I recently saw an intriguing presentation from Winston-Salem N.C. based KeraNetics , here a biomaterials company that is using keratin — found in hair, information pills nails and skin — to develop therapeutic products. Specifically, keratin-based biomaterial products for regenerative medicine and trauma care. The company, founded in 2008, has eight employees, $8 million in equity funding and 22 patents with Wake Forest University Health Sciences.
Kim Westmoreland, the managing director of KeraNetics said, “We like to think of ourselves at the largest startup in Winston-Salem that you’ve never heard of,” KeraNetics has eight employees, $8 million in equity funding and 22 patents with Wake Forest University Health Sciences. Westmoreland said that hair is an excellent source of protein and an abundantly renewable, recyclable and safe material. KeraNetics is using keratin in three main areas: trauma applications for the healing of wounds, burns and resuscitation fluids; bone and nerve regeneration; and cell growth.
Westmoreland said the company has plans to take spray-on and gel products for burns to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later this year. “We believe some of our products will be generating revenue as early as this year,” she said.