The Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China has recently launched a self-developed "bone glue" that can bond fractured bones in just 3 minutes. Reportedly, this innovative biomaterial is suitable for repairing fractures of almost all body parts and sizes, which can greatly improve surgical efficiency, reduce intraoperative trauma, and is expected to reduce or even replace the use of traditional metal fixations.
According to reports, the research team drew inspiration from the adhesive phenomena found in oyster water to successfully develop the world’s first bone glue material—called "Bone 02" Bone Fragments Adhesive—that can achieve instant and strong adhesion in the blood-rich environment of the human body.
"Wherever the bone is fractured, misaligned or has uneven edges, we can use this bone glue to bond the fragments together," said orthopedic associate chief physician Lin Xianfeng. Compared with traditional screws and plates, using bone glue to treat comminuted fractures can greatly reduce surgical operation time, improve the convenience of surgery, and also enhance the effect of bone fracture repositioning for patients.
The research team stated that experiments have confirmed "Bone 02" can achieve instant and strong adhesion in 2 to 3 minutes in a moist, blood-soaked physiological environment, with a maximum tensile strength of over 400 jin (about 220 kg). The material is completely biodegradable and will be naturally absorbed about six months after bone healing, sparing patients the pain of implant removal surgery.