Vietnamese scientist invents joint regeneration gel, opening up non-surgical treatment

(Dan Tri) - A new technology promises a breakthrough in the treatment of osteoarthritis - a common musculoskeletal disease and a leading cause of disability, especially in middle-aged and elderly people.

Joint Reconstruction Without Surgery

A research group in the US led by Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, lecturer at the University of Connecticut, has successfully developed injectable piezoelectric gel technology. The solution helps regenerate damaged cartilage without surgery.

According to the University of Connecticut's UConn Today magazine, this is considered an important step forward that can be clinically applied on humans in the near future.

The research topic “Injectable Cell-Free Piezoelectric Scaffolds for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Large Animals” that the group is working on aims to create a hydrogel that can promote cartilage tissue regeneration without the use of drugs or stem cells.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, lecturer at the University of Connecticut.

Compared to current regenerative methods, the new technology takes advantage of the body's natural bioelectric signals to trigger tissue repair.

The injectable gel contains a piezoelectric material framework composed of biodegradable Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) nanofibers and magnesium oxide nanoparticles.

When injected into the damaged area, this frame emits electrical signals that stimulate cell activity, thereby promoting cartilage regeneration, especially suitable for joints that bear large loads such as the knee and hip joints...

It is expected that this solution will continue to be evaluated for its actual effectiveness and could be completed in 2029.

According to Science Translational Medicine, the research team tested the hydrogel on a rabbit model with damaged articular cartilage. The results showed that the cartilage was significantly restored after 2 months of application.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh (born in 1984) is a typical young Vietnamese face of 2018, a former student of the talented engineering class, majoring in physics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

After graduating, he decided to do something completely new, something no one had ever done before, that could serve humanity. Associate Professor Thanh is passionate about research, applying technical knowledge and applied physics for medical purposes.

Born into a family with a tradition of working in the medical profession, he was often exposed to the hospital environment from a young age. Along with stories during meals, Associate Professor Thanh realized the importance of things related to people.

He found that there was still a big gap between medicine and engineering. Engineers often lacked medical knowledge and had difficulty understanding the real needs of patients, while doctors, although knowledgeable about pathology and people, had little access to technical and technological knowledge.

The 8X scientist once made a splash with 3D SEAL technology, a platform for creating booster vaccines that only need to be injected once but are as effective as many booster shots.

His team then developed a microneedle patch that releases vaccines on schedule, helping to fight against pneumococcal bacteria and SARS-CoV-2 virus, opening up prospects for application in remote areas.

With his outstanding contributions, he has received many prestigious awards: "Pathfinder" from the US National Institutes of Health, top 18 outstanding young engineers in the world voted by SME, MIT honored as one of the top 10 innovators under 35 years old in Asia.

Common diseases, dangerous complications

According to the Hanoi Rheumatology Association, osteoarthritis is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases in the world.

In Vietnam, osteoarthritis is a serious health problem, accounting for more than 10% of all musculoskeletal diseases. It is the second most common musculoskeletal disease seen by general practitioners and the leading cause of disability.

Among the forms of osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting motor function, working ability and quality of life.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), 20% of patients with joint disease have knee osteoarthritis, and about 20% of them suffer from persistent pain and functional decline after 12 months.

Especially after the age of 50, the rate of knee osteoarthritis often increases. Typical symptoms include pain and morning stiffness (increased with movement and decreased with rest).

Musculoskeletal diseases, especially osteoarthritis, are creating a huge socio-economic burden for both families and communities. Therefore, finding new solutions to reduce this burden in the future is extremely necessary.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/nha-khoa-hoc-viet-sang-che-gel-tai-tao-khop-mo-huong-dieu-tri-khong-can-mo-20250702072949521.htm