Inspired by Oysters! China’s “Bone 02” Solves Comminuted Fractures — Bonds in 3 Minutes, Avoids Secondary Surgery
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On September 9th, 2025, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University, together with several leading domestic institutions, completed the world’s first clinical study on adhesive treatment for comminuted fractures.
On September 9th, 2025, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University, together with several leading domestic institutions, completed the world’s first clinical study on adhesive treatment for comminuted fractures. Over 150 patients were treated with a new biomaterial called “Bone 02”, with results showing full compliance in both safety and efficacy. This material can directly bond fractured bone fragments, and even holds promise to replace traditional metal implants such as plates and screws — potentially revolutionizing orthopedic treatment. Globally, tens of millions of new comminuted fracture cases occur each year. Traditional surgery relies on metal fixation, requiring surgeons to spend hours piecing together bone fragments. Small pieces are often lost, leading to bone mass loss, delayed healing, or even non-union. For fractures near joints, poor repositioning may cause arthritis, severely impacting quality of life. More critically, for nearly a century, scientists worldwide have sought a true “bone glue,” but have struggled to overcome two major barriers: biosafety and adhesion in blood-rich environments. The breakthrough inspiration came from Dr. Lin Xianfeng, a post-90s physician. Returning to his hometown Wenzhou, he noticed oysters clinging firmly to bridge piers in the open sea, withstanding waves and currents. He wondered: If oysters can stick underwater, could we create a material that bonds bone in the human bloodstream? With this idea, the team embarked on years of research. The challenge was to select materials balancing adhesion strength with biocompatibility, control temperature to avoid tissue damage, and design standardized processes for surgical use. After testing over 50 formulations, conducting hundreds of trials, and extensive animal experiments, “Bone 02” finally overcame key technical barriers, achieving three major advantages:
- Speed – bonds securely within 2–3 minutes in a blood-rich environment.
- Simplicity – easy for surgeons to apply, dramatically shortening operation time.
- “Scar-free” healing – the material naturally degrades and is absorbed within six months as the bone heals, eliminating the need for secondary surgery to remove metal implants.
Moreover, its adhesive strength exceeds 400 pounds of pull force, making it a strong candidate to replace metal fixation devices while also reducing infection risks. In clinical application, one young worker with a shattered wrist was treated using “Bone 02.” Surgeons made only a 2–3 cm minimally invasive incision, and within three minutes the fragments were fixed in place. Three months later, review showed excellent healing and full restoration of wrist function — avoiding the trauma of traditional open surgery and the pain of secondary operations. Currently, “Bone 02” has applied for both Chinese invention patents and international PCT patents. Next, the team plans to explore its use in dental implants and minimally invasive spinal surgery. Looking ahead, it could treat fractures across the body and may even be deployed in defense and disaster relief scenarios where rapid treatment is critical.
