Sea Worms Inspire Superglue for Bones

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Living in the rough intertidal surf, sandcastle worms secrete their own natural glue to piece together tubular homes from bits of sand and shell. Researchers at the University of Utah have copied the worm's glue, developing a synthetic version for putting together pieces of broken bones.

The team of bioengineers is investigating the synthetic glue's potential for repairing shattered facial bones, knees and other joints, especially focused on putting small pieces back together.

In lab tests on pieces of cow bones from grocery stores, the synthetic superglue performed 37 percent as well as commercial glue. The researchers expect to test on animals within a couple years and on humans in five-10 years. The team aims to make more-powerful versions that are biocompatible with humans and biodegradable.

The researchers hope the glue can act as a replacement for pins, screws and other means of holding bones together while they heal.

"Ultimately, we intend to make it so it is replaced by natural bone over time," said Russell Stewart, associate professor of bioengineering and senior author of the synthetic glue study, which will be published in the journal Macromolecular Biosciences. "We don't want to have the glue permanently in the fracture."

Part of the reason the researchers copied from the sandcastle worm is that its glue is made and works in wet conditions and sets quickly. The glue can also carry drugs, funneling in painkillers, antibiotics, stem cells and other medicine.

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