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New Biomaterial Regrows Damaged Cartilage in Joints
Context:
Recently, Northwestern University scientists have developed a new bioactive material that successfully regenerated high-quality cartilage in the knee joints of a large-animal model.
Study Details:
- The material was tested in sheep with cartilage defects in the stifle joint, similar to the human knee.
- Researchers applied the material to damaged cartilage in the animals‘ knee joints.
- They observed enhanced repair, including the growth of new cartilage containing natural biopolymers (collagen II and proteoglycans) which enable pain-free mechanical resilience in joints.
What’s in the Material?
- It appears as a rubbery goo, the material is a complex network of molecular components mimicking cartilage’s natural environment.
- Components include Bioactive peptide that binds to transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFb-1), essential for cartilage growth and maintenance and Modified hyaluronic acid, a natural polysaccharide present in cartilage and synovial fluid.
- The material integrates these components to form nanoscale fibres.
- It creates an attractive scaffold for the body’s cells to regenerate cartilage tissue, using bioactive signals to encourage repair.
Bioactive material:
- It is defined as a material that elicits a specific response at its interface, resulting in the formation of a bond between the tissue and the material.
- These materials are capable of inducing specific and predictable responses from cells and tissues.
Clinical Relevance:
- The new material could potentially prevent full knee replacement surgeries, treat degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis, and repair sports-related injuries such as ACL tears.
- Material could be applied during open-joint or arthroscopic surgeries in the future.
- Current Standard: Microfracture surgery, which often results in fibrocartilage rather than the desired hyaline cartilage.
- The new material aims to regenerate hyaline cartilage, which should be more resistant to wear and tear, improving long-term mobility and reducing joint pain.
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Osteoarthritis
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Cartilage:
- It is a strong, flexible connective tissue that acts as a cushion between bones, reducing friction and absorbing shock in joints, preventing bones from rubbing together.
- It provides structure and shape to certain body parts, such as the nose, ears, and parts of the rib cage.
- Cartilage damage can occur suddenly due to injuries, such as sports-related trauma, or gradually over time, leading to conditions like osteoarthritis.
- Damage or degeneration of cartilage can impair joint function, making it difficult or impossible to use the affected joints normally.
Degenerative diseases:
- Degenerative diseases are characterised by the progressive deterioration of the structure and function of specific organs or tissues over time.
- They are influenced by a combination of genetic and external factors and often worsen with age.
- Diseases involve ongoing degenerative cell changes that affect tissues or organs.
- There is a gradual worsening of the affected tissues or organs.
- Neurodegenerative Diseases: In diseases affecting the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, nerve cells either stop functioning or die through neurodegeneration.
- Examples: Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Atherosclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Macular Degeneration.