Exhibit 10.16

NationsBank, N.A.

                                                                Customer #976547

                                 Promissory Note

Date November 14, 1997 [X] New   [ ] Renewal Amount $3,150,000.00  Maturity Date
                                                                    May 31, 1999

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Bank:                                  Borrower:

NationsBank, N.A.                            Closure Medical Corporation
Banking Center:                              5265 Capital Blvd.
                                             Raleigh, NC 27616
         Commercial Banking
         One Hannover Square
         Raleigh, NC 27601

         County:  Wake                       County: Wake

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FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Borrower unconditionally (and jointly and
severally, if more than one) promises to pay to the order of Bank, its
successors and assigns, without setoff, at its offices indicated at the
beginning of this Note, or at such other place as may be designated by Bank, the
principal amount of Three Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($3,150,000.00), or so much thereof as may be advanced from time to time in
immediately available funds, together with interest computed daily on the
outstanding principal balance hereunder, at an annual interest rate, and in
accordance with the payment schedule, indicated below.

[This Note contains some provisions preceded by boxes. If a box is marked, the
provision applies to this transaction; if it is not marked, the provision does
not apply to this transaction.]

1. Rate.

Other. Wall Street Journal LIBOR Rate

The Rate shall be the Wall Street Journal one month LIBOR Rate, plus 1.67
percent, per annum. The "Wall Street Journal LIBOR Rate" is a fluctuating rate
of interest equal to the one month London Interbank Offered Rate as published in
the "Money Rates" section of the Wall Street Journal on the immediately
preceding business day as adjusted from time to time for then applicable reserve
requirements, deposit insurance assessment rates and other regulatory costs.
Interest will accrue on any non-business day at the rate in effect on the
immediately preceding business day.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Note, Bank does not intend to charge and
Borrower shall not be required to pay any amount of interest or other charges in
excess of the maximum permitted by the applicable law of the State of North
Carolina; if any higher rate ceiling is lawful, then that higher


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rate ceiling shall apply. Any payment in excess of such maximum shall be
refunded to Borrower or credited against principal, at the option of Bank.

2. Accrual Method. Unless otherwise indicated, interest at the Rate set forth
above will be calculated by the 365/360 day method (a daily amount of interest
is computed for a hypothetical year of 360 days; that amount is multiplied by
the actual number of days for which any principal is outstanding hereunder).

3. Rate Change Date. Any Rate based on a fluctuating index or base rate will
change, unless otherwise provided, each time and as of the date that the index
or base rate changes. In the event any index is discontinued, Bank shall
substitute an index determined by Bank to be comparable, in its sole discretion.

4. Payment Schedule. All payments received hereunder shall be applied first to
the payment of any expense or charges payable hereunder or under any other loan
documents executed in connection with this Note, then to interest due and
payable, with the balance applied to principal, or in such other order as Bank
shall determine at its option.

Principal Plus Accrued Interest. Interest shall be payable monthly commencing on
December 15, 1997. Principal shall be paid in consecutive equal installments of
$50,000.00, plus accrued interest, payable monthly, commencing on June 15, 1998,
and continuing on the same day of each successive month, quarter or other period
(as applicable) thereafter, with a final payment of all unpaid principal and
accrued interest due on May 31, 1999.

5. Revolving Feature.

[X] Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow hereunder at any time, up to a
maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any one time equal to the principal
amount of this Note, provided, that Borrower is not in default under any
provision of this Note, any other documents executed in connection with this
Note, or any other note or other loan documents now or hereafter executed in
connection with any other obligation of Borrower to Bank, and provided that the
borrowings hereunder do not exceed any borrowing base or other limitation on
borrowings by Borrower. Bank shall incur no liability for its refusal to advance
funds based upon its determination that any conditions of such further advances
have not been met. Bank records of the amounts borrowed from time to time shall
be conclusive proof thereof.

6. Automatic Payment.

[ ] Borrower has elected to authorize Bank to effect payment of sums due under
this Note by means of debiting Borrower's account number ___________________.
This authorization shall not affect the obligation of Borrower to pay such sums
when due, without notice, if there are insufficient funds in


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such account to make such payment in full on the due date thereof, or if Bank
fails to debit the account.

