A new National Science Foundation grant will help Drexel engineer Leo Han, PhD, advance RibbonGel, a promising material designed to improve outcomes in cartilage repair.
Cartilage injuries, whether from sports or aging, are notoriously difficult to heal because cartilage does not regenerate easily. Current treatments like Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation require implanting a patient’s own cartilage cells with a pig-derived collagen membrane, but the process can be slow and often struggles to integrate with existing tissue.
Han, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, is developing RibbonGel as an alternative. Made from collagen ribbons activated by blue light, RibbonGel creates a stable, three-dimensional scaffold that holds cartilage cells in place at the injury site. This approach mimics the structure of natural cartilage, encouraging more even tissue growth and reducing the risk of implant failure.
“RibbonGel has the potential to make cartilage repair faster, easier, and more successful,” Han said.
Early tests in large animal models have shown promising results. With NSF support, Han’s team will continue refining the material and conducting studies to move the technology closer to clinical use, potentially offering a better treatment for joint injuries and osteoarthritis.
