Article:
China’s oyster-inspired ‘bone glue’ bonds fractures, can replace metal in surgery
New bio-glue mimics oysters, fixing shattered bones in 3 minutes without major surgery.
[Sep 13, 2025 | Christopher McFadden | interestingengineering.com]
https://interestingengineering.com/science/chinas-oyster-inspired-bone-glue | https://web.archive.org/web/20250919225348/https://interestingengineering.com/science/chinas-oyster-inspired-bone-glue
ADAM | @AdameMedia
BREAKING: 🇨🇳 China has developed a new bone glue that can heal fractures in just under 3 minutes eliminating the need for surgery or metal plates.
It fully biodegrades in six months as bone heals and has been tested on more than 150 patients.
Meanwhile trump cut funding to Americas top universities for allowing criticism of Israel. He materially slowed down cancer research.
[Image: A close-up of a human arm with a visible fracture, showing a white tube applying a translucent, gel-like substance to the bone. The arm appears realistic with detailed skin texture. Text overlay in the upper right corner reads “新浪新闻 [Sina News]” in Chinese characters.]
6:33 PM | Sep 27, 2025
Link to journal article?
They say no major adverse events. Did they do any neck of femur fractures? What was the age range of the participants?
If you’ve not done any load bearing fractures in crumbly old people who are at higher risk of repeat falls then you haven’t really said as much. Obviously this is proof of concept so they’ll need looking to make sure it isn’t toxic, but I’d be cautious about reading too much into reporting no major AEs. Even in a control group you’d expect some rehospitalisations.
It could always be used in conjunction with casts/braces/splints etc, to speed up the healing process from a fracture, no?
That doesn’t really add to what I was remarking on. Yes, I’m sure that would be an intended use, but hip fractures don’t usually end up with casts, and current best practice would be to have the patient up on their feet the day after surgery. Knowing if the glue can be used for that safely, and without repeat fracture would be important information. Since current standard of care still risks repeat fracture and repeat hospitalisation, not stating if hips have been included is slightly concerning.
I mean, you mentioned necks and femurs.
Those often end up in a cast or brace of some kind.
I’m going to take a wild guess that you’re not medical in any way?
Not beyond basic first aid / cpr / trauma response stuff, no, not a nurse or doctor or surgeon etc.
I am just reading the words you wrote.
… Are… femurs not loading bearing?
Does… a neck, your vertebrae… not bear the weight of your head?
