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.
Full protocol or scaffold alone
NanoACi vs ChondroFiller: The Scaffold, With or Without the Cells
ChondroFiller is the scaffold on its own; NanoACi adds your own cells and PRF alongside the same scaffold. Here is how to choose between the two.
Reviewed byProfessor Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDCartilage and joint preservation expertiseQuick answer
ChondroFiller is the scaffold on its own, the soil your own cells can rebuild on, and a genuine treatment in its own right from £3,000. NanoACi keeps that same scaffold and adds your own cartilage cells, prepared with the Mytocel MSK technique, and PRF, all delivered in one session. ChondroFiller alone is the simpler, lower-cost option; NanoACi is the fuller protocol at £8,000. ChondroFiller is a component of NanoACi, so this is really a question of how much to do in one visit.
Both are genuine options at London Cartilage Clinic, the UK’s only ChondroFiller provider. ChondroFiller alone is the simpler, lower-cost value option; NanoACi adds your own cells and growth signals to the same scaffold. Which one fits is decided on your imaging.
ChondroFiller and NanoACi at a glance
| What to compare | ChondroFiller (scaffold alone) | NanoACi (full protocol) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The ChondroFiller collagen scaffold on its own, the “soil” your own cells can rebuild on | The fuller protocol: your own cells and PRF delivered alongside the same ChondroFiller scaffold |
| What is delivered | Scaffold only | Scaffold, your own cartilage cells and PRF, together in one session |
| Cells added | No cells added | Yes, your own cartilage cells prepared with the Mytocel MSK technique |
| Growth signals (PRF) | Not included | PRF from your own blood, prepared on the day |
| How it is delivered | A single clinic injection | A single clinic injection, everything in the same visit |
| Best suited to | Simpler cases, budget-conscious patients, or where a scaffold is what the joint needs | When adding cells and growth signals alongside the scaffold is worthwhile |
| How they relate | A genuine treatment in its own right | The fuller protocol; ChondroFiller is a component of it |
| Cost | From £3,000 | £8,000, or £8,500 all-inclusive |
| Available at London Cartilage Clinic | Yes; London Cartilage Clinic is the UK’s only ChondroFiller provider | Yes, performed by Professor Paul Lee |
Both are offered at London Cartilage Clinic; ChondroFiller is a treatment in its own right and also a component of NanoACi, so this is a genuine choice rather than a takedown.
When ChondroFiller alone may be the better choice
- Your case is more straightforward, or imaging shows a scaffold is what the joint needs.
- You would prefer the simpler, lower-cost value option, from £3,000.
- A scaffold to support your own cells rebuilding is the right level of treatment for now.
- You value that London Cartilage Clinic is the UK’s only ChondroFiller provider.
When NanoACi is the better choice
- Adding your own cells and growth signals alongside the scaffold is worthwhile for your joint.
- You want the fuller protocol delivered in a single session: cells, scaffold and PRF together.
- Professor Lee judges, on your imaging, that the joint would benefit from more than a scaffold alone.
- You would rather treat the wear more completely in one visit.
The simplest way to hold the two in mind is soil and seed. ChondroFiller is the soil: a scaffold that gives your own cells a structure to settle on and rebuild from, and a real treatment on its own. NanoACi keeps that same soil and adds the seed, your own cartilage cells prepared with the Mytocel MSK technique, together with PRF as the growth signal, all in one session. NanoACi is a technique Professor Lee performs, not a separate product, and ChondroFiller sits inside it. Because both are offered here, the consultation is a genuine “which suits your joint”, decided on your imaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between NanoACi and ChondroFiller?
ChondroFiller is the scaffold on its own, the soil that gives your own cells a structure to rebuild on. NanoACi adds the cells themselves, prepared with the Mytocel MSK technique, and PRF from your own blood, all delivered alongside the same ChondroFiller scaffold in one session. ChondroFiller alone is the simpler, lower-cost option; NanoACi is the fuller protocol.
Is ChondroFiller on its own a real treatment?
Yes. ChondroFiller is a genuine treatment in its own right, from £3,000, and for simpler cases or where a scaffold is what the joint needs it can be the right level of treatment. London Cartilage Clinic is the only ChondroFiller provider in the UK, so it is offered here as a stand-alone option, not just as part of something larger.
Is ChondroFiller part of NanoACi?
It is. The same ChondroFiller scaffold sits at the centre of NanoACi. NanoACi is a technique Professor Lee performs, not a separate product: he delivers your own cartilage cells and PRF alongside that scaffold in a single session. So ChondroFiller is a component of NanoACi, and also a treatment you can have on its own.
Which should I choose, ChondroFiller or NanoACi?
That is decided on your imaging, not from symptoms. For simpler cases, or when budget is a consideration, or where a scaffold is what the joint needs, ChondroFiller alone can be right. When adding your own cells and growth signals alongside the scaffold is worthwhile for the joint, NanoACi is the fuller protocol. Professor Lee will set out the honest choice at consultation. See whether NanoACi suits you.
How much do ChondroFiller and NanoACi cost at London Cartilage Clinic?
ChondroFiller on its own is from £3,000, the simpler, lower-cost value option. NanoACi, the fuller protocol, is £8,000, or £8,500 all-inclusive, which covers an MRI scan, your consultation, the session and a follow-up. 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.
Scaffold alone or the full protocol, let us look at your scan
Because both are offered here, the fairest next step is a review of your imaging. Start with a free discovery call, or book your MRI and consultation together so Professor Lee can advise which fits your joint.
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