Preserving donor meniscus tissue alive using ice-free nanowarming
Ice-free Cryopreservation with Nanowarming for Banking of Viable Meniscal Transplants
This project develops a way to preserve donor meniscus tissue so people who need meniscus transplants can receive better-matched, living grafts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Clemson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Clemson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176134 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people who lose part or all of a meniscus later develop pain and arthritis, and meniscal transplants from donors can help but are limited by matching and storage problems. The team is working on an ice-free freezing approach called vitrification combined with rapid nanowarming to keep cells and tissue structure intact during long-term storage. A major focus is improving how protective chemicals spread through the dense meniscus so the method prevents ice damage throughout the tissue. If successful, the method would allow banking a wider range of ready-to-use meniscal grafts for future patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with significant meniscus loss who are candidates for meniscal allograft transplantation would be the eventual beneficiaries and potential participants in future clinical use or trials.
Not a fit: People with minor meniscal tears treated without surgery or those not eligible for allografts are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase the supply of viable, better-matched donor menisci and make transplants more available and durable for people with major meniscus loss.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work showed vitrification plus nanowarming preserves living cells and structure in some large avascular tissues, but applying it to the complex meniscus is new and faces specific distribution challenges.
Where this research is happening
Clemson, United States
- Clemson University — Clemson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Shangping — Clemson University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Shangping
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.