New stem cell research could revolutionise treatment for hip replacements

New cutting-edge research has been used to develop and create a new ‘living hip replacement’ that could potentially revolutionise the treatment of arthritis and other joint conditions.

Scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine and Cytex Therapeutics collaborated to find a way to grow new cartilage tissue using stem cells, while also giving the material anti-inflammatory molecules to fight of arthritis. It is said that this could mark a significant advance compared to current hip replacement treatment.

The research, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describes how reprogrammed stem cells have been used to grow new cartilage on a 3D template which is shaped like the ball of a hip joint.

This is moulded into the precise shape of the individual’s joint, before being covered with cartilage made from the patient’s own stem cells, which has been taken from fat beneath the skin. This can then be implanted on to the surface of the arthritic hip.

The team also inserted a gene into the newly-grown cartilage that can be activated with a drug to stimulate the release of anti-inflammatory molecules, which would help prevent the return of the arthritis that destroyed the original cartilage.

It is said that this living hip replacement has the potential to be safer, longer-lasting and more effective than traditional hip replacement surgery.

Dr Farshid Guilak, professor of orthopaedic surgery at Washington University, says, “Replacing a failed prosthetic joint is a difficult surgery. We’ve developed a way to resurface an arthritic joint using a patient’s own stem cells to grow new cartilage, combined with gene therapy to release anti-inflammatory molecules to keep arthritis at bay.
“Our hope is to prevent, or at least delay, a standard metal and plastic prosthetic joint replacement.”

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