South Korean and U.S. researchers developed a technique that provide a more effective treatment for complex bone fractures. A team of engineers from universities in both nations successfully modified a glue gun to create a 3D printing device that can apply bone grafts directly onto bones during surgery.
The new advanced glue gun dispenses a filament containing hydroxyapatite, which promotes bone healing, as well as polycaprolactone, a biocompatible plastic.
When applied using heat, the material conforms to fractures without damaging surrounding tissue. The team has already successfully tested this method on rabbits.
As current bone implants can be made from 3D-printed materials, alongside traditional options like donor bone and metal, they typically need to be custom-designed to fit irregular fractures. This process usually needs preoperative steps such as modeling, imaging, or trimming.
The new modified advanced glue gun, however, enables real-time fabrication and application during surgery, eliminating the need for time-consuming prefabrication procedures.
The researchers also manufactured the 3D-printed material in order to provide structural flexibility and promote natural bone regrowth, as well as release antibiotics to help reduce the risk of infection after surgery.
In line with this, the team is also planning to further optimize the material’s antibiotic properties and prepare the technique for human trials.