SBIR Phase I: Gelatrix: A Light-Curable Bioadhesive for the Treatment of Bony Defects

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a new class of injectable, light-activated materials designed to improve healing. Current solutions frequently rely on bone grafts, which can be limited in supply, difficult to shape, and prone to complications. Synthetic alternatives do not have the required ideal physical properties and carry the risk of side effects. This project aims to enable a more reliable and widely applicable approach that conforms to irregular defects, stays in place in various conditions, and supports natural healing while reducing infection risks. Commercially, the project addresses large and growing markets in orthopedic, dental, and trauma care by offering a material that integrates easily into existing clinical workflows and tools. The technology has the potential to become a broadly used platform for bone repair, supporting scalable manufacturing and adoption across multiple medical applications. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on demonstrating the technical feasibility of a multifunctional material that promotes regeneration while adhering strongly to living tissue and resisting bacterial growth. The project seeks to optimize a formulation that can be injected directly into a defect and rapidly hardened using visible light, forming a supportive structure that promotes and guides healing. The research will systematically adjust material composition (balancing light curable materials, osteoinductive compounds, and bioactive additives such as antimicrobials) to maximize strength, biodegradation, and biological activity. Laboratory studies will evaluate safety, mechanical performance, and the ability to support cell formation while limiting bacterial growth. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.