Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed a patented, injectable hydrogel made from silk cocoons and seaweed that could transform the treatment of fibrosis and chronic degenerative conditions. This biodegradable and biocompatible innovation delivers antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory drugs directly to affected sites in a sustained manner, potentially reducing therapy costs from USD 2,000–3,000 to around USD 300.
Published in ACS Applied Bio Materials and Materials Today Bio, the study was co-authored by Ms. Varshiny Gopinath and Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan from IIT Madras, and Prof. Mahadevan Rajasekaran from the University of California San Diego Health. The hydrogel responds to inflammation, releases doses as needed, and degrades safely.
Highlighting the global impact, Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan said, “Fibroproliferative diseases, including pulmonary, liver, kidney and muscle fibrosis, are linked to nearly 45% of deaths globally. Existing treatments often require prolonged drug administration, can cause significant side effects and are frequently unable to stop disease progression effectively at the targeted site.”
Explaining the mechanism, Ms. Varshiny Gopinath added, “The newly-developed platform seeks to address these limitations through a minimally invasive injectable therapy that converts from liquid to gel at body temperature, conforming precisely to the treatment site. Once administered, it can remain active locally for several days, reducing the need for repeated oral or systemic dosing.”
Regarding future deployment, Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan stated, “IIT Madras is exploring pathways for real-world deployment through technology transfer, licensing to industry partners, or start-up creation. Potential applications include use during surgical procedures, where the gel can be applied directly before wound closure to provide localized therapy without additional intervention. The next phase of development will include advanced preclinical testing in disease models and patient-derived organoids, optimisation of dosage and release kinetics, long-term safety studies, manufacturing scale-up, and regulatory planning for translational use.”
Follow-up studies also show its potential in treating sarcopenia, an age-related muscle loss condition.
Source : Pib
