ENCANTO: The Revolutionary Project Aimed at Treating Knee Joint Defects with Nasal Cartilage Implants

Saturday - February 24 2024, 08:13 UTC - 9 months ago

ENCANTO, a European Union-funded project with a budget of 11.3 million euros, aims to treat knee joint defects by using nasal cartilage implants. Led by Dr. Oliver Pullig, the project promises to revolutionize knee cartilage regeneration and improve joint function. Challenges with the creation and implementation of the treatment include special regulations due to live cells in the implant. However, if successful, this project could pave the way for advancements in regenerative medicine.

Knee pain is a common ailment that affects millions of people worldwide. Knee joint defects, especially in cases of osteoarthritis, can be debilitating and severely impact one's quality of life. Traditionally, these defects were treated with cartilage from the nose, but thanks to a new project called ENCANTO, there may be a more effective solution.

Led by Dr. Oliver Pullig, a team of doctors will be collaborating with University Hospital Basel to produce implants made of nasal cartilage. These implants will be used to treat damaged knees, promoting the regeneration of healthy cartilage tissue and improving joint function.

The procedure involves taking a small piece of cartilage from the nasal septum of patients and growing it in a laboratory on supportive collagen structures for four weeks. The result is a cultured cartilage that will be implanted into the damaged knee, where it will continue to regenerate new cartilage tissue.

According to a press release by the University Hospital Würzburg, the cartilage matrix produced through ENCANTO will be used in 12 clinical centers across Europe. This project, funded by the European Union with a budget of 11.3 million euros, aims to make knee cartilage regeneration a reality and has been classified under the HORIZON-HLTH-2023-TOOL-05 program. University Hospital Würzburg will receive 1.88 million euros for their pioneering efforts in this initiative.

Dr. Pullig and his team have already conducted studies on the safety and efficacy of this technique using nasal cartilage, involving over 100 individuals. Now, with the ENCANTO project, they plan to take it a step further and address more complex knee problems like patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA).

With a budget of 11.3 million euros, the ENCANTO team is ready to revolutionize knee cartilage treatment in Europe. Dr. Pullig stated, "With these substantial funding amounts, which finally allow us to prepare the product for approval, we have reached the Champions League. This is a major step towards making knee cartilage regeneration a reality for millions across Europe." .

The ENCANTO project brings hope for those suffering from knee joint defects. However, the creation and implementation of this new treatment come with its own set of challenges. The implant, containing living cells, is classified as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP), which means it is subject to special rules and regulations.

Dr. Sarah Nietzer, who is in charge of quality control, explains, "These are human cells, and they don't always behave as desired or expected. We need more data to understand why some cells may not grow as well as others. Additionally, we are working on a method to monitor the quality and viability of the cells throughout the entire production process, in real-time, rather than just at the end. If successful, this method could also be applied to other models used to simulate various diseases in the department." .

If the ENCANTO project goes according to plan, it could change the future of knee treatment and potentially save millions from the agony of arthritis. This innovative project provides a glimmer of hope for those suffering from knee joint defects, and with its success, may pave the way for similar advancements in the field of regenerative medicine.