Nanofilm for cartilage regeneration
Usually, with arthrosis, a person does not feel pain until a significant part of the cartilage is destroyed and there is no friction between the bones in the joint. This makes the restoration of cartilage tissue a very important issue from a medical point of view.
For a long time, scientists have been searching for methods to combat damage and destruction of cartilage tissue. One of the popular approaches is the introduction of a synthetic gel into the joint that mimics the properties of natural cartilage. However, this solution is temporary and requires repeated injections.
Scientists at Brown University, working under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Webster, propose a method of natural regeneration of cartilage using a synthetic matrix that creates conditions for the formation of new cartilage on the damaged surface of the joint. The authors consider the material developed by them to be the most suitable for this purpose, consisting of carbon nanotubes bonded with polycarbonate-urethane. Under a microscope, the surface of such a material is covered with rough irregularities and resembles living tissue suitable for colonization by chondrocytes – cells that form cartilage tissue.
Unlike the similar material with a smoother surface used in previous experiments, the rough film is more hydrophilic, which facilitates the attachment of fibronectin molecules to it, a protein that ensures the adhesion of chondrocytes to the substrate.
Carbon nanotubes in this case do not just serve as a framework. They conduct electric current well, and under the influence of weak electrical impulses, the division of chondrocytes is noticeably accelerated. The mechanism of this phenomenon is unknown – perhaps electrical stimulation increases the permeability of cell membranes for calcium ions, which play an important role in the growth of cartilage tissue.
As a result of the selection of the optimal surface shape and electrical stimulation parameters, the rate of formation of cartilage tissue based on the new nanofilm in vitro was increased by more than three times.
The authors plan to test the cartilage regeneration procedure on animals and, if successful, proceed to clinical trials.
The article by D.Khang, G.Park & T.Webster Enhanced chondrocyte densities on carbon nanotube composites: The combined role of nanosurface roughness and electrical stimulation is published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Brown University
06.06.2008