14 DAY TRIAL // Duke University investigators are making considerable headway in developing a synthetic alternative to the cartilage humans have in their joints. These cartilages are often affected by old age and a wide array of conditions, and these damages usually affect the quality of life for patients.
In a paper published in the December 17 issue of the esteemed journal Advanced Functional Materials, investigators explain how two innovative technologies were used to create artificial replacement tissues that are as strong and as supple as original cartilages.
Cartilages are very hard to mimic because they are very strong, and capable of bearing a lot of weight, while at the same time acting as smooth and cushioning shock absorbers. They can be found between bones in the knees, shoulders and hips, and can become damages with overuse or injury, e! Science News reports.
“From a mechanical standpoint, this technology remedies the issues that other types of synthetic cartilage have had. It's a very promising candidate for artificial cartilage in the future,” says Duke assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials sciences Xuanhe Zhao, also the founder of the Soft Active Materials Laboratory at the university.