Synthetic Cartilage (2020)

https://today.duke.edu/2020/06/lab-first-cartilage-mimicking-gel-strong-enough-knees

by tangjurine • 5 years ago

108 31 5 years ago

today.duke.edu

buu700• 5 years ago

Interesting given that this just came up here recently: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29399590

Does anyone have any additional insight into how big a deal mass produced synthetic cartilage would be, and specific examples of what it could be used for?

xxpor2• 5 years ago

I'm thinking that in tendon/ligament replacements, they wouldn't need to pull from somewhere else in the body.

For example, with tommy john surgery, they usually take a tendon from the thigh to replace the torn ligament in the elbow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulnar_collateral_ligament_reco...

Not sure how much of a difference it'd make.

fhsm2• 5 years ago

You are describing tissues which work under tension. This article is talking about articular cartilage which works under compression. As such this looks like an alternative bearing surface / native bearing surface augment candidate.

DennisP4• 5 years ago

Lots of people have degraded knee cartilage so fixing that seems like a good application.

Fricken2• 5 years ago

The prevailing wisdom has been that cartilage only degrades over time, but cartilage it is in fact a living tissue that can reinforce itself and adapt to stress

https://archive.md/OgK2h

2Gkashmiri2• 5 years ago

i have a staffer, like 30 who is having back trouble. sciatic nerve compression. he is today made to do physiotherapy or surgery if that doesn't work out.

i am "scared" because this guy stands most of the time, walks to work and back, does most of his work standing. i on the other hand either sit on my chair slouching for 12 hours at a time and if not there, i sit lounging on the floor and do a reclined L with the most pressure on the small of my back.

i am concerned because i have had back trouble for the last decade, usually it was kidney stones but later because of my posture. i hope my back is right but i wouldn't want to subject myself to surgeries. shit.

tangjurine• 5 years ago

You know, that comment is why I looked up and posted this article!

vgb2k18• 5 years ago

Rhinoplasty / the cosmetic surgery industry depends on cartilage from cadavers in some countries. In other countries cadaver cartilage is avoided due to the potential for reabsorbing and degrading in the patient's body, and therefore cartilage can be taken from the patient's own ribs. I'm not sure if this specific breakthrough in the article would be suitable for shaping the nose permanently. But last time I checked (10 years ago), there was a specific need for synthetic cartilage to improve patient outcomes.

ratsforhorses• 5 years ago

Just a thought, outside of humans, surely this thing would haves uses? Any ideas?

WJW• 5 years ago

Knee joints for robots?

aspyct5• 5 years ago

Oh.

I need this. I really do. Not for my knee, but for my ankle.

I've been waiting for this. I broke my ankle 4 years ago, destroyed a few things, among which the cartilage between my heel and the bone just above.

It hurts when I take my first step in the morning, and it hurts until I fall asleep. Every day. 4 years.

This would change my life.

wjnc• 5 years ago

This would be a Quality of Lifesaver for me as well. Loss of cartilage in the hips due to excessive bone growth with only partial remediation with surgery. I've gone from full distance triathlete to walking in pain in a decade. Can't kick a ball with my kids without limping for two days.

My local hospital is pioneering with lab grown cartilage, but that is only applicable in the knee. You can't put a patient head down for a few hours to drip cartilage on the hip. I know there is some progress (in mice) with halting the transformation of cartilage into pseudocartilage (scar tissue). All in all I'm many decades to young for hip replacements so any progress even in the next two decades could give me massive return in mobility.

aspyct5• 5 years ago

Eh, I feel ya. Losing mobility is hard. I also went from very sporty to "my back hurts" in no time. Damn I wish I could fix it.

Just like you, I'm also hoping for progress. Good luck to you!

ad404b8a372f2b92• 5 years ago

It baffles me how fragile joints are, unlike other bones once they're injured it's game over. Thankfully the surrounding tissue can ensure some functionality but it's not fun living your life with a malfunctioning limb. I've destroyed both my elbows and knees and I'm shaking with anticipation for good replacement options. Our mechanical implants tech is terrible, they can't even support the same amount of weight as a destroyed biological joint last I checked (max weight at something like 3kgs for elbow implants if I remember correctly.)

aspyct5• 5 years ago

Sorry to hear about your accident! What happened, if I may?

olliej• 5 years ago

Finally :D

This is something I could do with

Synthetic Cartilage (2020)

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