London (PTI): Scientists at the Edinburgh University in the UK are close to developing a treatment which they claim will mend shattered bones or ripped cartilage using a person's own stem cells.

According to the scientists, the "bioactive scaffold" treatment involves taking stem cells from blood or bone marrow of people with serious injuries and prompting them to grow into the type of bone or tissue needed to heal the damage.

The scaffold consists of a fairly rigid mesh structure, coated or impregnated with a drug that helps the stem cells take hold -- this would also mean the patient does not have to undergo surgery to harvest the cells. "The key to success would be to get the 'recipe' right for encouraging the stem cells to grow in what are effectively harsh environments," according to lead researcher Dr Brendon Noble of university's MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine. The scientists hope that the technique -- part of a 1.4 million pound project -- will be tested in patients within a period of two years.

If the technique works properly, they believe it could also eventually have an impact on treating conditions such as osteoarthritis, thereby potentially reducing the need for hip and knee replacements. "Initially we would look at mending cartilage injuries which do not tend to heal well or bone fractures caused by severe trauma such as motorbike accidents. Elderly patients with fractures also tend to heal less well," the British media quoted Dr Noble as saying.

Dr Anna Krassowska, Research Manager for the UK Stem Cell Foundation which is helping fund the project, said: "This research has the potential not only to impact on a significant number of people's lives but to open up one of the largest stem cell markets in the industry."