Coral‐Inspired Bioactive Porous Adhesive for Fractured Bone Repair

Abstract

Bone adhesives capable of replacing traditional invasive materials represent a revolutionary advancement in orthopedic surgery. However, the efficiency of commercial bone adhesives is often limited due to their inability to promote the ingrowth of bone‐related cells, a crucial process for the effective integration of fractured bone and the implant. The strategy of in situ pore formation, coupled with intrinsic microenvironment remodeling, has shown promise in enhancing bone fracture healing. Herein, inspired by the natural process of coral skeleton formation, a novel bone adhesive is designed by composing bioactive glass (BG) uniformly dispersed within a bioactive organic template of poly(lipoic acid) (PolyLA). Upon contact with body fluids, BG undergoes mineralization to form hydroxyapatite, while its weak alkalinity partially dissociates the surrounding PolyLA, forming a continuous pore structure. This porosity promotes the ingrowth and adhesion of bone cells, facilitating bone integration. Additionally, the in situ release of LA‐based active molecules modulates the adverse microenvironments at the fracture site and enhances osteogenic regeneration by activating MAPK and calcium ion signaling pathways. Notably, the adhesive demonstrated robust instant bonding to bone and promoted efficient bone regeneration in a rabbit radius fracture model. This work introduces an innovative approach for developing bioactive bone adhesives with enhanced capabilities.