Synthetic cartilage-capped regenerative osteochondral plugs (CC-ROPs) offer a potential off-the-shelf surgical device to treat OCDs and avoid total knee replacement.
The proposed CC-ROPs are not restricted by age or the size of the defect while offering several other benefits. Firstly, they were designed to have the geometry of cylindrical auto-grafts so they could be implanted with existing surgical tools and protocols. Additionally, they do not require preloading with cells or growth factors to induce healing, but instead leverage the unique features of the cap and scaffold base. Once implanted, the CC-ROP can provide immediate support for joint function, including knee articulation.
The CC-ROP consists of two parts: a cartilage cap and an osseous (or bone) base. The cartilage cap is an ultra-strong hydrogel that uniquely mimics the mechanical properties of biological cartilage. The base is made of a porous, bioresorbable polymer.
After implantation, the base is replaced by new bone tissue and continues to anchor the cartilage cap. Thus, the cylindrical implant stimulates the formation of new bone tissue and integration with host tissue while supplying synthetic cartilage necessary for joint function. (Image credit: Rachel Barton/Texas A&M Engineering)
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