Articular cartilage lines the opposing surfaces of articulating joints to provide near-frictionless lubrication during joint movement. This avascular tissue has a limited intrinsic repair capacity and is often replaced by fibrocartilage when the cartilage surface is injured. In contrast to articular cartilage, fibrocartilage is similar to fibrous connective tissue and lacks the normal joint strength, durability and weight bearing capability. Fibrocartilage is therefore a poor substitute to articular cartilage and the lack of genuine repair leads to further joint degeneration and osteoarthritis. Although many attempts have been made to restore articular cartilage and stop the progressive degeneration in damaged joints, few treatments have managed to repair large osteochondral defects without the use of costly cell therapy or complicated osteochondral grafting.
GelrinC is a photopolymerizable biodegradable hydrogel made from PEGylated denatured fibrinogen. It is designed to guide migration of cells involved in tissue repair into the defect and to allowing cartilage tissue repair. GelrinC can be injected directly into the injury site using minimally invasive surgical techniques (i.e. arthroscopy, mini-arthrotomy).
Gelrin C
During a surgical procedure, the defect site is resurfaced. The GelrinC solution is injected into the resurfaced defect site just below the upper boundaries of the native articular cartilage and solidifies in-situ forming a stable matrix. The hydrogel is designed to slowly degrade and gradually be replaced by healthy functional tissue that fills-in the space occupied previously by the implant.
GelrinC is not approved for marketing in the USA and is currently in late stage preclinical studies and is expected to obtain CE marking early 2009.
Indication
The GelrinC is designed to be intended for cartilaginous defects of articulating joints caused by acute or repetitive trauma. GelrinC will not be indicated for the treatment of cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.
Animal study showing cartilage regeneration with GelrinC in osteochondral (OCD) defect;
a) GelrinC implanted in the defect site b) gross appearance of the defect site, 6 months
post-op ,and c) histological cross-section of the repaired defect site (H&E staining)
Caution: Investigational Device. Limited by U.S. law to investigational use.
| 
