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Linglan Fu holds the hydrogel. Photo by Alex Walls
June 21 (UPI) — Researchers in Canada and China have announced a breakthrough in cartilage repair with the development of a biodegradable gel that acts as an artificial scaffold. The study, led by the University of British Columbia, was published in the scientific journal Nature and highlights the gel’s potential in regenerating damaged cartilage.
Cartilage plays a crucial role in joint movement, and its deterioration can lead to pain, reduced function, and arthritis.
“Cartilage is a challenging area of medical research because it doesn’t regenerate naturally,” explains senior author Hongbin Li, a professor in UBC’s Department of Chemistry. “To assist in cartilage regeneration, any substance used must have the mechanical properties necessary to prevent bending or deformation, while still being strong enough to resist breaking and brittleness.”
The researchers believe that their biodegradable cartilage implant successfully strikes this balance, providing the stiffness and strength required. Using a new method, the team stiffened a protein gel by tangling together the chains of a specific protein that forms the gel network.
“These entangled chains can move, allowing energy, such as impact from jumping, to be dissipated, similar to shock absorbers in bikes,” explains Linglan Fu, a doctoral student at UBC’s Department of Chemistry, and lead researcher of the study. “In addition, we combined this with a method of folding and unfolding proteins, which also aids in energy dissipation.”
The resulting gel displayed high toughness, resisting cutting with a scalpel and compression, comparable to natural cartilage. It also rapidly recovered its original shape after compression, mimicking the behavior of real cartilage after jumping.
In rabbit tests, the implanted gel showed significant signs of articular cartilage repair after 12 weeks. Additionally, the gel appeared to be well-tolerated by the animals’ bodies, avoiding rejection.
“The researchers observed bone tissue growth similar to the existing tissue, as well as regenerated tissue near the existing cartilage in the gel implant group – significantly better results than the control group,” the researchers reported.
“This underscores the complexity of this research area and the need to consider various physical and biochemical cues and factors when designing these scaffolds,” said co-author Dr. Qing Jiang, a professor and surgeon at Nanjing University.
While the gel is not yet ready for human trials, further animal testing is required for progress. The researchers also noted the need to refine the gel’s composition to promote cell regeneration.
“By optimizing both biochemical and biomechanical cues together, we can explore whether these new scaffolds can lead to even better outcomes in the future,” Li concluded.
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