Scientists have developed an adhesive with many possible medical uses, including repairing bone fractures, based on a glue produced by the sandcastle worm.
The worm creates a complex water-based mortar to create a home from grains of sand and bits of shell. The adhesive can stick to wet surfaces and doesn’t dissolve at certain pH levels, making it ideal for medical applications. Once it has done its job, it can become water-soluble and dissolve.
The traditional method of healing broken bones by using metal nails, pins and screws is difficult with smaller bones and scientists have been looking for a suitable adhesive substitute for decades.
So far, the glue has passed toxicity tests and is at least as strong as Super Glue and twice the strength of the sandcastle worm’s formula.
[Source]
Chapter: Health :: 5 February 2010
