After researchers have already proven that a small amount of cartilage taken from the nose can be used to repair knees damaged by wear, they will soon begin a clinical trial to see if this technique can be used to regenerate joints that have been severely affected by osteoarthritis. If the clinical trials are successful, the procedure could provide an alternative treatment for the debilitating condition affecting millions worldwide. According to a report published by New Atlas, the patella, a small bone located at the front of the knee joint where the femur meets the tibia, slides back and forth within a groove at the top of the femur known as the patellar groove when bending and straightening the knee. The slippery articular cartilage covers the ends of the femur, the patellar groove, and the underside of the patella, ensuring smooth movement. However, in the case of patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA), the cartilage becomes worn and inflamed, and in severe cases, the underlying bone becomes exposed.
Researchers from the University of Julius-Maximilians in Würzburg, Germany, will soon start a clinical trial using cartilage taken from the nose to repair worn knee cartilage. Professor Oliver Pohlig, head of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Department at Würzburg University Hospital, stated, "A small piece of cartilage is taken from the patient's nasal septum, is grown on a structurally supportive collagen matrix, and then implanted for four weeks in the damaged knee to regenerate the cartilage," noting that nasal cartilage cells are very similar to those found in the knee in terms of their mechanical stiffness and can be easily cultured in the lab. The clinical trial is scheduled to begin in early 2025. Professor Pohlig explained that the success of the clinical trial could revolutionize the treatment of cartilage degeneration.
