thickening, and joint inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNFα play a significant role in OA progression by inducing catabolic effects on cartilage and promoting inflammation. The Wnt-β-catenin and Notch signaling pathways also contribute to OA pathogenesis by affecting cartilage and subchondral bone remodeling. Injectable hydrogels offer a sustainable solution for drug delivery, enabling long-term treatment for OA. These hydrogels possess desirable characteristics such as biofunctionality, biocompatibility, and tunable properties, including a porous framework, high water absorption, and mechanical stability. They can be designed to crosslink rapidly, enabling in situ hydrogel formation upon injection. Injectable hydrogels offer advantages such as convenient synthesis, good biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, high drug loading capacity, encapsulation, and controlled release of therapeutics. They are particularly advantageous for targeting irregularly shaped sites affected by OA, providing precise treatment at the desired location. Various types of injectable hydrogels have been developed for intra-articular delivery of OA therapeutics. These hydrogels can be crosslinked using physical or chemical crosslinking strategies. Physical crosslinking involves noncovalent interactions such as ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals, dipole-dipole, or London dispersion forces. Chemical crosslinking involves the formation of covalent bonds using strategies such as click chemistry, Michael addition, Schiff base reaction, enzyme-mediated reaction, or photopolymerization. Dual crosslinking combines physical and chemical crosslinking to improve the mechanical strength, swelling properties, stability, and degradation rates of hydrogels. Physically crosslinked injectable hydrogels, such as those formed by electrostatic interaction between anionic and cationic polymers, can entrap therapeutic agents and release them as they dissolve under in vivo conditions. Covalently crosslinked injectable hydrogels, such as those formed via click chemistry, offer stability and robust mechanical strength. These hydrogels can be used to deliver small molecule drugs, peptides, proteins, and cells. Enzyme-mediated crosslinking, such as using tyrosinase or horseradish peroxidase, allows for the crosslinking of natural polymers without compromising their bioactivity. These hydrogels