Ultra-thin, strong drug-eluting sutures to prevent clotting after microsurgery
Official title: Ultra-thin, high strength, drug-eluting sutures for prevention of thrombosis in microvascular surgery
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11396231 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins team is testing ultra-thin, strong sutures that release medicine locally to keep tiny blood vessels open after microsurgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $410,660 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL161141-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396231 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing microsurgical procedures such as free flap transfers or reattachments who require vascular anastomosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing microsurgical procedures or those with contraindications to the specific drug delivered by the sutures may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on preventing clotting at the site where tissue is connected during microsurgery. By making sutures that are extremely thin but strong and able to release protective drugs, researchers aim to reduce the risk of thrombosis and flap failure. The study plans to test how well these sutures perform in maintaining vessel patency and their safety in reducing complications after complex reconnections. The approach leverages local drug delivery at the wound to avoid systemic side effects while potentially improving outcomes for patients needing tissue transfer or reattachment. Overall, the goal is to make microsurgical procedures more reliable and decrease the need for additional surgeries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer re-operations and better functional and cosmetic outcomes after microsurgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown promise for local drug delivery in sutures, but this project explores ultra-thin, high-strength sutures with sustained release in microsurgery.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parikh, Kunal Sailesh — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Parikh, Kunal Sailesh
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.