TTEC clinical study proves successful in cartilage repair

The JHU Biomedical Engineering Translational Tissue Engineering Center (“TTEC”) continues research on a new hydrogel scaffolding implant developed to increase healthy tissue growth. A recent clinical study proved that patients who received a hydrogel scaffolding implant after the surgical repair of damaged cartilage experienced reduced pain and greater tissue growth. Published in the January 9, 2013 issue of Science Translational Medicine, the results of the study indicate that “with further clinical testing, this practical biomaterials strategy has the potential to improve the treatment of articular cartilage defects.”

Jennifer Elisseeff, Professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering and the director of TTEC, stated that “Our pilot study indicates that the new implant works as well in patients as it does in the lab, so we hope it will become a routine part of care and improve healing.” In addition to Dr. Elisseeff, authors on the study include Jeannine Coburn, Sara Fermanian, Matthew Gibson, Daniel A. Herzka, Alexander Y. Hui, Blanka Sharma and Shimon Unterman of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Brett Cascio of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital; Norman Marcus, a private practice orthopedic surgeon; and Garry E. Gold of Stanford University.

Read the Full Story: Johns Hopkins Medicine Press Release