N-TEC

N-TEC (Nasal chondrocyte Tissue Engineered Cartilage) is an autologous cell-based biologic therapy developed by the University Hospital Basel for the repair of articular cartilage defects in the knee. The therapy involves harvesting chondrocytes from the patient's own nasal septum, expanding them in vitro, and seeding them onto a collagen type I/III membrane scaffold to create a mature, hyaline-like cartilage graft. This engineered tissue is then surgically implanted into the site of the cartilage lesion. Unlike traditional autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) which uses articular chondrocytes, N-TEC utilizes nasal chondrocytes, which possess high and stable chondrogenic capacity. It is indicated for both traumatic cartilage injuries and degenerative lesions associated with osteoarthritis. The therapy has received Temporary Authorization from Swissmedic for clinical use in Switzerland.

Other names

Nasal chondrocyte Tissue Engineered CartilageNose2KneeNose-2KneeNose 2Kneeautologous nasal chondrocyte-derived cartilage graft