New ‘injectable goo’ could ease the agony of millions by ‘regrowing’ body parts

A NEW injectable "goo" could reverse the damage done by agonising conditions like osteoarthritis, scientists suggest.

Northwestern University has created a substance from hyaluronic acid and peptide that regrows cartilage between joints.

The rubbery “goo” was injected into the damaged knees of sheep, which are similar to human knees.

Within just six months, new cartilage had grown between the joins and it contained collagen and other substances necessary for pain-free movement.

The researchers claimed the goo could one day prevent knee replacement surgery, treat osteoarthritis and repair sports-related injuries.

It brings hope for millions of sufferers with the joint condition, who can only numb the pain caused by the condition but not reverse it.

Some 8.5million Brits have painful joints from osteoarthritis and 200,000 have new hips or knees each year.

Celebs, including Dawn French and the late Robbie Coltrane, from Harry Potter, have spoken publically about suffering from the disease.

“Cartilage is a critical component in our joints,” said Northwestern’s Samuel I. Stupp, who led the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“When cartilage becomes damaged or breaks down over time, it can have a great impact on people’s overall health and mobility.

"The problem is that, in adult humans, cartilage does not have an inherent ability to heal.