MENISCUS-REGENERATION: Innovative materials and technologies for a bio-engineered meniscus substitute

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0354

Key words (English)

Industrial Manufacture; Materials Technology

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G5RD-CT-2002-00703

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.8 Generic R&D activities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

A great number of European are suffering from meniscus defects, which often cause persistent knee pain and may lead to osteoarthritis, knee joint instability and consequent deterioration of the quality of life of the patient. For years the standard treatment of a torn meniscus was complete resection but today orthopedic surgeons are very keen on new techniques for replacing or regenerating this tissue. Over the past years, efforts have been made to develop a suitable meniscus substitutes to replace the degenerated meniscus but no fully-suitable material/products exist to date. The main objective of the proposed research is closely emulate the structure of the natural meniscus by using state-of-the-art tissue engineering technologies and highly biointeractive materials. By using a problem solving approach, the Proposers will develop of a novel, bio-engineered, living meniscus reconstruction material composed of autologous cells grown on novel biodegradable and bioactive scaffold.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0354