Published in Device (Cell Press), this process successfully tested in rabbits combines speed, personalization, anti-infectious action and bone regeneration, opening an unprecedented path for the operating room.
A simple glue gun to revolutionize bone surgery?
The researchers transformed a glue pistol into a surgical tool capable of printing directly on a fracture a specially formulated biomedical filament. This filament combines hydroxyapatitis (ha)a structuring mineral present in our bones, and Polycaprolactone (PCL)a biocompatible thermoplastic which melts at around 60 ° C – low enough not to damage the living tissues. By carefully adjusting the HA/PCL ratio, they adapt the hardness and mechanical resistance of the bone patch according to the needs of the fractured skeleton.
“”Thanks to the compactness and manual control of the device, the surgeon can adjust the direction, the angle and the printing depth in real time during the intervention “explains Prof. Jung Seung Lee, co-author and associate professor of biomedical engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. “”We have also shown that this process could be carried out in a few minutes. This is a significant advantage in terms of reducing operating time and improving the efficiency of the procedure in real surgical conditions “.
Integrated antibacterial protection
To minimize the risk of infection, often a major brake in bone surgeries, vancomycin And gentamicin were added to the filament. These antibiotics slowly spread from the patch to the operated site for several weeks, targeting effectively E. coli And S. Aureus – Two bacteria often involved in postoperative complications. Thanks to the physical properties of HA and PCL contained in the filament, drugs are released slowly and can diffuse directly on the surgical site for several weeks.
© Device – Jeon et al.
A transformed glue gun to repair live bones during the operation
As Jung Seung Lee explains: “This localized issuance approach provides significant clinical advantages compared to the systemic administration of antibiotics by potentially reducing side effects and limiting the development of antibiotic resistance, while effectively protecting from postoperative infections“.
Impressive results in rabbits
Experiments focused on severe femoral fractures in rabbits, an animal model particularly relevant to assess bone regeneration. Over 12 weeks, the results are convincing: no infection or necrosis has been observed. Printed patches have shown notable improvements in bone surface,, cortical thicknessAnd polar moment of inertiatestifying to a more effective and structuring healing than traditional bone cement.
As Lee points out: “The patch was designed not only to integrate biologically into the surrounding bone tissue, but also to gradually degrade over time and be replaced by recently formed bone“.
Towards a real -time bone surgery revolution
This process offers a instantaneousdirectly in the operating room, without waiting for prerequisites such as imagery, modeling or implant shaping. Lee specifies: “Our proposed technology offers a separate approach by developing an in situ printing system allowing real -time manufacturing and the application of a patch directly on the operating site“.
This method significantly reduces the operating time, while allowing the surgeon an immediate control of the orientation, the volume and the depth of the application. The team then strives to further optimize the antibacterial potential of the scaffolding and prepare the procedure for trials on humans. Clinical adoption will require standardized manufacturing processes, validated sterilization protocols and preclinical studies on major animal models in order to meet regulatory approval standards.
But the researcher does not hide his enthusiasm. “”If these steps are successfully taken, we plan that this approach becomes a practical and immediate solution for bone repair directly in the operating room“Concludes Lee.