Project Grant R41EB039570

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering awarded Tissuelock LLC $314,362 on September 1, 2026, under the Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health program (CFDA 93.286) to develop an antioxidative fiber mesh adhesive for preventing seroma and hematoma complications following abdominoplasty and large soft tissue surgeries.

Seromas and hematomas occur in up to 20–30% of these procedures, leading to infection, delayed healing, repeat interventions, and estimated additional healthcare costs of $5,000–$10,000 per patient. Current prevention strategies—surgical drains and tension sutures—carry significant limitations: drains require weeks of placement with attendant discomfort and infection risk, while tension sutures can cause tissue injury and impaired perfusion. Existing commercial adhesives (cyanoacrylates, fibrin sealants, lysine-derived urethanes) demonstrate limited efficacy due to internal-use toxicity, inadequate bonding strength, or lack of bioactivity, and none address oxidative stress, a key driver of post-surgical inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and fibrosis. Tissuelock's mesh combines co-polymers functionalized with N-hydroxysuccinimide esters for rapid covalent tissue bonding, α-lipoic acid-derived thioether and disulfide bonds for sustained reactive oxygen species scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity, and amine-modified hyaluronic acid to promote angiogenesis and tissue integration. The porous mesh conforms to complex tissue geometries, provides mechanical stability, and facilitates host cell infiltration while promoting macrophage polarization toward a pro-regenerative phenotype.

Performance occurs in Wildwood, Missouri, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027.