Welcome to the Autologous Cultured Chondrocyte Website
Welcome! This website provides information on the biotechnology of autologous tissue engineering; namely culturing chondrocytes for re-implantation and reconstitution of articular cartilage in the knee joint. The company Genzyme is responsible for the development and introduction of Carticel®, the first product in cell transplantation to be approved and licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. Carticel® is currently being marketed in the United States and Europe and is quickly becoming a successful and viable alternative treatment to total knee replacement, arthroscopy, and abrasion therapy. You will find detailed descriptions of how this new therapy is performed, what it costs, and clinical results of post-operative patient follow-ups. Other perspectives addressed are issues pertaining to this treatment as well as looking ahead to the future success of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).
How it Works / Cost and Statistics / Data and Results / Issues and Concerns / Looking Toward the Future
This website was brought to you by the following students in conjunction with Professor Lysaght's Biology 108 Organ Replacement course at Brown University in Providence, RI:
Christopher Furbish (furbish@brown.edu)
Matthew Giles (Matthew_Giles@brown.edu)
Jason Iannuccilli (Jason_Iannuccilli@brown.edu)
Christine Marrese (Christine_Marrese@brown.edu)
Jill O'Loughlin (Jill_O'Loughlin@brown.edu)
Acknowledgements
Genzyme Tissue Repair, Inc.
Genzyme Tissue Repair Department of Physician & Patient Services
The Center for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Institute for Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine