Regenerative medicine company KeraNetics, whose biomaterials research into healing damaged tissue is already in the U.S. military’s sights, is now raising a targeted $7 million in equity financing. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina company has raised $4.7 million from 26 investors so far in a securities sale that began on Dec. 30, according to securities filings. The offering is a mix of equity, options and warrants. KeraNetics managing director Kim Westmoreland did not return a call seeking comment. KeraNetics is based on technology developed at Wake Forest University‘s Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The company works with keratins, a class of fibrous structural proteins that make up the hair, the outer layer of the skin and fingernails. KeraNetics says that keratins can be engineered into coatings, fibers, foams, films and gels, and the company has several patents for methods of purifying keratin proteins for applications in regenerative medicine and trauma. Because these proteins are derived from the human body, they are naturally reabsorbed by the body and offer biocompatibility advantages compared to other biomaterials.
