Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology- (IIT) Guwahati, in collaboration with University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, has formulated three treatment solutions for a knee injury that has proven difficult to treat.
By developing these key regenerative therapies, the researchers have provided possible alternative solutions to manage the problem of a knee meniscus tear, an injury to tissue in one’s knee joints, the IIT-G said in a release.
“We have developed regenerative treatment approaches that would be tailored for the patient and help in rapid healing meniscus tears or replacing parts of the damaged tissue,” Professor Biman B Mandal, department of biosciences and bioengineering, IIT-G, said.
Trauma to the knee meniscus, a cushioning tissue in the knee joint, is a common yet complex problem. A tear in the tissue can make it difficult to walk, run or perform daily activities.
The 3 hydrogels
The IIT-G team has created three hydrogel formulations that are blends of silk fibroin and other polymers, which can be used by doctors in clinics, to treat the meniscus injury.
These components, especially silk, are well known for their strength, bioactivity and flexibility. They are also cost-effective compared to other materials such as commercially available polyurethane and collagen meniscus implants, the release said.
Out of the three, one is an injectable hydrogel, which can be injected in a minimally invasive manner directly into the meniscus site to expedite the healing of smaller injuries.
For treating larger full thickness complex meniscus tissue injuries, the researchers have created two 3D bio-printable inks that can be 3D printed into implants.
In the two bioink formulations, one carries commercially available growth factor loaded microspheres, the second carries patient derived factors which are released in a sustained manner aiding faster meniscus healing. Both formulations can be 3D printed into a partial or full sized meniscus and used for healing large portions of the meniscus.
3D printing, or bioprinting, has recently emerged as a popular futuristic method for tissue engineering. Here, the implant is customized as per the patient’s requirements.
The research aims to provide a more personalised and effective treatment for meniscus injuries, potentially improving the quality of life for millions of people.
The developments signal a significant advancement, providing solutions custom-made for each patient and could also potentially prevent future complications such as osteoarthritis.
The three approaches have been published in three manuscripts in international journals Applied Materials Today and Advanced Biology, co-authored by Mandal and his team of research scholars — Ashutosh Bandyopadhyay, Baishali Ghibhela, and Sayanti Shome and Dr Debajyoti Pal, Dr Samsamul Hoque and Professor Samit K Nandi from the University of Animal and Fishery Sciences.
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