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      Articular cartilage is the tissue lining the ends of long bones, and it provides the friction-free bearing surface in joints such as the knee, shoulder, and hip. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing the tissue to degenerate and leads to osteoarthritis. Damage to this tissue through either sports-related or impact injuries also eventually leads to osteoarthritis since it has very little capacity for regeneration. This results in severe pain and loss of mobility and quality of life. Current clinical treatments range from simple surgical interventions (e.g. microfracture) to autologous tissue implantation (e.g. osteochondral grafts). However these therapies usually lead to sub-optimal results.

      For this purpose, we have created a living cartilage implant using cartilage cells and biodegradable polymeric scaffolds. Cells from the articular cartilage are isolated, expanded, and cultured on a nanofiber scaffold to create a dual layered cartilage construct that can be implanted into the defect in the patient’s cartilage. With time, this cartilage implant will be integrated with the host tissue, returning the joint to a normal state, and thus enabling patients to again maintain an active lifestyle.