Queensland microbiologist Pardraig Strappe and a small team of CQ University researchers says crocodile cartilages could hold the key for treatment of joint injuries and arthritis.
The team has been working to perfect a process that extracts valuable growth factors from the cartilage of crocodiles and removes proteins that trigger an immune response in humans.
Dr Strappe says the research team is currently focused on maintaining funding for the project and generating interest among bio-tech companies that could potentially develop and market the technology.