Machines Like Us

A team of researchers has bioengineered a synthetic scaffold that effectively regenerates tissue in torn knee ligaments.

Carson Palmer, the Cincinnati Bengals' starting quarterback, was an NFL MVP contender in 2005 until he suffered a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the knee's main support structure, which is commonly injured in sports. Surgical reconstruction is typically required to repair the ligament, but current methods continue to take significant recovery time, during which a patient may sustain a loss of strength and function. Now, researchers at the University of Virginia have bioengineered a new ACL replacement using a 3-D polymeric fiber braiding process. It's the first synthetic scaffold design to demonstrate exceptional tissue regeneration and healing, and it could lead to a promising ligament-replacement technology.

Read full story in Technology Review.