Nanochon Secures $4.1M to Advance Revolutionary Knee Cartilage Implant

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 12, 2026 – Orthopedic device company Nanochon has closed an oversubscribed $4.1 million Seed Prime II funding round, signaling strong investor confidence in its mission to redefine knee cartilage repair. The Washington, D.C.-based firm, which has now raised a total of $11.3 million, is developing a novel 3D-printed implant, Chondrograft™, aimed at treating a challenging patient population often left with few durable options. The new capital is earmarked to launch a first-in-human clinical trial in Canada, deepen research, and lay the groundwork for pivotal trials in North America.

A New Solution for a Persistent Problem

The global market for knee cartilage repair, valued at over $1.7 billion in 2022 and projected to grow significantly, is filled with procedures that often fall short for young, active patients. Treatments like microfracture surgery or complex cell-based therapies can involve painful, lengthy recoveries and uncertain long-term outcomes. Many individuals with cartilage defects are deemed too young or their condition not severe enough for a total knee replacement, leaving them in a treatment gap with debilitating pain that limits their lifestyle.

Nanochon aims to fill this void with its Chondrograft™ implant. Unlike biologic grafts, Chondrograft™ is a fully synthetic, off-the-shelf device made from a biocompatible, nylon-based composite. Using advanced 3D-printing, the company has engineered an implant that mimics the structure of natural cartilage. Its key innovation lies in its mechanical strength. The implant is robust enough to allow for immediate weight-bearing and joint motion post-surgery, a stark contrast to the weeks or months of restricted activity required by other methods.

Beyond providing immediate structural support, the implant's porous, scaffold-like design is engineered to promote the body's own healing mechanisms. It encourages blood and stem cells from the underlying bone to infiltrate the structure, gradually building new, healthy cartilage and bone tissue. Preclinical studies in large-animal models have shown promising results, demonstrating high-quality tissue regeneration and restoration of the joint surface.

From Lab to Clinic: The Path Forward

With the new funding, Nanochon is moving from preclinical success to human trials. The company has received approval from Health Canada to begin a Phase I clinical study in the coming weeks. The prospective, 10-patient feasibility study will be conducted at Durham Bone & Joint Specialists in Ontario, led by veteran orthopedic surgeon Dr. Fathi Abuzgaya. It will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Chondrograft™ in patients aged 22 to 60 who have failed conservative therapies for their femoral cartilage lesions. The trial's goal is to demonstrate that the implant can restore knee function, reduce pain, and potentially delay or prevent the need for more invasive total knee arthroplasty.

"We're both honored and humbled to oversubscribe another funding round," said Ben Holmes, CEO and co-founder of Nanochon. "The capital commitments from our investors speak volumes about their confidence in the work we're doing to shift the paradigm of cartilage restoration... As we step up to the start line of our clinical journey, Nanochon is powered by an exceptional team whose dedication, creativity, and execution make this moment possible. With the right people, partners, and capital in place, we're excited to translate years of innovation into meaningful outcomes for patients."

This Canadian trial is the first step in a broader strategy. The company plans a larger Series A funding round later in 2026 to support a pivotal, randomized trial, which will be crucial for seeking eventual clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and bringing the technology to the wider North American market.

Strategic Backing and a Comprehensive Vision

The oversubscribed round was led by cultivate(MD), a venture capital fund specializing in early-stage medical device technologies. This represents a follow-on investment from the fund, which first backed Nanochon in 2023. The decision underscores their belief in the company’s leadership and its disruptive potential.

"Making a follow on from our initial investment in 2023 was an easy decision as we continue to watch CEO, Ben Holmes, lead Nanochon with his forward planning and executional excellence," stated Dr. R. Sean Churchill of cultivate(MD). "The current round will not only support the first in human clinical trial in Canada as well as accelerate their manufacturing capabilities, but it will set the stage for a greater North American pivotal trial leading to FDA clearance."

Significant contributions also came from the University of Virginia (UVA) Seed Fund, which supports ventures emerging from the university's research portfolio, highlighting Nanochon's deep roots in academic innovation. Other participants included WSGR and Wealthing VC Fund.

Furthering its comprehensive approach, Nanochon is looking beyond the implant itself. The company has forged a strategic partnership with ProVoyance to develop an advanced MRI-based preoperative surgical planning software. This tool will allow surgeons to create a detailed, patient-specific surgical plan, enhancing the precision of the implant placement. Dr. Churchill noted this combination of a "revolutionary product and best in class enabling software is positioning Nanochon to truly change the future for focal cartilage defects in the knee."

Reclaiming Mobility for a New Generation

At its core, Nanochon's mission is to address the unmet needs of hundreds of thousands of patients whose active lives are compromised by joint damage. The promise of a minimally invasive procedure that allows for a rapid return to function could be life-changing for athletes, laborers, and anyone who finds their mobility and quality of life diminished by cartilage injuries.

By providing a durable, low-cost solution that bridges the gap between temporary fixes and total joint replacement, the Chondrograft™ implant represents a new category of "pre-replacement" technology. If the upcoming clinical trials validate the successes seen in preclinical testing, it could offer a pathway for patients to not only alleviate pain but to truly reclaim the active lifestyles they had before their injury. The journey from lab to clinic is a critical milestone, moving this innovative technology one step closer to making a tangible impact on patient lives.