Superglue for Bones?

Healing fractures in minutes may sound like science fiction- but it’s not.

Imagine breaking a bone and being fully healed in just a few minutes. Sounds impossible, right? Scientists in China may have just changed that.

A research team in Hangzhou has developed a new medical adhesive called Bone-02 — a kind of “bone glue” that can repair fractures faster than anyone thought possible. Instead of months of recovery or metal plates and screws, this glue can bond broken bone fragments in about three minutes.

One early test involved a patient with a broken wrist. Through a tiny 3-centimeter incision, doctors injected Bone-02 directly where it was needed. The bone fused almost instantly — no plates, no screws, no second surgery later to remove anything. Three months after the procedure, the wrist was completely healed and complication-free.

So what’s the secret? Oysters! Yep, those ocean-dwelling shellfish inspired the invention. Oysters naturally create a powerful bio-glue to stick to wet, slippery rocks. Scientists copied that ability to form strong, waterproof bonds that can even work in blood-rich environments — with tested strength over 400 pounds.

Even better, Bone-02 doesn’t have to be removed later. It’s biodegradable, meaning your body safely absorbs it as healing finishes — and early trials show fewer infections than traditional surgeries.

If this technology continues to perform as it has so far, we might be looking at a future where fractures — from wrists to ankles — can be repaired in minutes instead of months.