This artificial cartilage gets its strength from the stuff in bulletproof vests

High water content allows the new material to ferry nutrients, just like the real thing

synthetic cartilage

COUNTERFEIT CARTILAGE  Newly fabricated artificial cartilage made mostly from water is strong and resistant to tears. 

Joseph Xu/Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing

A new kind of artificial cartilage, made with the same kind of fiber that fortifies bulletproof vests, is proving stronger than others.