BECN1 and osteoarthritis: To assess the effects of PEP on autophagic flux and apoptosis in both healthy and osteoarthritic human chondrocytes in vitro; To determine whether PEP modulates chondrocyte autophagy via regulation of BCL2–Beclin1 signaling; To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of PEP delivered intra-particularly in a rat model of surgically induced osteoarthritis, focusing on functional improvement, histological preservation, and molecular markers of cartilage health.