Hydrogel Could Be the Future of Cartilage Damage Repair
Justin Lam — November 26, 2018 — Tech
References: actu.epfl.ch & engadget
A couple of research teams from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne worked together to create a new hydrogel material that can help better heal damaged cartilages. Unlike other soft tissue damage, cartilage doesn't heal itself and often requires medical intervention. This is where this hydrogel material comes in, as it can be easily loaded with other drugs or repairing cells.
The use of hydrogel would drastically improve healing these injuries simply because of its ability to adhere to tissue in an effective way. According to Dominique Pioletti, one of the team leaders, this adhering quality comes thanks to hydrogel's "double network structure" that "distributes incoming mechanical energy throughout." Essentially, this unique material serves as a perfect vehicle to hold onto cartilage-repairing drugs, while also being able to easily cling to damaged areas.
The use of hydrogel would drastically improve healing these injuries simply because of its ability to adhere to tissue in an effective way. According to Dominique Pioletti, one of the team leaders, this adhering quality comes thanks to hydrogel's "double network structure" that "distributes incoming mechanical energy throughout." Essentially, this unique material serves as a perfect vehicle to hold onto cartilage-repairing drugs, while also being able to easily cling to damaged areas.
Trend Themes
1. Hydrogel Materials - Hydrogel materials are a rising trend in the medical field, presenting disruptive innovation opportunities for cartilage repair by providing an effective vehicle for drug delivery and tissue adherence.
2. Soft Tissue Regeneration - Soft tissue regeneration is an emerging trend in the healthcare industry, offering disruptive innovation opportunities for developing new methods and materials to heal damaged cartilages that don't naturally regenerate.
3. Drug-loaded Biomaterials - The use of drug-loaded biomaterials is a growing trend in medical research, presenting disruptive innovation opportunities for creating hydrogel materials that can effectively hold and release cartilage-repairing drugs.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Research - Medical research and development industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by focusing on the development of hydrogel materials for cartilage repair, revolutionizing the way we treat soft tissue injuries.
2. Healthcare Technology - The healthcare technology industry can capitalize on disruptive innovation opportunities by investing in the development of advanced materials and techniques for cartilage repair, revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine.
3. Pharmaceutical Industry - The pharmaceutical industry can benefit from disruptive innovation opportunities by investing in the research and development of drug-loaded biomaterials, advancing the treatment options for cartilage damage and tissue healing.
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