Key considerations on the development of biodegradable biomaterials for clinical translation of medical devices: With cartilage repair products as an example

With the interdisciplinary convergence of biology, medicine and materials science, both research and clinical translation of biomaterials are progressing at a rapid pace. However, there is still a huge gap between applied basic research on biomaterials and their translational products - medical devices, where two significantly different perspectives and mindsets often work independently and non-synergistically, which in turn significantly increases financial costs and research effort. Although this gap is well-known and often criticized in the biopharmaceutical industry, it is gradually widening. In this article, we critically examine the developmental pipeline of biodegradable biomaterials and biomaterial-based medical device products. Then based on clinical needs, market analysis, and relevant regulations, some ideas are proposed to integrate the two different mindsets to guide applied basic research and translation of biomaterial-based products, from the material and technical perspectives. Cartilage repair substitutes are discussed here as an example. Hopefully, this will lay a strong foundation for biomaterial research and clinical translation, while reducing the amount of extra research effort and funding required due to the dissonance between innovative basic research and commercialization pipeline.