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Researchers in China have created a groundbreaking new adhesive known as “bone glue,” capable of repairing fractures in just minutes instead of the months typically required for healing, according to recent reports.
The innovation, named “Bone-02,” was crafted by a team of Chinese scientists aiming to address orthopedic injuries that usually necessitate prolonged recovery periods and involve invasive surgeries with metal plate insertions, as reported by the Global Times.
According to Lin Xianfeng, an associate chief orthopedic surgeon at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou, this adhesive enables precise fixation within minutes, even in environments abundant in blood.
The glue treatment comes in the form of a single injection and will “bond shattered bone fragments in just three minutes,” according to that report.
In one trial case, a patient with a wrist fracture received one injection via a mere 3 cm incision and was healed in just three minutes, Cho Sun Daily reported.
A surgery to repair the wrist would have required a metal plate and screws that would require a second surgery the following year to remove, the outlet reported.
After a three-month follow-up check-up, the patient’s fracture had fully healed without complications, that report claimed.
Researchers said they were inspired by oysters — namely the mollusk’s ability to stick to underwater surfaces that are difficult for traditional adhesives to manage, Interesting Engineering reported.
Unlike ordinary glues, the bio-glue secreted by oysters forms pressure and erosion resistant bonds in moist, salty, wet, and constantly moving conditions, that outlet explained.
The creators of “Bone-02” further stated that the substance demonstrated a maximum bonding force of over 400 pounds, the Global Times said.
“Bone-02” can also be naturally absorbed by the body as the bone heals, eliminating the need for a second surgery to remove implants, according to the substance’s creators.
Initial tests also indicate that using the bone-glue produces fewer infections than metal plate procedures.