Founder’s Facts: BioPoly and Cartilage – Benefits of a New Biomaterial

Hear what BioPoly Founder, Herb Schwartz has to say about the properties of BioPoly and Cartilage:

BioPoly is a breakthrough biomaterial that functions like synthetic cartilage! Today, let’s explore some fascinating similarities between BioPoly and natural cartilage:

• Both are robust materials that carry joint loads and allow pain free motion.
• Both have hyaluronic acid in their structures and use that molecule to assist with lubrication by holding onto synovial fluid during articulation of the joint.
• Both have extremely low frictional forces (i.e. coefficient of friction) when articulating with cartilage on the opposite side of the joint.
• Both can be considered composite materials.
• Both are intended to articulate with cartilage.
• Both are avascular (void of blood vessels) and aneural (void of nerves).
• Both thrive in a diarthrodial joint environment.

With all these similarities, it is not surprising that the BioPoly team has already developed implants that replace cartilage in the knee condyles, trochlear groove/facets, patella, elbow (radial head), shoulder, and great/lesser toes with many more applications coming. More than 1500 patients have received BioPoly implants. The longest-term patient received a BioPoly knee implant in 2012 and that patient is still pain free.

Stay tuned for updates as BioPoly continues advancing joint care and transforming lives!