"Scientists in South Korea have modified a glue gun - the kind you'd use for an arts and crafts DIY project at home - to generate bone grafts and print them directly onto fractures in animals, to aid in the healing process. In experiments involving rabbits, the researchers created 3D-printed grafts on the fly, allowing fractured bones to heal and regrow naturally."
"Instead of using the conventional hot-melt adhesive that regular glue guns use, the researchers came up with a combination of hydroxyapatite, which is a healing agent found in natural bone, and a biocompatible thermoplastic called polycaprolactone, which can liquify at temperatures below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. By modifying the ratio of these two components, the researchers found they could adjust the hardness and strength of their 3D-printed grafts on the fly."
""Our proposed technology offers a distinct approach by developing an in situ printing system that enables a real-time fabrication and application of a scaffold directly at the surgical site," said coauthor and Sungkyunkwan University associate professor of biomedical engineering Jung Seung Lee in a statement about the research. "This allows for highly accurate anatomical matching even in irregular or complex defects without the need for preoperative preparation such as imaging, modeling, and trimming processes.""
Researchers in South Korea adapted a consumer glue gun to fabricate and apply 3D-printed bone graft scaffolds directly at fracture sites in animals. The in situ printing system produces scaffolds on the fly, eliminating the need for prefabricated implants and reducing preoperative preparation. In rabbit femoral fracture experiments, in situ-printed grafts produced better bone regeneration and showed no signs of infection within 12 weeks, outperforming traditional bone cement grafts. The device extrudes a composite of hydroxyapatite and polycaprolactone that liquifies below 140°F; altering component ratios tunes scaffold hardness and strength. The approach enables accurate anatomical matching for irregular defects and faster surgical workflows.
Read at Futurism
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