Using Olfactory Cells to Repair Osteoarthritis-Damaged Knees

Researchers, having previously demonstrated that a small amount of nasal cartilage can repair knee injuries, are now prepared to initiate a clinical trial to investigate its potential in regenerating severely worn-down joints affected by osteoarthritis. Successful outcomes could offer an alternative treatment for this debilitating condition.

The patella, a small bone situated at the front of the knee joint where the femur and tibia meet, moves within a groove on the femur known as the trochlear groove, sliding back and forth during knee flexion and extension.

Utilizing Nasal Cartilage to Treat Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis

In fact, in patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA), the protective articular cartilage covering the femur ends, trochlear groove, and underside of the patella wears down and becomes inflamed, sometimes leading to bone exposure. Researchers from Julius-Maximilians-University (JMU) Würzburg, Germany, are preparing to conduct a clinical trial using cartilage extracted from the nasal septum to repair damaged knee cartilage.

However, associate Professor Oliver Pullig, Chair of the Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine at University Hospital Würzburg, explained the procedure: “We harvest a small piece of cartilage from the nasal septum, culture it on a collagen matrix for structural support, and implant it into the damaged knee for four weeks to promote cartilage regeneration.” Nasal cartilage cells show similar mechanical properties to knee cartilage cells and lend themselves to easy cultivation in the laboratory.

Extending Nasal Cartilage Regeneration to Treat Complex Knee Conditions

A previous study, led by the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, validated the safety and efficacy of this cartilage regeneration method for localized cartilage injuries. Pullig’s new ENCANTO study (Engineered Cartilage from Nose for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis) aims to assess its applicability in more complex cases like PFOA.

The ENCANTO clinical trial plans to commence recruitment in early 2025. Another Swiss study, addressing PFOA treatment, aims to start recruitment by late 2024.

To conclude, according to Pullig, if the clinical trial demonstrates the effectiveness of cartilage implants as a viable alternative to the current treatment for PFOA, which entails surgical resurfacing with a prosthesis, it could revolutionize the approach to cartilage degeneration treatment.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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