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Joint damage can determine degeneration of the cartilage and bone underlying joints, leading to the disabling disease of osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a leading cause of fragility in older adults and source of societal costs, occurring in over 40 million people in Europe. The prevalence of the disease is rising with population ageing, increasing the associated healthcare costs.

The only current treatment for joint damage consists of full joint replacement. The 3D-JOINT project, supported by the European Research Council, used bioprinting to develop "living implants" with biomechanical properties of cartilage. Regenerative cells deposited across a tissue-specific matrix allow new cartilage formation

“Depositing biomaterials and cells layer-by-layer allowed control over their placement and organisation. This precision resulted in durable tissue with much better biomechanical properties,” explains Prof. Jos Malda, project coordinator. “Technology to fabricate implants this way had not been developed before.”

Read more about 3D-JOINT .