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

> **NIH NIH K08** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $166,860

## Abstract

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 m...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10474458
- **Project number:** 5K08AR079609-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph S. Fernandez-Moure
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $166,860
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10474458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10474458, Resorbable, Phsophorylated Poly(ester urea) Surgical Adhesive to Enhance Fracture Healing (5K08AR079609-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10474458. Licensed CC0.

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