Nasal Cartilage Implants Show Promise for Complex Knee Cartilage Repair, Study Finds

Researchers from the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have found that cartilage implants grown from a patient's own nasal septum cells can effectively repair complex knee cartilage injuries. A clinical study involving 98 participants across four countries compared cartilage matured for two days versus two weeks before implantation. Results published in *Science Translational Medicine* showed significant improvement in both groups, with the longer-matured cartilage demonstrating even greater benefits in knee functionality and tissue composition after two years, especially in patients with larger injuries or previous unsuccessful treatments. The team, led by Prof. Dr. Ivan Martin, PD Dr. Marcus Mumme, and Prof. Dr. Andrea Barbero, is now planning trials for treating osteoarthritis using this method, with two large clinical studies already in the pipeline.