Our bodies are supported by an intricate skeletal system made up of 206 bones. These bones form the structural foundation that gives our bodies shape, strength, and mobility. Recently, researchers have found ways to use a modified hot glue gun to repair damaged bones.
Nature has equipped our bones with the incredible ability to heal themselves when they are fractured or even broken. But, in the cases of serious trauma and tumour removal, they may not be able to heal the gaping holes left behind in them. They can surely use some outside help at that time.
Scientists have found a way to create perfectly-fitting scaffolds using 3D printers to fill such voids and help in the healing process. But it can take multiple days or even as long as weeks to create a custom bone fabrication, which can be counterproductive for patients who are experiencing serious trauma and require immediate medical attention.
Jung Seung Lee and his colleagues from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea have invented a modified hot glue gun. This gun operates at 60 degrees Celsius instead of 100 degrees Celsius and uses a material that acts as a biological glue- a mixture of hydroxyapatite, which makes up 50 per cent of the volume of normal human bones, instead of hot glue. The material would be shot into the impacted area to fill the void and allow the bone cells to span the large gaps and begin healing. The bioplastic used here is biodegradable as well.
So far, they have used the glue gun to successfully heal the fractured femur bone of a rabbit. After 12 weeks, they found no signs of infection or necrosis in the bone. Rather, they discovered the bone volume to be twice as much compared to the rabbits healed with traditional methods.
The researchers are already working on ways to improve their invention, hoping that someday they will be able to use it in human trials. This could open up a new and more convenient way of treating damaged bones.
