Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : The Truth Behind Germany’s Cartilage Repair Gel

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

“New Knee Without Surgery?” – The Truth Behind Germany’s Cartilage Repair Gel

Recently, social media was flooded with posts claiming that German scientists had invented a brand-new miracle gel to regrow knee cartilage—without surgery—and that it would be available in Europe by 2026. Thousands of people shared it, raising hope for patients with joint pain.

But here’s the truth: this isn’t new at all.

What Is ChondroFiller?

The treatment being discussed is called #ChondroFiller, a collagen-based gel developed in collaboration with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute. It has been on the market since 2013. Far from being a quick injection, it requires minimally invasive keyhole surgery where the gel is applied to the damaged #cartilage. After the procedure, the joint must be immobilized for 48 hours.

As of 2025, more than 20,000 patients worldwide have been treated with ChondroFiller.

What Social Media Got Wrong

Claimed it was “brand new” → Truth: Available since 2013.

Said no surgery is needed; truth: requires minor surgery.

Claimed no risks → Truth: Allergic or inflammatory reactions to collagen are possible.

This is a reminder that medical misinformation spreads fast online, and as doctors, we must guide patients with facts.

Future of Cartilage Regeneration

Global research continues. Duke University (2022) and Northwestern University (2024) have been testing biodegradable injectable hydrogels that dissolve as new tissue grows. These are still in animal trials and not available in clinics yet.

This means the real breakthroughs are still in the pipeline, and doctors in India must be prepared for these next-gen therapies.

What Does This Mean for Doctors in India?

Patient Counseling: Many patients will walk into clinics quoting social media posts. Doctors need to explain the difference between current treatments and experimental claims.

Opportunity in Regenerative Medicine: As demand for alternatives to knee replacement grows, regenerative orthopedics may soon become a vital specialty.

Trend Awareness: India could see similar solutions entering the market, but regulatory, cost, and training factors will decide how fast adoption happens.

Final Takeaway

The cartilage gel from Germany is not a “miracle cure” but a decade-old technology with proven yet limited scope. However, the future of biodegradable, injectable cartilage therapies is exciting—and Indian doctors must stay ready.

source: The Doctorpreneur Academy

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Sandwich Structures

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Composite materials especially carbon fiber are well known for their excellent strength‑to‑weight ratio. However, there is a way to push this ratio even further: by creating sandwich structures.

A sandwich structure consists of two strong, stiff face sheets (skins) bonded to either side of a lightweight core. The skins carry the in‑plane tensile and compressive loads, while the core maintains the spacing between them increasing the momentum of inertia and resisting shear forces. This makes the structure particularly strong due to the way it distributes loads, working in a similar way to an I‑beam.

By separating the high‑strength material into outer layers, the bending stiffness increases dramatically without a proportional increase in weight. This is why sandwich structures used in sectors wind energy, automotive, & aerospace.

Core Materials for Sandwich Structures

The outer skins of a sandwich structure can be made from many different materials, including metals, but one of the most popular options is composites. For the core, there is also a wide range of materials that pair well with skins made from carbon, aramid or glass fiber.

Foam Core Materials

One of the most popular core material is foam.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) foam is widely used because it is compatible with infusion, prepreg, and RTM processes, and it offers a very favourable balance of cost, processability, and mechanical properties.

PMI (Polymethacrylimide) foam is another popular choice thanks to its excellent specific stiffness and its ability to withstand temperatures up to 180 °C (356 °F), making it highly desirable in automotive & aerospace applications.

Honeycomb Cores

Honeycomb cores have proven particularly effective for withstanding the loads experienced by the core. Several materials can be used in this configuration:

Nomex® aramid honeycomb is very popular in high‑performance applications thanks to its excellent fire resistance, low weight, and dielectric properties.

Thermoplastic honeycomb made from PET or polypropylene is used in lightweight applications requiring some degree of impact resistance.

Aluminium honeycomb offers excellent thermal conductivity and compressive strength. While it is heavier than other options, it can be ideal where extreme lightness is not required. If combined with carbon fiber skins, a protective treatment must be applied to prevent galvanic corrosion from direct contact between the two materials.

 

Natural Core Materials

Two popular natural options for sandwich cores are:

Balsa wood: the lightest known wood, with a long tradition in wind turbine blade manufacturing and marine applications. It must be sealed to prevent moisture absorption, but it offers excellent compressive strength.

