Study Finds Cell-Free Implant Can Aid Bone Repair Without Immune Rejection

Study Finds Cell-Free Implant Can Aid Bone Repair Without Immune Rejection
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A new study suggests that major bone damage could one day be treated using a tissue implant that contains no living cells, reducing the risk of immune rejection, SciTechDaily reported.

The research, published in the journal PNAS, shows that engineered, cell-free cartilage can support bone regeneration by activating the body’s own repair processes.

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden developed a cartilage-based scaffold that acts as a biological guide rather than a traditional transplant. After growing cartilage in the laboratory, the team removed all living cells, leaving behind a natural structural framework known as the extracellular matrix.

Tests in animals showed that the implant encouraged new bone growth without triggering strong immune responses. The remaining cartilage matrix retains growth factors that signal the body’s own cells to move into the damaged area, rebuild tissue, and gradually replace the scaffold with bone.

The approach could address limitations of current bone grafts, which often rely on patient-specific tissue and require additional surgeries. Scientists estimate that around two million people worldwide need bone transplants each year.