7. Waivers, Consents and Covenants. Borrower, any indorser, or guarantor hereof
of any other party hereto (individually an "Obligor" and collectively
"Obligors") and each of them jointly and severally: (a) waive presentment,
demand, protest, notice of demand, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of
acceleration of maturity, notice of protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of
dishonor, and any other notice required to be given under the law to any Obligor
in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement
of this Note, any indorsement or guaranty of this Note, or any other documents
executed in connection with this Note or any other note or other loan documents
now or hereafter executed in connection with any obligation of Borrower to Bank
(the "Loan Documents"); (b) consent to all delays, extensions, renewals or other
modifications of this Note or the Loan Documents, or waiver of any term hereof
or of the Loan Documents, or release or discharge by Bank of any of Obligors, or
release, substitution or exchange of any security for the payment hereof, or the
failure to act on the part of Bank, or any indulgence shown by Bank (without
notice to or further assent from any of Obligors), and agree that no such
action, failure to act or failure to exercise any right or remedy by Bank shall
in any way affect or impair the obligations of any Obligors or be construed as a
waiver by Bank of, or otherwise affect, any of Bank's rights under this Note,
under any endorsement or guaranty of this Note or under any of the Loan
Documents; and (c) agree to pay, on demand, all costs and expenses of collection
or defense of this Note or of any endorsement or guaranty hereof and/or the
enforcement or defense of Bank's rights with respect to, or the administration,
supervision, preservation, protection of, or realization upon, any property
securing payment hereof, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's
fees, including fees related to any suit, mediation or arbitration proceeding,
out of court payment agreement, trial, appeal, bankruptcy proceedings or other
proceeding, in the amount of 15% of the outstanding balance due under this Note.

8. Prepayments. Intentionally deleted.

9. Delinquency Charge. To the extent permitted by law, a delinquency charge may
be imposed in an amount not to exceed four percent (4%) of the unpaid portion of
any payment that is more than fifteen days late. Unless the terms of this Note
call for repayment of the entire balance of this Note (both principal and
interest) in a single payment and not for installments of interest or principal
and interest, the 4% delinquency charge may be imposed not only with respect to
regular installments of principal or interest or principal and interest, but
also with respect to any other payment in default under this Note (other than a
previous delinquency charge), including without limitation a single payment of
principal due at the maturity of this Note. In the event any installment, or
portion thereof, is not paid in a timely manner, subsequent payments will be
applied first to the past due balance (which shall not include any previous
delinquency charges), specifically to the oldest maturing installment, and a
separate delinquency charge will be imposed for each payment that becomes due
until the default is cured.


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10. Events of Default. The following are events of default hereunder: (a) the
failure to pay or perform any obligation, liability or indebtedness of any
Obligor to Bank, or to any affiliate or subsidiary of NationsBank Corporation,
whether under this Note or any Loan Documents, as and when due (whether upon
demand, at maturity or by acceleration); (b) the failure to pay or perform any
other obligation, liability or indebtedness of any Obligor to any other party in
a maximum aggregate amount of $500,000.00 on an annual basis with a sixty (60)
day cure period before it becomes an event of default; (c) the commencement of a
proceeding against any Obligor for dissolution or liquidation, the voluntary or
involuntary termination or dissolution of any Obligor or the merger or
consolidation of any Obligor with or into another entity; (d) the insolvency of,
the business failure of, the appointment of a custodian, trustee, liquidator or
receiver for or for any of the property of, the assignment for the benefit of
creditors by, or the filing of a petition under bankruptcy, insolvency or
debtor's relief law or the filing of a petition for any material adjustment, as
determined by the Bank, of indebtedness, composition or extension by or against
any Obligor; (e) the determination by Bank that any representation or warranty
made to Bank by any Obligor in any Loan Documents or otherwise is or was, when
it was made, untrue or materially misleading; (f) the failure of any Obligor to
timely deliver such financial statements, including tax returns, other
statements of condition or other information, as Bank shall request from time to
time; (g) the entry of a judgment against any Obligor in a maximum aggregate
amount of $500,000.00 on an annual basis with a sixty (60) day cure period
before it becomes an event of default; (h) the seizure or forfeiture of, or the
issuance of any writ of possession, garnishment or attachment, or any turnover
order for any property of any Obligor; (i) the determination by Bank that it is
insecure for any reason; (l) the determination by Bank that a material adverse
change has occurred in the financial condition of any Obligor; or (j) the
failure of Borrower's business to comply with any law or regulation controlling
its operation.

