Supramolecular motion boosts cyclic peptide for cartilage growth. A new synthetic nanofiber therapy mimics a protein vital for cartilage formation and maintenance. Intensified molecular motion within the nanofibers boosts cartilage regeneration.
Within four hours, the treatment activates gene expression for cartilage growth. Effective in treating osteoarthritis , it shows promise in regenerating cartilage in human cells. The study was published today.
Samuel I Stupp from Northwestern University said, “When we first saw the effects of dancing molecules, we thought they might be useful beyond just spinal cord injuries. We now see similar effects in cartilage cells and neurons , suggesting a universal phenomenon that could apply to many tissues.” Stupp, an expert in regenerative nanomedicine, leads the study with Shelby Yuan, a graduate student.
By 2019, nearly 530 million people worldwide had osteoarthritis, a common and disabling disease where joint tissues break down over time. In severe cases, the cartilage wears thin, leading to painful bone-on-bone contact and loss of joint function. The only effective treatment is costly, invasive joint replacement surgery.
“Current treatments only slow disease progression or delay surgery,” Stupp said. “We lack regenerative options since adults can’t naturally regenerate cartilage.” Stupp and his team think “dancing molecules” could help regenerate tough tissues.
These molecules, created in Stupp’s lab, form synthetic.
