New York, Aug 14 : Do you suffer from aching, stiff knees and are you tired of painkillers available over-the-counter or physical therapy, as well as injections of steroids but do not want to replace the whole knee joint?Have faith, a revolutionary cartilage substitute made of gel even more durable and stronger than the real thing has been created.
The hydrogel — a substance composed of polymers that absorb water can be pulled and pressed with greater strength than natural cartilage and it is three times stronger against wear and tear according to a research team at Duke University in the US.
Natural cartilage can endure an astounding 5,800 to 8,500 pounds per inch of pushing and squishing or before reaching the point of breaking.
However, the lab-made version of the hydrogel is the first hydrogel to handle more.
It is 26 percent more durable than the natural cartilage in tension, similar to hanging seven pianos on a key ring and 66 per cent more powerful in compression, that’s similar to parking a vehicle on a postage stamp the researchers reported in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
Implants constructed of the substance are being test-driven in sheep.
Researchers are preparing to start clinical trials in humans next year.
“If all goes as planned the clinical trial could begin in the month of April in 2023.” added Duke Chemistry professor Benjamin Wiley, who led the study.
Knee pain is caused by the wear and tear of cartilage, a condition known as osteoarthritis.
It affects one in six adults, or 867 million people around the world.
To create this material, the team made thin pieces of cellulose fibers and then infused them with the polymer polyvinyl Alcohol — viscous goo made up of strings of repeating molecules to create gel.
The cellulose fibers function as collagen fibers in natural cartilage, Wiley said — they provide the gel with the strength to stretch.
The polyvinyl alcohol assists in returning to its original form.
It is the result of a material that resembles Jello 60 percent water, that is soft yet extremely strong.
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