11. Remedies upon Default. Whenever there is a default under this Note (a) the
entire balance outstanding hereunder and all other obligations of any Obligor to
Bank (however acquired or evidenced) shall, at the option of Bank, become
immediately due and payable and any obligation of Bank to permit further
borrowing under this Note shall immediately cease and terminate, and/or (b) to
the extent permitted by law, the Rate of interest on the unpaid principal shall
be increased at Bank's discretion up to the maximum rate allowed by law, or if
none, 25% per annum (the "Default Rate"). The provisions herein for a Default
Rate and a delinquency charge shall not be deemed to extend the time for any
payment hereunder or to constitute a "grace period" giving Obligors a right to
cure any default. At Bank's option, any accrued and unpaid interest, fees or
charges may, for purposes of computing and accruing interest on a daily basis
after the due date of the Note or any installment thereof, be deemed to be a
part of the principal balance, and interest shall accrue on a daily compounded
basis after such date at the Default Rate provided in this Note until the entire
outstanding balance of principal and interest is paid in full. Bank is hereby
authorized at any time to set off and charge against any deposit accounts of any
Obligor, as well as any money, instruments, securities, documents, chattel
paper, credits, claims, demands, income and any other property, rights and
interests of any Obligor which at any time shall come into the possession or
custody or under the control of Bank or any of its agents, affiliates or
correspondents, without notice or demand, any


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and all obligations due hereunder. Additionally, Bank shall have all rights and
remedies available under each of the Loan Documents, as well as all rights and
remedies available at law or in equity.

12. Non-Waiver. The failure at any time of Bank to exercise any of its options
or any other rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver thereof, nor shall
it be a bar to the exercise of any of its options or rights at a later date. All
rights and remedies of Bank shall be cumulative and may be pursued singly,
successively or together, at the option of Bank. The acceptance by Bank of any
partial payment shall not constitute a waiver of any default or of any of Bank's
rights under this Note. No waiver of any of its rights hereunder, and no
modification or amendment of this Note, shall be deemed to be made by Bank
unless the same shall be in writing, duly signed on behalf of Bank; each such
waiver shall apply only with respect to the specific instance involved, and
shall in no way impair the rights of Bank or the obligations of Obligor to Bank
in any other respect at any other time.

13. Applicable Law, Venue and Jurisdiction. This Note and the rights and
obligations of Borrower and Bank shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the law of the State of North Carolina. In any litigation in
connection with or to enforce this Note or any indorsement or guaranty of this
Note or any Loan Documents, Obligors, and each of them, irrevocably consent to
and confer personal jurisdiction on the courts of the State of North Carolina or
the United States located within the State of North Carolina and expressly waive
any objections as to venue in any such courts. Nothing contained herein shall,
however, prevent Bank from bringing any action or exercising any rights within
any other state or jurisdiction or from obtaining personal jurisdiction by any
other means available under applicable law.

14. Partial Invalidity. The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision of
this Note shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision
herein and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Note or
of the Loan Documents to any person or circumstance shall not affect the
enforceability or validity of such provision as it may apply to other persons or
circumstances.

15. Binding Effect. This Note shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
Borrower, Obligors and Bank and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and
personal representatives, provided, however, that no obligations of Borrower or
Obligors hereunder can be assigned without prior written consent of Bank.

16. Controlling Document. To the extent that this Note conflicts with or is in
any way incompatible with any other Loan Document concerning this obligation,
the Note shall control over any other document, and if the Note does not address
an issue, then each other document shall control to the extent that it deals
most specifically with an issue.

