IIT Madras develops injectable hydrogel for targeted fibrosis treatment

Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an injectable hydrogel that delivers antifibrotic drugs in a sustained manner, potentially replacing prolonged treatments with a single dose. The innovation, derived from silk and seaweed biomaterials, could significantly reduce treatment costs for chronic fibrosis.

Hyderabad: The IIT Madras has developed an injectable hydrogel that could transform the treatment of fibrosis and other chronic degenerative conditions by replacing weeks of repeated medication with a single localised dose.

Developed at the Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, the innovation is designed to deliver antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory drugs directly at the affected site in a sustained and controlled manner.

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A key differentiator of this patented technology is its use of a combination of naturally derived biomaterials obtained from silk cocoons and seaweed, which are biodegradable and biocompatible. The researchers estimate that treatment could possibly reduce therapy costs from approximately USD 2,000–3,000 per course to around USD 300.

IIT Madras Biotechnology department, Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan said fibroproliferative diseases, including pulmonary, liver, kidney and muscle fibrosis, are linked to nearly 45 percent of deaths globally.

IIT Madras research scholar Varshiny Gopinath said 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.
The findings were published in peer view journals ACS Applied Bio Materials and Materials Today Bio.