What Makes BioPoly® Different from Other Cartilage Implants?

What Makes BioPoly® Different from Other Cartilage Implants?

In previous Founder’s Facts, we’ve talked about what BioPoly® is—a synthetic cartilage made from a proprietary combination of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and hyaluronic acid (HA). Equally important is understanding what BioPoly® is not.

Many materials have been used in an attempt to repair or replace damaged cartilage. Yet, each of these alternatives has significant limitations that BioPoly® was specifically engineered to overcome:

Metallic Implants (e.g., CoCrMo, Titanium)

Durable but hydrophobic and excessively stiff, these metals are incompatible with cartilage and synovial fluid. Over time, they can damage opposing surfaces and accelerate joint degeneration. BioPoly® is hydrophilic and far less stiff, allowing it to interact favorably with native cartilage and synovial fluid.

Hydrogels and Soft Polymers

While initially promising, hydrogels are engineered to mimic the softness of cartilage, and often pass basic in vitro mechanical tests, even fatigue and wear tests. But real joints demand more than softness—they require durability under load. Hydrogels often fail in vivo due to erosion, delamination, or loss of fixation. BioPoly® solves this by integrating HA into a robust UHMWPE backbone—providing both lubrication and long-term mechanical stability.

Allografts and Biologic Repairs

These rely on biological tissue and on patients’ robust biological response. While promising in concept, these solutions can suffer from variability in healing, limited donor tissue, potential immune response, and inconsistent long-term outcomes. BioPoly® offers consistently positive, off-the-shelf outcomes that don’t depend on the patient’s biology to succeed.

Resurfacing Devices and Hemiarthroplasties

Conventional resurfacing approaches often ignore the importance of joint lubrication and cartilage interaction. BioPoly® was designed to restore joint mechanics while working in harmony with synovial fluid and native cartilage.

BioPoly® doesn’t try to be “almost cartilage” or a “better metal.” It is a new class altogether: a synthetic cartilage with the durability of UHMWPE and the lubrication of hyaluronic acid.

That’s not just different—it’s transformative.

— Dr. Herb Schwartz President & Founder, BioPoly LLC