Media

HKU biomedical engineers develop new cartilage regeneration technology to grow cartilage from one’s own cells for cartilage repairs

14 Dec 2015

A University of Hong Kong research team, led by Dr Barbara Chan, Associate Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has developed a new cartilage regeneration technology to grow cartilage tissues out of cells taken from one’s body. The cells, in particular stem cells extracted from one’s bone marrow, can be grown into cartilage tissues of the shape and size fit for cartilage repairs and replacements. Making use of the technology, most of the side effects of the current treatments for cartilage related diseases including sports injuries and trauma could be avoided. It has also the potential to extend to other cartilage diseases including osteoarthritis and degeneration.

Dr Chan and team members will hold a media briefing on December 16 (Wednesday) to introduce the new technology.

Cartilage injuries and diseases are very common. About 40% of adults over 65 years old have osteoarthritis. There have been many attempts to repair damaged cartilages, but results remain unsatisfactory. Currently, a damaged joint has to be replaced by an artificial joint in the worst case. For cartilage repairs, a surgical procedure to harvest cartilage from other parts of the body for transplanting to replace the damaged cartilage is very often adopted. Nevertheless, this procedure leaves the autograft donor sites injured that lead to abnormalities including chronic pain and degeneration.

The replacement parts developed under the new technology from one’s own cells are fully biocompatible. Patients could hence be benefited from rapid healing.

Dr Chan’s team is one of the world’s teams pioneering in cartilage tissue engineering, and is the first to develop the technology to such an advance stage. Development of the new technology has entered the stage ready for technology transfer and commercialization. A company funded by the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for the Universities (TSSSU) programme has been set up for the purpose.  

Details of the media conference are as follows:

Date: December 16, 2015 (Wednesday)

Time: 11am

Venue: Faculty Conference Room 515, 5/F, Haking Wong Building (MTR HKU Station Exit A2)

For media enquiries please contact Ms Melanie Wan, Communications and Public Affairs Office, HKU (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email:melwkwan@hku.hk) or Ms Julie Chu, Communications and Public Affairs Office, HKU (Tel: 2859 2437/ Email: juliechu@hku.hk).