90% of cosmetic surgeries use non-absorbable, cheap and strong synthetic surgical meshes for soft tissue support and securing implants.
However, the plastics in these meshes degrade into microplastics and cause long term adverse health outcomes. Cosmetic surgeries have been on the uptrend, with over 1.5 million surgeries in 2023 in America alone.
Surgeons and patients often choose synthetic meshes over biological meshes because these alternative meshes lack tensile strength, elasticity, and are not adhesive in moist environments requiring additional sutures.
Typically used as a waterproof adhesive by the caddisfly to protect against the elements, caddisfly silk is an incredibly strong wet adhesive secreted by aquatic caddisfly larvae.
Our solution is CaddisGraft, a combination caddisfly and silkworm silk-based synthetic mesh with strength comparable to synthetic plastic meshes, but gentler on organs as a bio-based mesh.
Our solution synergizes the strengths of both silks for a mesh which will reduce post-operative pain, encourage better tissue regrowth, and improve patient outcomes.
