Imperial College London scientists report they have converted human embryonic stem cells into cartilage cells. Cartilage is the dense connective tissue usually found between bones to allow the smooth movement of joints.
The research provides hope that replacement cartilage might one day be grown for transplantation for a number of problems, including sports injuries and hip replacement surgery, the researchers said.
Archana Vats, from Imperial College London and first author of the study, said: "With (England's) increasing aging population there will be an inevitable increase in problems created by people living longer.
"Although doctors have been able to carry out joint replacements for a number of years, it has not possible to replace the worn out cartilage," he said. "By replacing the cartilage it may be possible to avoid the need for a joint replacement for some time."
Anne Bishop, one of the authors, added: "These results show it may be as little as five years before this advance can be used to directly benefit patients for a huge variety of illnesses and injuries."
The research is to be published in the journal Tissue Engineering.
