Columbia Technology Ventures

Hybrid ceramic/hydrogel scaffolds for cartilage-bone interface regeneration

For patients with osteoarthritis, damaged cartilage has a limited potential for self-repair, and as a result, surgery is often necessary. Osteochondral grafts have emerged as an attractive alternative or supplement to surgery for cartilage repair. While these grafts are capable of regenerating both bone and cartilage-like tissues, the ability to form a stable osteochondral interface between these two tissues remains a challenge. This technology combines a biomimetic hydrogel with a ceramic scaffold for regeneration of calcified cartilage and bone, as well as stable integration at the bone-cartilage interface. This technology may be developed to serve as an implantable osteochondral graft for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other diseases or injuries of the cartilage.

Ceramic scaffold with biomimetic hydrogel directs chondrocyte biosynthesis and mineralization to form stable cartilage-bone interface

This technology combines a polymer hydrogel and ceramic to modulate chondrocyte differentiation, biosynthesis and mineralization potential, in order to promote tissue regeneration and integration at the osteochondral interface. The graft can be developed to contain a variety of different polymer-based hydrogels and/or ceramics to more precisely control cell response. For example, one ceramic - calcium deficient apatite (CDA) - was utilized, and was shown to promote the formation of calcified cartilage, which could be used to form bone-cartilage interfaces. This technology can also potentially be modified for the generation of other types of tissues.

The ceramic/hydrogel grafts described by this technology have been shown to promote the formation of a calcified, cartilage-like matrix in vitro using various polymer hydrogels and ceramics.

Lead Inventor:

Helen H. Lu, Ph.D.

Applications:

  • Regeneration of calcified cartilage and underlying bone
  • Stable integration between cartilage and bone at the osteochondral interface
  • Generation of other tissues from stem cells

Advantages:

  • Chondrocyte response can be modulated by varying both ceramic and hydrogel components
  • Grafts form a stable cartilage-bone interface
  • Can be expanded to other types of tissue generation

Patent Information:

Patent Pending (US20160058912)

Patent Pending (WO/2014/169236)

Tech Ventures Reference: IR CU14091

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