Tuesday, March 3, 2026 3/3/2026

Resorbable, Phsophorylated Poly(ester urea) Surgical Adhesive to Enhance Fracture Healing

Award Number: K08AR079609
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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Resorbable, Phsophorylated Poly(ester urea) Surgical Adhesive to Enhance Fracture Healing - PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal presents a five-year research career development program focused on optimizing the physical and biological characteristics of phosphorylated poly(ester ureas) (pPEU) for the stabilization and healing of rib fractures. The candidate is currently an Assistant Professor of Surgery and acute and critical care trauma surgeon at Duke University, with previous research experience in biologic materials and tissue engineering research. He has now chosen to focus on materials science and mechanical engineering with a diverse mentoring committee of investigators with expertise in materials, polymers, musculoskeletal reparative processes and stem cell research. The proposed experiments and didactic work will provide the candidate with a unique set of skills that will help him transition to independence as a surgeon-scientist and enable him to fill a significant “experience gap” in the field of research dedicated to rib fractures and wound healing. Rib fractures account for nearly 40% of all bone fractures sustained in the each year, with over a quarter million rib injuries. These injuries can have long-lasting effects, sometimes even for life. Over half of rib fracture patients contract pneumonia, and nearly two thirds will still experience significant pain in the chest wall years after sustaining the injury. While stabilization of a fracture promotes faster healing and decreased rates of non-union (failure of a broken bone to heal), rib fractures present a unique challenge in that immobilization can only be accomplished through invasive surgical intervention. Therefore, unlike long bone fractures where immediate stabilization is standard, this is reserved in rib fractures for only the most severe cases. Poly(ester ureas) (PEU) are amino acid based biodegradable polymers with bone like mechanical properties. One such phosphorylated PEU (pPEU) copolymer, based on phosphoserine (pSer) is ethanol soluble allowing for injection, with strong bone adhesion and high elastic moduli, making pPEU’s ideal as an innovative, non-invasive solution for the stabilization of rib fractures. However, the effect of pSer stoichiometry on PEU copolymer osteoinduction remains unknown, as well as if a provisional elastomeric callus using resorbable PEU based adhesive can accelerate bone healing through early fracture stabilization. This proposal will determine the relationships between the physical and biologic characteristics of injectable pSer-PEU for osteoinduction and test the safety and performance of pSer-PEU in a rat model of rib fracture. The work of this proposal will 1) characterize the relationship of pSer stoichiometry within the PEU copolymers on biomechanics (tensile strength, elastic modulus, and stiffness), and interfascial adhesion of pSer-PEU; 2) quantify bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) cytoskeletal reorganization and osteoinduction to increased stiffness, and 3) evaluate fracture stability and callus formation in a rat rib fracture model with best performing pSer-PEU. The results of this work will serve as the basis for future projects focused on using functionalized biomaterials to understand the cellular mechanisms of fracture healing in order to optimize healing in the high risk trauma patient.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	5	12/4/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $166,860 )
2025	2025	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	5	9/2/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$166,860
														Subtotal = $166,860

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $166,860 )
2024	2024	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	4	8/14/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$166,860
														Subtotal = $166,860

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $166,860 )
2023	2023	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	3	7/31/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$166,860
														Subtotal = $166,860

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $166,860 )
2022	2022	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	2	8/1/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$166,860
														Subtotal = $166,860

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $167,292 )
2021	2021	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	1	8/24/2021	NEW	$167,292
														Subtotal = $167,292

Grand Total All Awards = $834,732

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Resorbable, Phsophorylated Poly(ester urea) Surgical Adhesive to Enhance Fracture Healing

Award Number: K08AR079609

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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