Better cartilage map could help researchers improve engineered joint repair
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 - 08:01
in Biology & Nature
Cartilage serves as a shock absorber for the human body, lubricating joints and helping them move smoothly. Its texture is softer than bone—yet stiffer and stronger than muscle. When it is damaged, patients can experience osteoarthritis, disc herniation and other painful conditions. This week in ACS Central Science, researchers reveal that the structure of cartilage has a more complicated zonal organization than previously thought, insights that could improve future generations of engineered cartilage.