There is research going on today in the field of tissue engineered cartilage. One of the main needs for engineered cartilage is to repair cartilage lost or damaged cartilage due to arthritis. Below are three articles that discuss some of the recent research into tissue engineering cartilage from growing it on scaffolds and then implanting it into osteoarthritic knees to implanting minced cartilage directly into the joint. These techniques have not reached major clinical trials, but many hold great promise.
Maturation of tissue engineered cartilage implanted in injured and osteoarthritic human knees.
Minced Cartilage without Cell Culture Serves as an Effective
Cartilage tissue engineering: its potential and uses.