Cartilage from skin cells

Up till now, there was no viable replacement for worn-out [cartilage]. For many athletes out there, it meant having [osteoarthritis] for the rest of their lives.

At first, it was thought possible to grow cartilage cells in a culture and then replaced into the joint. The cells that were needed to seed in this case, came from the patient himself.

The method was tried out, but there wasn't 100% success and the risks included having to remove a sizable portion of cartilage in order to seed the nutrient broth.

Steven Nicoll of the University of California seems to have a solution.

He took undifferentiated cells called fibroblasts from the skin, and by simulating the conditions of the womb, he transforms these cells into cartilage-producing ones called chondrocytes.

The chondrocytes are then transplanted into a matrix which is porous. The matrix gives a place for the cells to deposit the cartilage, and also moulds them into the required shape.

When the procedure has been perfected, this fresh cartilage would be able to integrate with the present body parts, and withstand the demands of the human body.

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