A modified glue gun can print 3D bone grafts directly onto fractures, preclinical research shows.

The portable printing device was able to create bone scaffolds in rabbits that were structurally flexible and could release anti-inflammatory antibiotics.

Instead of glue, it uses a filament composed of the naturally occurring mineral hydroxyapatite and a biocompatible thermoplastic called polycaprolactone.

By modifying the proportions of the two components, strength and hardness of grafts can be customized.

The invention is reported in the journal Device .

“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 co-author Jung Seung Lee, PhD,

See Full Page