French researchers use apple scaffolds to grow human cartilage

Researchers at the BioConnecT laboratory, led by Professor Karim Boumédienne at the University of Caen Normandy, have demonstrated that decellularized apple slices can serve as a scaffold for growing human cartilage in vitro.

In the study published in the Journal of Biological Engineering, scientists used Granny Smith apple slices, treated with a detergent to remove plant DNA and cells, to create a translucent cellulosic matrix. This matrix was then seeded with human stem cells. After two weeks of cultivation, the resulting tissue showed high levels of collagen and proteoglycans, closely resembling human cartilage. This method aims to address the shortage of compatible grafts for treating conditions like osteoarthritis or reconstructing tissue after cancer.

Separately, a medical campaign at the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital in Madagascar is conducting cornea transplants for approximately twenty patients. The grafts are provided free of charge from a cornea bank in Lyon, France, though patients must cover surgical and medication costs.