Researchers studying a way to grow replacement cartilage
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Individuals who are struggling to cope with osteoarthritis can buy Canadian Celebrex to help maintain their independence and mobility. In extreme cases of this disease, some patients may ultimately need prosthetic joint replacements. However, scientists from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) are creating a technique to regrow a person's cartilage in the lab by using special beads known as gelatin microspheres.
Previously developed methods of growing cartilage in the lab entailed collecting adult stem cells from the tissues of a patient and culturing them into sheets soaked in growth factor. At CWRU, a team of scientists tried something different by infusing the sheets of stem cells with gelatin microspheres filled with growth factor beta-1.
As these beads degrade, they release the growth factor into the sheets of cells.
In the lab, the researchers grew stem cell sheets under five conditions: sparsely-connected beads with or without growth factor; highly-connected beads with or without growth factor; or no beads.
Results showed that sheets containing sparsely-connected beads grew the thickest and had the best ability to retain water, as published in Journal of Controlled Release.
Compared to techniques that don't use the microspheres, the scientists' new method with the beads provided more structure and suggested that the sheets can be implanted into patients more quickly. However, the team still needs to refine their technique before it can be tested in clinics.
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