Artificial collagen/hydrogel disc resembles the natural discs more closely as compared to artificial discs available now. Modern artificial spinal discs are commonly made of rigid materials such as metal and plastic, but natural discs are more like a stiff gel, and softer and bouncy.
Cornell researchers have successfully tested artificial discs in a mouse model that are made of collagen and a hydrogel called alginate. The discs were populated with mice’s own cells and the implants actually improved over time as new cells grew within the implant’s matrix. After six months of living with the new discs, the mice retained 80-90% of their implants’ initial height. [Read more...]
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