What it is
What Bioport TriCombo is made of, and how it is given.
Bioport TriCombo is an injection given into the knee joint. This page explains what is in the syringe, why it is given by injection, how the ingredients are held together, how often it is given and who makes it.
What it is made of
Three ingredients in one pre-filled syringe.
Each 2.25 ml syringe of TriCombo contains, according to the manufacturer:1
- Glucosamine: 67.5 mg, as N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
- Chondroitin sulfate: 67.5 mg, as chondroitin sodium sulfate
- Hyaluronic acid: 36 mg, as sodium hyaluronate, the lubricating component
Supplied as a single-use, pre-filled 2.25 ml glass syringe (Becton Dickinson), sterile, for intra-articular injection.1
Why an injection
Why an injection rather than a tablet.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are familiar names from supplements taken by mouth. A tablet is swallowed and has to reach the joint through the bloodstream. TriCombo is placed inside the knee joint itself, by a clinician, as an intra-articular injection.1
The two are different routes, and what is known about tablets cannot simply be carried across to an injection, or the other way round. The research specific to this kind of injection is summarised on the evidence page (written for professionals).
The ingredients
Glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid in one syringe.
Cartilage and joint fluid are built partly from long sugar-based chains called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). TriCombo combines three ingredients associated with them.1
Glucosamine
N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
An amino sugar associated with the molecules that form cartilage and joint fluid. In TriCombo it is supplied as N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and placed in the joint by injection rather than taken as a tablet.1
Chondroitin sulfate
Chondroitin sodium sulfate
A glycosaminoglycan (GAG) found in cartilage. In TriCombo it is included alongside hyaluronate, and the manufacturer describes a physical association between the two polymers as a central part of the formulation.1
Hyaluronic acid
Sodium hyaluronate, 3 MDa
The lubricating component, familiar from other viscosupplement injections. It gives joint fluid its viscous and elastic behaviour.1
How it is held together
What makes physical cross-linking different.
Cross-linking means joining long molecular chains to each other, for example with chemicals or by irradiation. The manufacturer states that TriCombo is not chemically or irradiation cross-linked.1
Instead, the manufacturer describes a physical association: the hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate chains hold on to each other through hydrogen bonds and similar weak attractions, forming a stable complex in the solution.1
The manufacturer states that leaving out chemical or irradiation cross-linking is intended to reduce the chance of reactions after the injection, such as pain at the injection site, skin reactions and joint swelling.1
How often
One injection, and the six-month schedule.
One syringe per treatment. The manufacturer recommends two treatment cycles per year, at six-month intervals.1
Response varies from person to person. Whether to repeat the injection is a decision made with your clinician when your knee is reviewed.
Who makes it
Manufactured by Nikovari Bio Tech Oy.
Bioport TriCombo is made by Nikovari Bio Tech Oy under the Bioport name. The manufacturer’s product page.3
The manufacturer’s packaging carries a CE mark. UK conformity and registration details are confirmed by the manufacturer and the UK supplier before supply. Current instructions for use remain authoritative.4
UK supply enquiries from clinics and healthcare professionals are handled by Actomed Ltd. Actomed does not treat patients.
What it is not
Three things TriCombo is not.
Not a steroid. It contains glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, and is a different approach from a corticosteroid injection.
Not a joint replacement. Your own knee stays in place; nothing is removed or replaced.
Not a course of weekly injections. It is given as one injection per treatment, with the manufacturer describing a six-month interval.1
Studies mentioned on this page
- 1.Nikovari Bio Tech Oy. Bioport TriCombo product brochure. Manufacturer document, 8 pages, 2025. View source
- 2.Iordan DA, Coman MG, Hrisca-Eva OD, Stavrică-George A, Gherghin AC, Onu I. Enhanced Synovial Fluid Rheology in Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis Through Combined Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid and Multimodal Physiotherapy: A Monocentric Observational Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(17):6051, 2025. View DOI
- 3.Nikovari Bio Tech Oy. Bioport TriCombo product information. Manufacturer website, 2026. View source
- 4.Nikovari Bio Tech Oy. Bioport TriCombo instructions for use. Supplied with each pack, 2025. View source
Is it for me, or what to expect?
Read who a clinician may consider it for, or what happens before, during and after the injection.