17. ARBITRATION. ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM BETWEEN OR AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE ARISING OUT OF OR


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RELATING TO THIS INSTRUMENT, AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT OR ANY RELATED INSTRUMENTS,
AGREEMENTS OR DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM BASED ON OR ARISING FROM AN ALLEGED
TORT, SHALL BE DETERMINED BY BINDING ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL
ARBITRATION ACT (OR IF NOT APPLICABLE, THE APPLICABLE STATE LAW), THE RULES OF
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR THE ARBITRATION OF COMMERCIAL DISPUTES OF
J.A.M.S./ENDISPUTE OR ANY SUCCESSOR THEREOF ("J.A.M.S."), AND THE "SPECIAL
RULES" SET FORTH BELOW. IN THE EVENT OF ANY INCONSISTENCY, THE SPECIAL RULES
SHALL CONTROL. JUDGMENT UPON ANY ARBITRATION AWARD MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT
HAVING JURISDICTION. ANY PARTY TO THIS INSTRUMENT, AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT MAY
BRING AN ACTION, INCLUDING A SUMMARY OR EXPEDITED PROCEEDING, TO COMPEL
ARBITRATION OF ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM TO WHICH THIS AGREEMENT APPLIES IN ANY
COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER SUCH ACTION.

      A. SPECIAL RULES. THE ARBITRATION SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTY OF ANY
BORROWER'S DOMICILE AT THE TIME OF THE EXECUTION OF THIS INSTRUMENT, AGREEMENT
OR DOCUMENT AND ADMINISTERED BY J.A.M.S. WHO WILL APPOINT AN ARBITRATOR; IF
J.A.M.S. IS UNABLE OR LEGALLY PRECLUDED FROM ADMINISTERING THE ARBITRATION, THEN
THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION WILL SERVE. ALL ARBITRATION HEARINGS WILL
BE COMMENCED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION; FURTHER, THE
ARBITRATOR SHALL ONLY, UPON A SHOWING OF CAUSE, BE PERMITTED TO EXTEND THE
COMMENCEMENT OF SUCH HEARING FOR UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS.

      B. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. NOTHING IN THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION SHALL BE
DEEMED TO (I) LIMIT THE APPLICABILITY OF ANY OTHERWISE APPLICABLE STATUTES OF
LIMITATION OR REPOSE AND ANY WAIVERS CONTAINED IN THIS INSTRUMENT, AGREEMENT OR
DOCUMENT; OR (II) BE A WAIVER BY BANK OF THE PROTECTION AFFORDED TO IT BY 12
U.S.C. SEC. 91 OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT STATE LAW; OR (III) LIMIT THE
RIGHT OF BANK HERETO (A) TO EXERCISE SELF HELP REMEDIES SUCH AS (BUT NOT LIMITED
TO) SETOFF, OR (B) TO FORECLOSE AGAINST ANY REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY
COLLATERAL, OR (C) TO OBTAIN FROM A COURT PROVISIONAL OR ANCILLARY REMEDIES SUCH
AS (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, WRIT OF POSSESSION OR THE APPOINTMENT
OF A RECEIVER. BANK MAY EXERCISE SUCH SELF HELP RIGHTS, FORECLOSE UPON SUCH
PROPERTY, OR OBTAIN SUCH PROVISIONAL OR ANCILLARY REMEDIES BEFORE, DURING OR
AFTER THE PENDENCY OF ANY ARBITRATION PROCEEDING BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS
INSTRUMENT, AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT. NEITHER THIS


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EXERCISE OF SELF HELP REMEDIES NOR THE INSTITUTION OR MAINTENANCE OF AN ACTION
FOR FORECLOSURE OR PROVISIONAL OR ANCILLARY REMEDIES SHALL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER
OF THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY, INCLUDING THE CLAIMANT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, TO
ARBITRATE THE MERITS OF THE CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM OCCASIONING RESORT TO SUCH
REMEDIES.

Borrower represents to Bank that the proceeds of this loan are to be used
primarily for business, commercial or agricultural purposes. Borrower
acknowledges having read and understood, and agrees to be bound by, all terms
and conditions of this Note and hereby executes this Note under seal as of the
date here above written.

NOTICE OF FINAL AGREEMENT. THIS WRITTEN PROMISSORY NOTE REPRESENTS THE FINAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.


Closure Medical Corporation


By: /s/ J. Blount Swain                 (Seal)
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Name: J. Blount Swain

Title: Secretary



----------------------------------------
Attest (If Applicable)

[Corporate Seal]


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