Nanochon Begins First-in-Human Study of 3D-Printed Knee Cartilage Implant

Nanochon, a company developing the Chondrograft 3D-printed implant to treat articular knee cartilage defects, has successfully treated the first patient in its first-in-human study.

Dr. Juan Osorio and Dr. Emilio Tufiño, who specialize in regenerative sports medicine, performed the first procedure at The Panama Clinic, Panamá. The first-in-human study aims to assess Chondrograft’s safety and performance in focal chondral defects of the knee.

The study will enroll patients between ages 22 and 60 who have failed conservative treatment options and present with one or two femoral condyle and /or trocheal cartilage lesions.

Chondrograft uses a strong, nylon-based composite material that mimics the feel and strength of real joint cartilage. Advanced 3D printing creates a tiny, porous scaffold structure that fits directly into a damaged hole or lesion in the knee.

The design lets blood and cells flow up from the underlying bone into the implant to trigger natural healing and weight-bearing motion right away.

Articular cartilage injuries can cause chronic pain, impaired mobility, and progressive joint degeneration. Existing treatments often require lengthy rehabilitation and may not restore durable, functional cartilage.

Comments from Nanochon and study leaders

Ben Holmes, co-founder and CEO: “The speed at which Dr. Osorio and the clinical team were able to identify, enroll, and treat the first patient underscores the significant unmet clinical need in cartilage repair. This milestone marks an important step forward for Nanochon as we continue generating the clinical evidence required to support a future Level 1 pivotal study.”

Nathan Castro, co-founder and chief technology officer: “Our vision is to fundamentally change the treatment paradigm for cartilage injuries and potentially delay or eliminate the need for revision surgery and knee replacement procedures in younger patients. We believe Chondrograft has the potential to provide physicians with a simpler, more effective approach to cartilage treatment.”

Dr. Osorio: “I am pleased to be the Principal Investigator for this important study, and we are excited to be the first to initiate clinical study enrollment. The team here in Panamá looks forward to contributing the data that will support a larger clinical study and subsequent market entry.”

Dr. Tufiño: “The procedure is bone-sparing, minimally invasive, and streamlined, and the dedicated instrumentation set made the procedure simple and efficient.”

Nanochon was among 65 startups selected for MedTech Innovator’s 2024 Accelerator Cohort. Read the full list here.