Goodbye Metal Plates: China's "Bone Glue" Could End Traditional Fracture Surgery

A Decade of Bone Healing Technology Research

A team at Zhejiang University’s Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou has developed the world’s first bone adhesive capable of bonding fractured bone fragments inside the human body within minutes. The product, named “Gu-02,” is the result of ten years of research led by Professor Fan Shunwu and Associate Chief Physician Lin Xianfeng from the hospital’s orthopedics department, in collaboration with Yuannang Bio.

The inspiration was unexpected: oysters. The team studied how oysters achieve powerful adhesion to rocks in wet, turbulent underwater environments and applied similar principles to develop a glue that works in the body’s moist, bloody conditions.

How Bone Glue Works

Traditional fracture surgery for comminuted fractures — where a bone shatters into multiple pieces — typically requires surgeons to implant metal plates, screws, and rods to hold fragments in place during healing. This often means lengthy open surgeries and, in many cases, a second operation to remove the hardware months later.

Gu-02 takes a fundamentally different approach. The adhesive is injected directly at the fracture site. Within approximately three minutes, it bonds the fractured bone fragments together. The glue is biocompatible and designed to function in the wet environment inside the human body, a challenge that previous bone adhesives have failed to overcome.

Dual US-China Regulatory Recognition

On May 21, 2026, the team announced that Gu-02 has received two prestigious regulatory designations:

China NMPA Innovative Medical Device Special Review Procedure (Class III), granted in January 2026.
US FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, granted in April 2026.

This marks the first time a China-originated orthopedic device has simultaneously earned innovation pathway status from both Chinese and American regulators.

Clinical Trial Results

The team has completed the world’s first multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial for a bone glue used to treat fractures. More than 150 patients were enrolled, and the results demonstrated strong clinical performance in bonding comminuted bone fragments and supporting healing.

These trial results were critical in supporting both the NMPA and FDA regulatory applications and are expected to accelerate the path toward commercial approval.

What Minimally Invasive Bone Glue Means for Fracture Patients

If Gu-02 reaches the market as expected, the implications for fracture treatment are significant:

Minimally invasive injection could replace open surgery with metal hardware for many fracture types.
Surgery time would be dramatically reduced — the adhesive bonds in three minutes.
Patients may avoid a second surgery to remove plates and screws.
Recovery could be faster and less painful compared to traditional fixation methods.

When Will It Be Available

Gu-02 is currently in the sprint phase toward commercial launch. The research team and Yuennang Bio expect the product to reach the market within three to five years. Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, affiliated with Zhejiang University, is already an internationally accredited medical facility and a likely early adoption site.

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital — A JCI-accredited tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, affiliated with Zhejiang University. The hospital is home to the orthopedics team that developed the Gu-02 bone adhesive. It has a full-service international medical department with English-speaking staff, direct billing for international insurance, and specializes in minimally invasive surgery and orthopedics. View hospital profile →

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