Redefining how we treat osteoarthritis joint disease Researchers use scaffold technology to not only relieve pain in osteoarthritis patients, but also keep them active and, most importantly, improve their overall quality of life. Health © Ladanifer/stock.adobe.com An estimated 40 million Europeans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. Typified by a loss of quality in the cartilage and bone found in a joint, small osteochondral defects are typically treated using anti-inflammatory medication, strength-building exercises, and bone marrow stimulation techniques. “Unfortunately, as the disease progresses, these treatments become less and less effective, as none of them promote a durable regeneration of large OA defects,” explains Ricardo Donate González, a PhD and chemical engineer at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (website in Spanish). “As a result, many OA patients eventually require total joint replacement surgery.” But what if there was a viable treatment option for those situations where OA has progressed beyond a small defect? One that could delay – even completely avoid – the need for full joint replacement surgery? Enter the EU-funded BAMOS project. The project, which received support from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme and involved researchers from both Europe and China, developed innovative and cost-effective scaffold technology for early intervention in OA. Osteochondral scaffolds show good results Scaffolds are 3D structures used in tissue engineering to promote cell growth and support new tissue formation. Project researchers believed that the scaffolds developed in BAMOS could be used to effectively treat the large defects seen in mid- to late-stage OA. “Our ultimate goal was not only to relieve pain in OA patients, but also to keep them active and, most importantly, improve their overall quality of life,” says Donate González. The project developed new biomaterials for the regeneration of bone and cartilage tissue. These materials included biodegradable polymers, ceramics, titanium alloys, and naturally derived hydrogels. The project also developed innovative bioactive coating procedures that improved the bio-functionality of the scaffolds. “Using these materials, along with different additive manufacturing techniques, our team manufactured and tested a number of osteochondral scaffolds – many of which showed good results in terms of tissue integration and regeneration,” remarks Donate González. Other key outcomes include a multi-material, tri-layered osteochondral scaffold and two bioreactor models designed to improve in vitro and ex vivo testing capabilities in labs. All the project’s technologies have undergone full preclinical evaluation and are now ready for starting clinical trials. Establishing strong partnerships Apart from the project’s technical achievements, it also succeeded at establishing strong partnerships between research institutions and across countries. “One of the specific objectives of the project was to train early-stage researchers and equip them with the advanced knowledge and expertise needed to tackle some of today’s biggest healthcare challenges,” says Donate González. “Our scientific results are proof that we succeeded on this front too.” The researchers are currently in the process of patenting the BAMOS bioreactor, along with applying for additional funding opportunities to further develop the project’s scaffold solutions. “I am confident that the outcomes of our project, including the researchers we helped train, will continue to advance our scaffold technology and will redefine how we treat osteoarthritis joint disease in the future,” concludes Donate González. Keywords BAMOS, osteoarthritis, joint disease, scaffold technology, joint replacement surgery, tissue engineering, biomaterials, additive manufacturing, early-stage researchers
