Knee Cartilage
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Cartilage repair options for lasting joint health
A practical overview of cartilage repair, injection therapy, rehabilitation planning, and the clinical evidence that guides joint preservation care.
Regenerate, cushion, or both
NanoACi vs Arthrosamid: Regenerate, Cushion, or Both
Arthrosamid cushions a worn joint to ease pain; NanoACi regenerates cartilage using your own cells. For advanced wear they are often used together. Here is how to choose.
Reviewed byProfessor Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDCartilage and joint preservation expertiseQuick answer
Arthrosamid is a hydrogel injected into the joint to cushion it and ease pain. It does not regenerate cartilage, so it is a preserve option, but it works well even in worn, bone-on-bone joints and can last a long time, from £3,000. NanoACi instead regenerates, using your own cartilage cells, a ChondroFiller scaffold and PRF in one session, £8,000. The key point: for advanced wear these two are often used together, not chosen between. NanoACi regenerates what can be regenerated, and Arthrosamid cushions.
Both are offered at London Cartilage Clinic, which was among the first UK clinics to offer Arthrosamid. They are not rivals so much as different jobs: Arthrosamid cushions, NanoACi regenerates, and for bone-on-bone wear Professor Lee often uses the two together.
Arthrosamid vs NanoACi at a glance
| What to compare | Arthrosamid | NanoACi |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | A hydrogel injected into the joint to cushion it and ease pain | Delivers your own cells, a ChondroFiller scaffold and PRF to regenerate cartilage |
| Regenerates cartilage | No, it cushions and preserves rather than rebuilds | Yes, that is its purpose |
| Works in a bone-on-bone joint | Yes, it works well even in worn, bone-on-bone joints | Yes, often paired with Arthrosamid for advanced wear |
| What is injected | A soft, water-based hydrogel that stays in the joint | Your own cells, a collagen scaffold and PRF, all from your own body |
| How long it lasts | Can last a long time from a single treatment | One session, with benefit reported to last at least three years |
| Sessions | One injection | One session |
| Cost | From £3,000 | £8,000, or £8,500 all-inclusive |
| Often used together | Yes, to cushion alongside regeneration | Yes, the standard pairing for bone-on-bone wear |
Both are offered at London Cartilage Clinic; this is a genuine choice, and often a pairing, not a takedown of Arthrosamid.
When Arthrosamid alone may be the better choice
- You want pain relief in a worn joint where regenerating cartilage is not the goal.
- Your joint is advanced or bone-on-bone and cushioning is the priority.
- You would prefer a single, lower-cost injection to settle symptoms, from £3,000.
- A previous regenerative treatment has done what it can, and you want to keep the joint comfortable.
When NanoACi is the better choice
- You want to regenerate cartilage, using your own cells and a scaffold.
- There is cartilage worth rebuilding, judged on your imaging.
- You want to treat the cause rather than only cushion the symptoms.
- You are looking to avoid or delay a joint replacement.
When both together, for advanced wear
For advanced, bone-on-bone wear the honest answer is often both. This is the standard pairing Professor Lee discusses for bone-on-bone joints: NanoACi to regenerate what can still be regenerated, and an Arthrosamid injection to cushion the joint and ease pain. They do different jobs, so using them together treats the cause and the comfort at once. It is not either/or.
Arthrosamid is a proven, effective treatment and a real option here. Because it cushions rather than rebuilds, it can ease pain even in a joint that is bone-on-bone, and its effect can last a long time from a single injection. NanoACi answers a different question, whether worn cartilage can be regenerated using your own cells and a scaffold. For many advanced joints the best plan draws on both, which is exactly why the fairest next step is a review of your imaging rather than a fixed choice made in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between NanoACi and Arthrosamid?
NanoACi and Arthrosamid do different jobs. Arthrosamid is a hydrogel injected into the joint to cushion it and ease pain; it does not regenerate cartilage, so it preserves comfort rather than rebuilding the surface. NanoACi regenerates, delivering your own cartilage cells, a ChondroFiller scaffold and PRF in one session. London Cartilage Clinic was among the first UK clinics to offer Arthrosamid, and both are offered here.
Can NanoACi and Arthrosamid be used together?
Yes, and for advanced wear they often are. This is the standard pairing Professor Lee discusses for bone-on-bone joints: NanoACi regenerates what can still be regenerated, while an Arthrosamid injection cushions the joint and eases pain. Because they do different jobs, using them together is complementary, not either/or.
I have been told I am bone-on-bone. Which one do I need?
Often both. Bone-on-bone wear does not rule NanoACi out, and it does not mean cushioning alone is your only option. In that situation Professor Lee usually discusses NanoACi together with an Arthrosamid injection, and sets out the honest trade-offs against a joint replacement review. What suits you is decided on imaging and examination, not from symptoms. See Am I a candidate for NanoACi?
Does Arthrosamid regenerate cartilage?
No. Arthrosamid is a soft, water-based hydrogel that stays in the joint to cushion it and ease pain. It is a preserve option: it can work well even in worn, bone-on-bone joints and can last a long time, but it does not rebuild cartilage. If regenerating cartilage is the goal, that is what NanoACi is for, and the two are often used together.
How much do Arthrosamid and NanoACi cost?
Arthrosamid is from £3,000. NanoACi is £8,000, or £8,500 all-inclusive, which covers an MRI scan, your consultation, the single NanoACi session and a follow-up. Where the two are used together for advanced wear, Professor Lee will set out the combined plan and cost at consultation. See the NanoACi cost page.
Still have more specific concerns?
Free Discovery CallOptions that our doctors may discuss include NanoACi, ChondroFiller, Mytocel MSK, joint replacement, established conservative care or surgery, depending on examination and imaging.
Regenerate, cushion, or both? Let us look at your scan.
Because both are offered here and often work best together, the fairest next step is a review of your imaging. Start with a free discovery call, or book an MRI and consultation with Professor Lee.
London Cartilage Clinic
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