Scientists from Imperial College London and the University of Milano-Bicocca have developed a material that can mimim Cartilage and potentially help it to re-grow. Consisting of silica and a plastic or polymer called polycaprolactone, this Bio-glass has cartilage-like properties including being flexible, strong, durable and resilient and planned for replacing damaged cartilage discs between vertebrae.

Source: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_12-5-2016-9-57-13