Late stage development & clinical evaluation of FibroFix Cartilage: A Mechanically Functional, Tissue Regenerative, Knee Cartilage Repair Implant

该项目将开发一种植入物，以减轻疼痛，恢复膝盖软骨损伤患者的活动能力。该植入物由一种名为FibroFix™的新型材料制成，该材料由一种从丝纤维中提取的蛋白质制成，称为丝心蛋白。丝素蛋白的特性赋予FibroFix™装置独特的优势，使它们像软骨本身一样非常坚固，光滑和有弹性，同时还能够再生新的软骨组织。这将允许FibroFix™植入物用于治疗膝关节软骨的大损伤，其中可能已经存在疼痛的骨关节炎。该项目将完成这种植入物的开发，并完成动物和实验室试验，证明它既安全又有效。一旦实现这一目标，该项目将在临床试验中研究植入物的性能。

This project will develop an implant to reduce pain and restore mobility to patients suffering from injuries to the cartilage in their knees. The implant is made from a novel material called FibroFix™ which is formed from a protein extracted from silk fibres called fibroin. The properties of fibroin give FibroFix™ devices unique advantages, allowing them to be very strong, smooth and resilient like cartilage itself, while also capable of regenerating new cartilage tissue. This will allow the FibroFix™ implant to be used to treat large injuries to the articular cartilage in the knee where the painful condition osteoarthritis may already be present. The project will finalise development of this implant and complete testing in animal and laboratory trials, demonstrating that it is both safe and effective. Once this has been achieved, the project will investigate the implant’s performance in a clinical trial.