Development of new generations of the ChondroArt™ product in combination with appropriate biomaterials
Cartilage repair, a branch of tissue engineering, is a rapidly emerging field of biotechnology. The problems we are facing in cartilage repair can only be solved if researchers and technologists in medicine, biotechnology, pharmacy and biology work together as a team to address the problems. The Educell R&D team is constantly evaluating new solutions for optimising the product for treating damaged articular cartilage.
ChondroArt™ 1D product
Our products are marketed under the brand name ChondroArt™. The development of our first product ChondroArt™ 1D started in 1997. This product constitutes a unique procedure for ‘ex-vivo’ propagation and subsequent implantation of autologous chondrocytes for the treatment of lesions in articular cartilage. ChondroArt™ 1D is comparable to the procedure performed by Dr. Peterson in 1994.
Development of the ChondroArt™ 1D technology was sponsored by Ministry of science and technology and Ministry of the Economy (Contract No. 61-2979).
ChondroArt™ 2D product
The next generation product ChondroArt™ 2D was released in 1999. It consists of a equine collagenous matrix, registered for medical use, seeded with chondrocytes. Clinical results of recovery of transplanted patients confirm comparative clinical result to those treated with original ACT method with enabling easier manipulation during implantation.
ChondroArt™ 3D product
The main aim in the development of ChondroArt™ 3D product has been to achieve a less invasive surgical procedure. This product is a major advance, not only concerning the surgical procedure but also in ensuring higher quality cells. It is known that chondrocytes in monolayer cultures tend to lose their characteristics. By growing the cells on three dimensional scaffolds this process is reversed to some extent. The scaffold we use is made from alginate-agarose hydrogel.
This product is in use since 2007.
ChondroArt™ 3D-A
This is a new generation of ChondroArt™ products that we are developing to enable wider indication treatments, especially when subchondral bone is not affected.