Work done in the lab of Dr. Kaushik Chatterjee at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in collaboration with Fibroheal Woundcare Pvt. Ltd.
Ms. Sushma Indrakumar is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. She works in collaboration with Fibroheal Woundcare Pvt. Ltd. under the prestigious Prime Minister’s Doctoral Fellowship. With a strong academic background, she obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Materials Science from IISc’s reputed undergraduate programme (dual degree UG programme).
Our study is focused on developing a product that can induce rapid blood clotting (hemostat). This is particularly important in situations where bleeding needs to be controlled quickly, such as on the battlefield or in road accidents. Currently, the available hemostat in the market is made of chitosan, which can effectively stop bleeding. However, due to the poly-cationic nature of chitosan, it adheres strongly to the bleeding site. Consequently, during removal, the newly formed clot could be peeled off causing rebleeding, and could potentially leave behind residues that can hamper the healing process.
To address these issues, we have used silk protein (silk fibroin, SF) as an interfacial layer. From clinical evidence, we know that SF is non-adhesive, which would aid in easily removing the product. However, SF by itself does not carry clotting abilities, therefore, we added silica particles (SPs). This was inspired by the fact that glass (made of silica) can trigger clotting, and we mimicked this phenomenon by incorporating SPs with SF to create an active interfacial layer.
Our product is a bilayered foam that consists of chitosan foam at the bottom, similar to the commercially available product, and a composite layer of SPs and SF at the top that comes in contact with the bleeding site. We demonstrated that the blood clotting efficacy of the bilayered foam (60 ± 3 s) is just as good as the commercial product (62 ± 6 s) but with the added advantage of being easier to remove and leaving behind no residue, as demonstrated in our animal studies.
The prototype developed in this study addresses a critical need for a more effective hemostat in emergency medical situations. By using an interfacial composite layer of silk protein and silica particles, we offer a novel approach for enhancing blood clotting by overcoming the limitations of the currently available products. The hemostat developed in the study could essentially go into a first aid box. The proof-of-concept developed in this work can be translated into products of different formats, such as rolled gauze, plugs, etc., to cater to different kinds of injuries. Overall, our work presents a promising advancement in hemostasis that would significantly contribute towards better patient outcomes in emergency medical situations.
“The prototype developed in this study addresses a critical need for a more effective hemostat in emergency medical situations.”
One of the most exciting moments during this research was realizing that the product we developed could have a significant impact, particularly in emergencies where quickly stopping bleeding can make a difference between survival and mortality. The prospect of being able to contribute to developing a real-world solution to a critical issue is what drives me as a researcher. It was fulfilling to see the potential for the product to be commercialized by Fibroheal Woundcare Pvt. Ltd. and have a widespread impact.
Our team is now focusing on addressing other clinical challenges related to difficult-to-heal wounds, such as burns and chronic wounds. We are fortunate to have a plastic surgeon, Dr. Abhishek Vijayakumar, on board to help us identify gaps in wound healing and develop new solutions to address them. We hope to continue making meaningful contributions to the field of wound care and improving patient outcomes in the future.
I find inspiration from the potential impact of my work on society. The opportunity to create innovative solutions that can improve people’s lives is what drives me to pursue research.
I hope to contribute significantly to Indian science by showcasing excellence in research that can positively impact society. Through collaborations with industry, we can bring cutting-edge technology to the forefront of the global stage.
Indrakumar, Sushma, Santanu Ghosh, Tapan Kumar Dash, Vivek Mishra, Bharat Tandon, and Kaushik Chatterjee. “Silk composite interfacial layer eliminates rebleeding with chitosan-based hemostats.” Carbohydrate Polymers 304 (2023): 120479. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861722013844
Postgraduate at Vikram Sarabhai Institute
Postgraduate at Vikram Sarabhai Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, Gujarat. She is a neuroscience enthusiast. Apart from that, she enjoys reading and trying her hand at sciart.
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