• In an aging population, intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is not uncommon and may cause significant reduction of quality of life due to loss of mobility
• Glycosaminoglycan (GAG): a very key component with structural, mechanical and biological functions in IVD and many other tissues.
• Advances in tissue engineering will allow patients to replace IVD with artificial discs with high GAG content.

• High GAG content biomaterial for IVD has not previously been made. This technology from HKU is the very first one with established know-how to make.
• A key component in future non-fusion spinal surgery market.

• Benefits

• Very high GAG to collagen ratio: >27
• Closely mimics native nucleus pulposus (NP) with brush-like and bead-like structures
• Primary NP cells can grow on this biomaterial very well
• Cell-embedded biomaterial has highly comparable mechanical property as native IVD

• Fully biocompatible artificial IVD for disc replacement
• Injectable biomaterial for treatment of disc degeneration
• Base scaffold for tissue engineering which requires high GAG content matrix

Stage of Development

• Production protocol has been established
• In vitro study has completed

Patents

• Filed PCT in 2021

IP Status

• Patent application submitted

Seeking

• Development partner
• Licensing