Image: The RegJoint joint spacer (Photo courtesy of Scaffdex).

An innovative biodegradable joint implant is intended for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Developed by researchers at Tampere University of Technology (TUT; Finland), the RegJoint acts as a spacer in the small joints of the hands and feet, forming a neojoint between adjacent bone ends, thus restoring normal mobility. Made of biodegradable poly-96L/4D-lactide (PLA) copolymer, the porous implant, which is placed inside the joint capsule, stimulates the body to produce connective tissue cells which gradually become replaced by the patient’s own fibroblasts; no separate cell manipulation or culturing is needed prior the operation. RegJoint is manufactured and distributed by Scaffdex (Tampere, Finland).

RA and OA destroy the normally smooth cartilage that lines the ends of bones, reducing mobility and causing pain; as cartilage regenerates poorly, the injuries are difficult to treat. Conventional surgical options involve permanent implants or the artificial induction of joint ossification between two bones.

PLA is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch (in the United States), tapioca products (roots, chips, or starch, mostly in Asia) or sugarcanes (in the rest of world). PLA is currently used in a number of biomedical applications, such as sutures, stents, dialysis media, and drug delivery devices; it is also being evaluated as an alternative material for tissue engineering.

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