Nasal Cartilage Cells Offer Breakthrough in Knee Injury Treatment

Researchers demonstrate that engineered cartilage from nasal septum cells can repair complex knee injuries, with more mature implants showing superior outcomes.

• Scientists at the University of Basel have developed a method to repair knee cartilage using cells extracted from the patient's nasal septum.
• The engineered cartilage is grown in a lab on a soft fiber scaffold and shaped to fit the damaged area before implantation.
• A clinical trial with 98 participants found that cartilage implants matured for two weeks before surgery provided better long-term results than those matured for two days.
• Patients with larger or more complex knee injuries, as well as those who had failed prior treatments, showed significant improvements with the more mature grafts.
• Two large-scale studies are planned to test the technique's potential for treating osteoarthritis, a chronic condition that causes cartilage degeneration.

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