Cork: increasingly used for its outstanding acoustic and vibration damping properties, with the added benefit of being a renewable material.

source:Managing Composites

ARKEMA EMPLOYEES HONORED BY ACS FOR KYNAR® PVDF INNOVATION IN BATTERIES

Ramin Amin-Sanayei, Medhi Durali, Steve Erhardt, Carl Stewart, Barry Oakley, Lining (Michael) Zhu, and Sun Jia-Yue were recognized for their contributions to the development of the Kynar® HSV 900 #PVDF material, first introduced in 2005. To move away from fluorinated surfactants, the team pioneered the development of commercially PVDF binders produced without fluorosurfactant, while maintaining critical material properties required for high battery performance. Kynar® HSV 900 PVDF has demonstrated exceptional versatility, gaining widespread commercial adoption alongside a broad range of cathode active materials, especially lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and has since become a legacy market reference in the battery industry. To date, Kynar® HSV 900 PVDF has already enabled the production of batteries powering over 10 million #electricvehicles.

The development of advanced materials for efficient, long-lasting batteries for electric vehicles is essential to mitigate the impacts of climate change through the diminution of the carbon footprint of transportation. Kynar® HSV 900 plays a critical role in improving the performance, safety and longevity of lithium-ion batteries, key components in EV and energy systems. The adoption underscores the critical role of #Kynar® HSV 900 has played in enabling the rise of #LFPtechnology, an increasingly preferred solution for EV batteries due to its safety, costefficiency and long cycle life.

In 2024, the rapid growth of LFP-powered electric vehicles continued, with over 850 GWh of batteries produced. “We are honored by this recognition from the #ACS, which reflects the dedication and expertise of our teams,” said David Silagy Vice President R&D High Performance Polymers & Fluorospecialties for #Arkema. “This award reinforces our mission to deliver high-performance materials that support the transition to a cleaner energy.”

To date, the awarded team has been granted 27 U.S. patents with claims related to PVDF synthesis and/or applications involving non-fluorinated surfactants. The Heroes of Chemistry award, established by the ACS in 1996 and sponsored by the ACS Board Committee on Corporation Associates, honors teams of industrial chemical scientists whose work has led to successful commercialized products that benefit humankind. This award celebrates the creativity and perseverance of scientists and engineers who have significantly contributed to modern life through their advancements in chemistry. 

source: Arkema

Netherlands offers subsidies to switch to recycled, bio content

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) is offering subsidies for converters and compounders looking to incorporate recycled content or #biobased polymers into their products.

The Subsidy for the Switch to Plastics Processors 2025 (SOPV) still has €10.63 million in budget to assign, out of a total of €13 million. Applications end on Oct. 2, 2025. The ROV is encouraging companies to apply now as the scheme is ‘unlikely’ to reopen in 2026.

The SOPV is aimed at compounders who add additives (such as dyes or plasticisers) or fillers (such as fiberglass) to polymers to achieve desired properties; and at converters who process #polymers or compounds into plastic semi-finished and finished products.

The subsidy is for conducting one or more production tests involving the incorporation of (more) circular plastics into one or more products. Processors can receive the subsidy up to two times, for different production tests. Applicants must carry out the production tests in the Netherlands, at a local Dutch production unit.

The SOPV covers 75% of the production test(s) costs, capped at €25,000 per application. The recycled material used in production tests must come from post-consumer recyclates. That material may originate from outside the Netherlands. The final product must be marketed in the Netherlands or intended for export.

To qualify for the subsidy, processors must use a ‘much higher’ proportion of recycled or bio-based content than they currently use. The percentage can vary depending on the type of product.

Production tests for elastomers, thermosets, composite materials like rubber, and textile fibres are not eligible for subsidy. #TheNetherlands also has other funding calls for innovative projects in plastics recycling and biopolymers. They include €80 million for projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and promoting a circular economy, and €35.5 million to fund #plasticsrecycling innovation.

source: Sustainable Plastics

Recon builds 40,000 tonnes chemical recycling plant in China

Recon Technology has finished building a 40,000 tonnes pyrolysis plant in Shandong, China.

The China-based oil and gas company said it attached the highest structural feature to the plant’s main manufacturing unit. 

The project has now entered the equipment installation and commissioning phase, with production expected to begin in December 2025.

In 2023, Recon announces plans to move into the plastics chemical recycling business. According to the company, data has shown that the market space for chemical recycling of waste plastics is huge, with an annual new market potential estimated at tens of billions of dollars and a market potential of hundreds of billion dollars.

Recon has invested over $15 million in the Shandong project to date.

The plant will include six pyrolysis units, two distillation units, and corresponding environmental protection facilities. The project is expected to produce 30,000 tons of plastic pyrolysis oil and 6,000 tons of carbon residue annually, generating an estimated $30 million in annual returns. It will use waste plastic film as the main feedstock.

The plant will deploy a dual-process approach combining catalytic pyrolysis and catalytic reforming. Catalytic reforming will increase the olefin content of the pyrolysis oil, substantially enhancing its value and competitiveness in the market, Recon said in a statement.

