Stiff, Achy Knees? Lab-Made Cartilage Gel Outperforms the Real Thing
Human clinical trials may begin as soon as next year.
Knee pain is a common issue, often caused by the wear and tear of cartilage known as osteoarthritis. For those who want to avoid replacing the entire knee joint, there may be another option that can help patients get back on their feet fast and stay that way.
Researchers at Duke University have created the first gel-based cartilage substitute that is even stronger and more durable than natural cartilage. The team’s hydrogel material, made of water-absorbing polymers, can withstand more force than natural cartilage and is three times more resistant to wear and tear.
Implants made of this material are currently being developed by Sparta Biomedical and tested in sheep. Researchers plan to begin clinical trials in humans next year.
To create the material, the team took thin sheets of cellulose fibers and infused them with a polymer called polyvinyl alcohol to form a gel. The cellulose fibers give the gel strength when stretched, while the polyvinyl alcohol helps it return to its original shape. The result is a Jello-like material that is 60% water.
The team’s lab-made version of cartilage can handle more force than natural cartilage. It is 26% stronger in tension and 66% stronger in compression. The gel also holds up better over time, withstanding wear and tear three times better than natural cartilage.
This new material could be a game-changer for people dealing with knee pain. Surgery is often an option when conservative treatments fail, but it requires months of rehab and has a certain failure rate. Total knee replacement is another option, but artificial joints don’t last forever.
This work was supported in part by Sparta Biomedical and the Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility at Duke University. The researchers are shareholders in Sparta Biomedical.
Source: https://today.duke.edu/2022/08/lab-made-cartilage-gel-outperforms-real-thing