Beyond Replacement: New Enzyme Blockers and 3D-Printed Implants Offer Hope for Knee Arthritis
Two distinct scientific approaches are emerging to treat knee osteoarthritis without traditional joint replacement. Stanford researchers discovered that blocking the aging enzyme 15-PGDH allows existing cartilage cells to regenerate in mice and human tissue samples. Simultaneously, Columbia University engineers developed a 3D-printed, living biological knee implant under the NITRO program. While both show promise, human trials for the enzyme inhibitor are still pending, and the living implant faces regulatory hurdles.