TGFb-1 tagged posts

New Biomaterial Regrows Damaged Cartilage in Joints

New biomaterial regrows damaged cartilage in joints
A microscropy image of the new biomaterial. Nanofibers are pink; hyaluronic acid is shown in purple. Credit: Samuel I. Stupp/Northwestern University

Northwestern University scientists have developed a new bioactive material that successfully regenerated high-quality cartilage in the knee joints of a large-animal model.

Although it looks like a rubbery goo, the material is actually a complex network of molecular components, which work together to mimic cartilage’s natural environment in the body.

In the new study, the researchers applied the material to damaged cartilage in the animals’ knee joints...

Read More

New study shows ‘Dancing Molecules’ can Regenerate Cartilage in 3 days

arthritis
In new experiments, human cartilage cells treated with fast-moving dancing molecules made more collagen II (shown in red), a crucial component for regeneration. Cell nuclei are shown in blue/purple. Credit: Stupp Research Group/Northwestern

In November 2021, Northwestern University researchers introduced an injectable new therapy, which harnessed fast-moving “dancing molecules,” to repair tissues and reverse paralysis after severe spinal cord injuries.

Now, the same research group has applied the therapeutic strategy to damaged human cartilage cells. In the new study, the treatment activated the gene expression necessary to regenerate cartilage within just four hours. And, after only three days, the human cells produced protein components needed for cartilage regeneration.

The re...

Read More