Injectable polymer implants stimulate rebuilding of bones

The research is being headed by Bristol University’s team of stem cell and tissue engineering experts in collaboration with researchers from Qatar and Canada. Speaking to The Engineer, lead investigator Dr Wael Kafienah of Bristol explained the rationale behind the project.

‘In our articular joints — the elbow, knee and hip — the end of the bone is covered with a very smooth surface of cartilage and it’s this that provides the articulation. In the case of traumatic injuries to the joints, or osteoarthritis, what you get is a defect to the cartilage surface, which with time gets eroded and starts to cause a lot of pain,’ he said.

Normally at this stage, patients would be considered for metallic joint replacement, which requires extensive surgery and a protracted rehabilitation period.

There has been some research into regenerative solutions, but at present, cartilage implants created using stem cells can only be constructed as a solid shape, acting as an interim measure before the almost inevitable need for total joint replacement.