Extended Efficacy of Biomimetic Boundary Lubricants in the Rat ACLT Model of Osteoarthritis

Principal Investigator: Heidi L. Reesink

Department of Clinical Sciences
Sponsor: CU Institute of Biotechnology - Centers for Advanced Technology (CAT)
Title: Extended Efficacy of Biomimetic Boundary Lubricants in the Rat ACLT Model of Osteoarthritis
Project Amount: $53,950
Project Period: July 2018 to June 2019

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 

Cornell University’s biomimetic boundary lubricants (BBL) lubricate and protect joint tissue. Cornell’s BBL’s are closely related to medical polymers currently in wide use and which are generally regarded as safe (GRAS). They are being developed to provide a bridge between medical treatment for severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and joint replacement surgery. Currently, the standard of care for these patients is injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) compounds for viscosupplementation in the affected joint spaces. By lubricating the joint tissues, HA compounds can alleviate pain. However, these HA affects are transient and short-lived. In contrast, injections of Cornell’s BBL have prevented disease progression and preserved joint health in standard rat models of injury induced OA. BBL performance in these models relative to the historical performance of HA compounds in similar OA models suggest the potential for Cornell’s BBLs to eventually eclipse HAs in this market segment. Further demonstration of BBL animal and—eventually—human safety and efficacy will be required to determine whether they can fulfill their promise for this indication. This collaboration with Dynamic Boundaries provides the opportunity to add significant value to Cornell’s BBL technology by demonstrating extended efficacy in an in vivo model of OA.