Recon’s process uses a horizontal screw-type three-stage continuous reactor. This is supposed to address the technical challenge of coking in standard furnaces. When plastic turns into coke and sticks to the walls of the furnace, the required temperature for pyrolysis may not be reached, resulting in reduced production and safety issues. 

Recon is currently in offtake agreement discussions with several multinational chemical giants and leading domestic chemical companies. The company has signed purchase intent and strategic cooperation agreements to jointly explore the applications of its pyrolysis oil.

“We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the main structures of the Shandong project, which marks an important milestone in its construction,” said Yin Shenping, CEO of Recon. “During 2025, our primary objective is to ensure the project's smooth commissioning and stable production of products that meet stringent standards. We will spare no effort to transform the Shandong Recon plant into a globally leading benchmark facility for the stable and continuous production of plastic chemical recycling. The plastic pyrolysis oil produced here will serve as high-quality, sustainable chemical feedstock for large-scale chemical plants and consumer goods companies both domestically and internationally. We are also striving to meet international certification requirements such as ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification),” Yin added.

source: Recon / Sustainable Plastics

Graphene-based biosensor to support new lung cancer screening test

HydroGraph, a Canadian producer of ultra-pure graphene, has entered into a partnership with Hawkeye Bio and #EaseHealthcare to advance the development of a new blood test for the early detection of lung cancer.

The diagnostic, called the Lung Enzyme Activity Profile (LEAP), is designed as a non-invasive and radiation-free method to detect early-stage lung cancer across all subtypes. Clinical trials have shown a 99.8 percent negative predictive value, highlighting its potential to rule out the disease in high-risk groups, including older smokers, firefighters, military personnel, and first responders.

HydroGraph’s #graphene production technology enables the creation of ultra-pure material that serves as the foundation for #HawkeyeBio’s nanoscale #biosensor. This biosensor measures enzymatic activity associated with inflammatory disease, a biomarker linked to the early development of lung cancer.

“This partnership underscores the medical potential of high-purity graphene,” said Kjirstin Breure, president and CEO of #HydroGraph. “Our ability to deliver graphene at scale supports groundbreaking diagnostics like Hawkeye’s biosensors and Ease’s LEAP test, ultimately saving lives through earlier detection and intervention.”

#Lungcancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The American Cancer Society projects approximately 227,000 new cases and nearly 125,000 deaths in the United States in 2025. Despite these figures, participation in recommended annual low-dose CT screening remains low, with only 2 to 6 percent of at-risk individuals undergoing scans.

The collaboration is intended to increase adherence to screening guidelines and expand access to affordable testing in primary care. Longer-term plans include extending the platform to address additional cancers and diseases.

source : Advanced Carbons Council

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Europe, UK, Australia see record high plastic waste exports to Asia

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share 

Europe, UK, Australia see record high plastic waste exports to Asia

Exports of plastic waste to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of mostly rich countries, has hit records highs in 2023, according to trade data collected by Plastic Waste Trade Watch.

European Union plastic waste exports to Asia increased 45% from 2022. Total EU exports to non-OECD countries rose to 750 million kg in 2023 from 517 million kg in 2022. This is the highest level of plastic waste exports to Asia since China implemented the National Sword in 2018, the association revealed.

The announcement comes shortly after the European Parliament voted in favour of banning plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries, a measure likely to enter into force by 2027.

EU exports to all countries increased to 1.32 billion kg in 2023 from 1.04 billion kg in 2022 with 57% going to non-OECD countries.

Turkey continued to be the continent’s top destination for #plasticwaste, although exports decreased to 316 million kg in 2023 from 346 million kg in 2022. The top destinations in non-OECD countries were Malaysia, with an increase of 283 million kg in 2023 from 184 million kg in 2022, and Vietnam, with an increase from 148 million kg in 2023 from 100 million kg in 2022.

In terms of monthly exports, the highest exports to non-OECD countries were recorded in November 2023 by the Netherlands (22 million kg), followed by Spain in September (13.8 million kg), and Germany in December (13 million kg).

United Kingdom plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries increased to 77 million kg in 2023, up from 47 million kg in 2022. Exports to Turkey increased 60% from 2022, to 141 million kg.

Australia’s plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries increased 13% from 2022, to 64 million kg.

Japan continued to flood other parts of Asia with plastic waste, exporting 55.5 million kg in November 2023 to non-OECD countries.

In the United States, plastic waste exports slightly decreased from 2022. The US exported 268 million kg to non-OECD countries in 2023 compared to 275 million kg in 2022. It exported 76 million kg to Mexico in 2023, down from 86 million kg in 2022. This February, two environmental groups claimed that California ships contaminated waste plastics to Mexico.

source : sustainable plastics