Researchers ‍in South Korea and the United States have developed a novel technique that could lead to more effective treatment of‍ complex bone fractures. The innovation centers around a modified 3D printing device, created from a glue gun, for direct application of bone grafts during surgery.

A Biocompatible Thermoplastic

Engineers ⁢successfully modified a glue gun to dispense⁤ a filament containing hydroxyapatite, which encourages bone healing, ⁤and polycaprolactone, a biocompatible plastic.Applying heat allows the material to ⁢conform ⁤to fractures without harming surrounding⁤ tissue,and the method has already been successfully tested on ⁤rabbits.

Real-Time‍ Fabrication and Application

current bone implants, including those made⁣ from 3D-printed materials, often require custom design to fit irregular ⁣fractures. This typically involves‍ preoperative steps like modeling,‍ imaging, or⁤ trimming.

Though, the modified glue gun enables real-time fabrication and application during surgery, eliminating these⁢ time-consuming prefabrication ⁣procedures.

Incorporating⁤ Antibiotic properties

The 3D-printed material⁢ is designed to be structurally flexible,promote natural bone regrowth,and release antibiotics to reduce ‍the risk of post-operative infection.

The team plans to further‍ refine the materialS antibiotic properties and prepare for human clinical ⁣trials.