Fractures, as one of the most common clinical injuries, are a major cause of disability among young and middle-aged patients and of mortality among elderly patients. With advances in modern medical technology—particularly the use of metal internal fixation devices such as screws and plates—the overall prognosis of fractures has undergone a dramatic transformation. However, comminuted fractures, which involve numerous small bone fragments, still pose a tremendous clinical challenge.

Traditional metal fixation methods struggle to achieve anatomical reduction. Fixing tiny bone fragments is time-consuming and labor-intensive, often failing to achieve precise, seamless alignment. During the process, bone fragments may be lost or resorbed, leading to irreversible loss of bone mass, delayed healing, or even nonunion. This problem is especially severe in comminuted fractures of the joints, where imprecise reduction easily results in defects or irregularities of the articular surface, eventually progressing to traumatic arthritis and severely impairing patients’ quality of life. Finding more effective and minimally invasive treatments for such cases remains one of the greatest challenges in orthopedics.

“If only there were a medical material that could directly bond bones together…” This seemingly simple idea had taken root in the mind of Professor Fan Shunwu at the very start of his more than 40-year career in orthopedics. He later passed this “relay baton” to Dr. Lin Xianfeng, a post-90s associate chief physician.

“Could we imitate oysters and create a similar possibility in the body’s wet environment?” The turning point came when Lin returned to his hometown of Wenzhou for a family visit. Having grown up by the sea, he happened to notice clusters of oysters firmly attached to the base of a cross-sea bridge. Despite years of pounding waves, they remained tightly fused to the concrete, forming a seamless whole. Inspired by this principle of bionics, the team found their direction. But turning inspiration into a viable product meant overcoming numerous barriers: choosing and engineering the right material, innovating in manufacturing, and conducting rigorous in vivo safety validation.

Determined minds are not easily stopped. The team succeeded in overcoming a series of key hurdles, achieving three major breakthroughs:

Immediate and strong adhesion in blood-soaked physiological environments;

Simple, efficient operation that significantly improves surgical efficiency;

Complete biodegradability, with natural absorption in about six months, leaving truly “no trace.”

This innovative achievement was given a playful name—“Bone 02.” The name was inspired by the well-known “502 glue,” symbolizing the hope that it will bring equally strong adhesion and widespread application in orthopedics.

The clinical value of Bone 02 has already been verified in more than 150 trial cases across medical centers nationwide. In one case, a young worker sustained a comminuted distal radius fracture from trauma. Traditionally, treatment would require a large incision to implant plates and screws—causing significant trauma, carrying risks of tendon adhesion or nerve damage, and necessitating a second surgery for removal. Using Bone 02 adhesive technology, the team completed precise bonding and fixation of the bone fragments in just 3 minutes through a minimally invasive 2–3 cm incision, simply by injecting the adhesive material. Three-month follow-up showed excellent healing without complications, with full restoration of wrist function.

This homegrown Chinese medical innovation marks a significant independent breakthrough in the minimally invasive treatment of fractures. “What is particularly noteworthy is its wide application potential,” said Dr. Lin. “It is suitable for nearly all types of fractures, in almost every part of the body and at all scales—especially for tiny bone fragments that traditional devices cannot fix. Thanks to its rapid adhesion and ease of use, it may one day serve in urgent fracture treatment during military operations, disaster relief, and other special scenarios.”

As Bone 02 demonstrates remarkable value in treating comminuted fractures, the research team is already looking ahead to broader applications. Clinical trials are being planned for dental implants and minimally invasive spinal fixation as alternatives to conventional methods. With continuous expansion of clinical use, Bone 02 is moving from a single-point breakthrough toward a systemic revolution.

This momentum of innovation is deeply rooted in the strong research culture of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, and its long-standing commitment to orthopedic science. Three years ago, the team achieved another groundbreaking result: transplanting thylakoids from spinach chloroplasts into mammalian cells, enabling them to harness photosynthetic energy to reverse diseased metabolic states. The study was published in Nature, marking the first fully original intellectual property achievement in Chinese orthopedics.

Cai Xiujun, president of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, stated: “Bone 02 bone adhesive originated from clinical needs and pain points. By leveraging multidisciplinary collaboration, it has overcome a global challenge, fully reflecting the hospital’s development principles of ‘differentiated growth, precision and minimal invasiveness, problem orientation, and cross-disciplinary integration.’ It is a model of synergy among education, science, and talent, and a firm practice of the ‘four orientations.’ The hospital will continue to support its clinical trials, transformation, and promotion, ensuring that this ‘Made-in-China innovation’ benefits patients worldwide as soon as possible.”

From laboratory to operating table, as medical scientists continue to push the boundaries of health and life, we have every reason to believe that “China’s intelligent innovations” will contribute even more to the cause of human health with their unique wisdom.

Editor: Zhiyu Wang