Injectable “goo” could eliminate joint surgery, treat osteoarthritis, animal study shows

Editor's Note

A newly developed biomaterial could treat crippling arthritis by prompting the growth of new cartilage, according to an animal study conducted at Northwestern University and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

According to an August 6 article by U.S. News and World Report, the bioactive material—which resembles a rubbery goo—mimics natural cartilage in the body. When tested in sheep, it successfully regenerated high-quality cartilage in knee joints within 6 months. Such an outcome shows promise for treating osteoarthritis in humans and, potentially, eliminating the need for total knee replacement surgery.

According to the report, the biomaterial combines a crucial protein for cartilage growth with modified hyaluronic acid, creating a scaffold for the body’s cells to regenerate cartilage tissue.