Many of us know someone who suffers from joint pain caused by damaged cartilage. Since articular cartilage lacks blood vessels, it doesn’t readily heal and deteriorates with age. In the knee alone, over 650 million people are affected by cartilage damage.
Total joint replacement, the most common surgical treatment, is generally recommended for older patients due to the 15-year lifespan of the implant. For younger patients or those with less severe cartilage damage, treatments that focus on regenerating cartilage are often preferred. However, these procedures can require up to a year of recovery and have a much higher failure rate compared to total joint replacement.
A new material was needed to mimic the properties of cartilage, allowing for immediate cartilage replacement and a swift return to an active lifestyle. Additionally, this material had to be affixed to a titanium base for seamless integration with bone. These challenges were addressed in the Wiley lab. The resulting implant is being commercialized by Sparta Biomedical and is undergoing human clinical trials. We envision a world where joint pain can be treated rapidly, effectively, and durably, allowing millions to return to the activities they love.
Related Publications:
Zhao, J.; Tong, H.; Kirillova, A.; Koshut, W.J.; Malek, A.; Brigham, N.C.; Becker, M.L.; Gall, K.; Wiley, B.J. A Synthetic Hydrogel Composite with a Strength and Wear Resistance Greater than Cartilage. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2205662.
Zhao, J.; Kirillova, A.; Kelly, C.N.; Xu, H.; Koshut, W.J.; Yang, F.; Gall, K.; Wiley, B.J. High‐Strength Hydrogel Attachment through Nanofibrous Reinforcement. Adv. Healthc. Mater., 2020, 10, 2001119.
Yang, F.; Zhao, J.; Koshut, W. J.; Watt, J.; Riboh, J.; Gall, K.; Wiley, B. J. A Synthetic Hydrogel Composite with the Mechanical Behavior and Durability of Cartilage. Advanced Functional Materials 2020, 2003451.
Yang, F.; Tadepalli, V.; Wiley, B.J.; 3D Printing of a Double Network Hydrogel with a Compression Strength and Elastic Modulus Greater than those of Cartilage. ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng., 2017, 3, 863-869.
