Russell Stewart

Biomedical engineer Russell Stewart, at the University of Utah, has synthesized medical grade bone glue, mimicking a natural substance that aquatic worms secrete to construct their watery shelters. The trick the worms use is to change the substance’s pH from a lower level inside the animal to a higher level once it’s exposed to sea water. Tests, so far, in cell culture and laboratory rats have shown no toxicity, but in the past, glues used in repairing human bones have caused inflammation. But, if this polyacrylate, which is water soluble without dissolving in water, can work inside people, the difficulty of restoring, say, craniofacial structures might become much easier.  MORE