Knee pain is one of the most common health problems for many people. This pain is caused by the wear and tear of cartilage in a medical condition called osteoarthritis. In search of relief, people usually turn to steroid injections, pain relievers, physical therapy, or replacement of their knee joint. But, a new development could prove to be a game changer. Researchers at Duke University have created the first gel-based alternative to natural cartilage, which they believe is more durable than the original. The hydrogel material is composed of water- and absorbing materials, and can effectively resist wear and tear three times higher than natural cartilage.
To develop the material, the team inserted thin sheets of cellulose fibers into which a polymer Named polyvinyl alcohol and make a gel. The polymer has a viscous glue-like consistency and consists of a chain of repeats molecules,
Cellulose mimics the function of collagen fibers in natural cartilage and provides strength to the gel when stretched. The polyvinyl alcohol, meanwhile, helps the gel regain its original shape. With these properties, a Jello-like material was created that contained 60 percent Water But still provides great power.
Testing showed that the material was even stronger than natural cartilage. Our cartilage can resist 5,800 pounds of tugging and 8,500 pounds of squishing. However, the artificial cartilage proved to be 26 percent stronger in tension and 66 percent stronger in compression than natural cartilage.
“It’s really off the charts in terms of hydrogel strength,” said Duke University professor Benjamin Wiley. he is the main author study published in advanced functional materials,
the team advanced Hydrogel in 2020 but it is now put to practical use as artificial cartilage. With cartilage’s enormous strength, researchers faced challenges trying to secure it to the joint. For this, they cemented and clamped the hydrogel to a titanium base, which was then pressed and anchored into a hole at the site of the damaged cartilage. This helped them keep the cartilage in place.
According to Wiley, artificial cartilage is better than going for a total knee replacement. He added that implanting artificial joints requires major surgery and needs to be replaced later. Speaking of new material, he couple“I think it will be a dramatic change in how people are treated at this stage.” Researchers are now looking forward to clinical trials of artificial cartilage.