Chennai: City researchers developed a two-layer implant that could offer a new way to treat joint injuries caused by trauma, ageing, and arthritis. Unlike conventional methods that address cartilage and bone separately, this implant simultaneously repairs both the cartilage and the underlying bone.
Researchers from CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) said the scaffold has two layers: a top cartilage (chondral) layer made of protein-based materials – collagen type I and fibrin – and a bottom subchondral (bone below cartilage) layer composed of hydroxyapatite, a mineral-based bioceramic, reinforced with graphene oxide, a carbon-based nanomaterial. Suresh Kumar Anandasadagopan, principal scientist and the corresponding author of the study, said analysis of the scaffold’s structure and material properties showed well-integrated layers with appropriate pore sizes, high porosity, and optimal mechanical strength. The researchers said the scaffold’s cell-free design is a key advantage, as treatments using cells, genes, or drugs are expensive and face regulatory barriers, making simpler material-based approaches more attractive. “The enhanced healing potential of this cell-free bilayer scaffold suggests it is a promising biomaterial for osteochondral regeneration,” said Srinivetha Pathmanapan, a research scholar and the first author of the study.
The design mimics the natural structure of joint tissue, with a softer top layer for cartilage regeneration and a stronger bottom layer that provides structural support for bone repair. Laboratory tests showed the scaffold was safe, exhibited no toxicity toward viable cells, and supported cell attachment. In comparison, untreated injuries and those treated with single-layer implants healed poorly, often filling with weak scar-like tissue instead of proper cartilage and bone.