Posted on 04/12/2021 12:35:19 PM PDT by Red Badger
When compromised, the cartilage in our joints can't keep the bones from painfully grinding togetherlightsource/Depositphotos VIEW 1 IMAGES
Once it's been injured, the protective cartilage in our knees and other joints heals very slowly – if at all. A new injectable gel, however, could both reinforce the tissue after it's been damaged, and encourage new cartilage to grow over top of it.
Currently being developed by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, the hydrogel contains a modified form of a gooey substance known as hyaluronic acid, which is produced naturally by the body's connective tissue. In recent years, the acid has also been experimentally used to ward off glaucoma, heal damaged cardiac tissue, and refill herniated spinal discs.
In lab tests, the U Pennsylvania hydrogel was injected into degenerated joint cartilage in mice. Such cartilage covers the interfacing ends of the bones within a joint, and when not damaged, it keeps them from painfully grinding against one another as that joint moves.
It was found that after being injected, the hydrogel intertwined with the structural matrix of the cartilage, thus stabilizing and strengthening it. This finding was backed up by other tests, in which the gel restored the regular activity of cartilage-producing/maintaining chondrocyte cells in living cartilage tissue samples.
Additionally, the sticky hyaluronic acid hydrogel was found to provide a good "roosting" surface for mesenchymal stem cells that were subsequently injected into the injured joint. Those cells proceeded to grow into a new external layer of cartilage, further protecting the recently reinforced original tissue beneath.
"We often relate this combined approach to treating a damaged deck in your backyard," says the lead scientist, Asst. Prof. Jay Patel. "To fortify the existing wood structure, you need something like a wood hardener, then you can apply a wood sealer to prevent future wear. In the same way, we applied a substance that seeps into the pores of the tissue and provides reinforcement, then 'sealed' it by guiding the behavior of injected stem cells towards forming a layer that caps the whole structure."
Studies on larger animals are now being planned, followed by clinical trials on humans.
The hydrogel is currently being commercialized by spinoff company Forsagen, and is described in a paper that was recently published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials. Scientists at the University of Delaware are also developing an injectable hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel, which in their case releases pain-killing medication into joints as they're moving.
Source: University of Pennsylvania
I could use a squirt or two of that in a several of my joints.
I’m curious as to where those stem cells come from.
Too late - already done the “total knee replacement” thing. Well, only on one knee. For the other knee...??? This is one trial I’d potentially be willing to sign up for.
Maybe it will help fuse all the rocks in my knee back together.
Kerping!
*
Me too! I wonder, does this gel work with a knee where the articulating cartiledge has been removed?
Similar (the same?) treatment has been available for awhile, Sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid. Also used cosmeticly, like botox.
According to Wikipedia, sources mentioned do not include the corpses of murdered babies.
Surprisingly, I looked into regerneron for joint treat ment. Even using your own stem cells, one has to take an immunosuppressant indefinitely.
I imagine this is also the case.
I have gotten this treatment in each knee at the VA. It was ok but I found the cortoid/steroid shots better.
Last month the when I got another steroid shot they offered me the Hyaluronic Acid program of a shot a week for 5 straight weeks. I told them if my knees didn’t feel better after this shot i would give it a try. So far so good.
It this research comes to successful end billions of dollars will be made and victims of degenerative hip and knee disease will be spared major surgery. I hope this is successful.
About 8 years ago my wife went to a specialist because when she bent a knee it sounded like crushing corn flakes. They injected something under her knee cap and charged us a lot of money. The end result was that when she bent her knee it sounded like crushing corn flakes.
My dog had her left elbow injected with hyaluronic acid a couple of years ago. It completed eliminated her limp, which was due to elbow dysplasia. She is still walking normally.
I have basically no cartilage in my right knee but have been putting off having a knee replacement since so far I am relatively pain free. However, I have had several cortisone injections and Hyaluronic Acid treatment. The steroid injections had mixed results, a couple really helped but others basically did nothing. The Hyaluronic Acid did nothing for me. I would be willing to try this new treatment.
After getting that surgery can you jog at all?
My GSD is gonna love this news
bkmk
Guessing this stuff is similar to rooster comb injections. Those didn’t work and neither did the steroid injections. Of course, they wouldn’t since I suspect my problem is an 11 year old torn meniscus which they refuse to fix. About year 8, I finally maneuvered the dislocated patella into place or at least it’s not floating around anymore.
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