A synthetic cartilage-capped regenerative osteochondral plug being implanted into a knee. Image courtesy of Texas A&M Engineering.
Osteochondral defects (OCDs) can cause damage to cartilage and underlying bone, leading to chronic pain and loss of joint function. Depending on the extent of damage, individuals must undergo surgical treatment, the most extensive being total knee replacement. Toward this end, Melissa Grunlan, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, received a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease to develop synthetic cartilage-capped regenerative osteochondral plugs (CC-ROPs)—a potential off-the-shelf surgical device to treat OCDs. This technology could be an alternative to current treatment methods, such as autografting or total knee replacement.
The proposed CC-ROPs are not restricted by age or the size of the defect while offering other benefits. Firstly, they were designed to have the geometry of cylindrical autografts so they could be implanted with existing surgical tools and protocols. Additionally, they do not require pre-loading with cells or growth factors to induce healing, but instead leverage the unique features of the cap and scaffold base. Once implanted, the CC-ROP can provide immediate support for joint function, including knee articulation.
The CC-ROP consists of a cartilage cap and an osseous base. The cartilage cap is an ultra-strong hydrogel that uniquely mimics the mechanical properties of biological cartilage. The base is made of a porous, bioresorbable polymer. After implantation, the base is replaced by new bone tissue and continues to anchor the cartilage cap. Thus, the cylindrical implant stimulates the formation of new bone tissue and integration with host tissue while supplying synthetic cartilage necessary for joint function.
