Bone Bandage Heals Broken Fractured Bones Cleanly, Correctly

A bone bandage that heals broken, fractured bones cleanly and correctly has been developed by researchers at Duke University.

This is a very significant breakthrough. And the reason is that bone fractures are complex, difficult injuries that have resulted in a prolonged and sometimes incomplete repair. Consequently, the patient may go through the rest their life with much pain and limited use of their limb. This problem is even more exacerbated in senior citizens whose bones are brittle due to aging, chronic illness, and reduced calcium levels. And, then combine this with the fact that seniors are prone to falling down more often than any other age group. The injuries they suffer are severe.

Bone Bandage: How It Works

The Duke researchers developed a method to mobilize and heal broken bone tissue thanks to a special biomaterial.

They noted that the body produces a high amount of adenosine molecules after bone injuries. Adenosine is a molecule that helps to transfer energy and transfers information between cells. Increasing the levels of adenosine and accessing it, can help accelerate bone repair. The problem is that the amount of natural adenosine is limited.

The new bone bandage concentrates the available adenosine molecules directly onto the site of the bone injury. The inside of the bandage is coated with a polyethylene glycol which binds the adenosine to the spot of the bone fracture and releases it over time.

This technique has the potential to be a viable approach to heal bones cleanly and correctly. And especially, this bandage would be a game changer for senior citizens. Of course, much more work is necessary such as capturing and releasing adenosine more efficiently to the target site. And, of course, testing it on humans in clinical trials.