Researchers at Bioconnect Laboratory, University of Normandy, France, have successfully created human cartilage using apples stripped of their plant cells to serve as a porous 3D scaffold. Human mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on the scaffold to differentiate into cartilage cells in a specialized nutrient medium.

The apple’s natural porous structure closely mimics the 3D architecture of human cartilage, allowing cells to receive essential nutrients and oxygen for growth. The scaffold can be customized to fit specific tissue defects, making it suitable for joint surgeries, nasal septum reconstruction, or ear restoration after injury or cancer procedures.

A key advantage of this method is the use of the patient’s own cells, reducing the risk of immune rejection and addressing tissue shortage issues. Plant-based scaffolds are abundant and cost-effective compared to animal tissues, while avoiding ethical concerns associated with human or animal tissue use.

This innovative technique also opens the door for preclinical drug testing, using lab-grown cartilage to study drug effects on human tissues without animal experiments. Although still in the experimental stage, early results indicate wide potential for regenerative medicine and tissue reconstruction applications.