New Biomaterial May Help Regrow Cartilage in Damaged Joints

Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a new bioactive material that could help people regrow cartilage in damaged joints. The substance successfully regenerated high-quality cartilage in the knee joints of a sheep within six months.

“Cartilage is a critical component in our joints,” explains Northwestern’s Samuel I. Stupp, who led the study. “When cartilage becomes damaged or breaks down over time, it can have a great impact on people’s overall health and mobility. The problem is that, in adult humans, cartilage does not have an inherent ability to heal. Our new therapy can induce repair in a tissue that does not naturally regenerate.”