Advanced Protein-Based Materials for Cartilage Repair

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of joint disease that results from breakdown of cartilage and subsequent damage to the underlying bone.

Polymeric biomaterials have rapidly expanded to promote cell differentiation and tissue regeneration, and are uniquely placed to provide sophisticated solutions for the treatment of OA.

Among them, hydrophilic, biocompatible 3D networks, called hydrogels, represent the gold standard for tissue regeneration, owing to their high-water content and tuneable mechanical properties.

However, incorporation in hydrogels of proteins and growth factors that are essential to induce tissue differentiation, is not trivial.

By merging advanced hydrogel technology and cutting-edge cell biology research, we propose to develop a novel in situ protein-based crosslinked hydrogel system based on chondrogenic bioconjugates for controlled cellular differentiation.

This unique approach allows for non-surgical administration of hydrogels with controlled and tuneable mechanical properties that retain their protein cargo at the treatment site.

Furthermore, as the hydrogel is directly built from the required growth factors, even distribution throughout the macromaterial is ensured.

This new treatment modality will allow for both short-term relief of pain through mechanical support of the inflamed joint, while providing important biological cues for the differentiation of administered stem cells into chondrocytes for cartillage repair.

Furthermore, the implementation of a fluorescence life-time imaging microscopy (FLIM) approach for monitoring changes in cell behaviour will allow for rapid identification of lead materials significantly earlier in the development pipeline than is currently available through conventional methods.

While this work is focused on developing hydrogels for cartilage repair, it is envisaged that the knowledge and experience gained throughout this project will allow for other therapeutic targets to be explored in the future.