Wound healing is a highly complex physiological process involving interplay of various cellular and biochemical factors. A few critical stages include inflammation, cell migration, angiogenesis, matrix synthesis, collagen deposition and re-epithelization. Various wound dressings have emerged over the years to assist the process of wound healing that also ensure avoidance of infection. An ideal wound dressing material must keep the wound moist, allow gaseous exchange, inhibit bacterial growth and absorb wound exudates. Also the disappearance of the scaffolds on the wound must mirror the reappearance of healed tissue. Many scaffolds initially fill up the space otherwise occupied by normal tissue and then provide a framework for its regeneration.

We have earlier fabricated scaffolds and films of chitosan-zinc complex. Chitosan apart from being anti-bacterial is biocompatible, biodegradable, hydrating (providing a moist environment to the healing wound). Zinc on the other hand offers protection from microbes and also positively affects the process of wound healing. The in vitro and in vivo studies conducted with these scaffolds have suggested a significant enhancement in healing compared to control. Taking this work forward, we have replaced chitosan with N,O-carboxymethylchitosan (N,O-CMCh), a water soluble derivative of chitosan with better properties (particularly antibacterial) and have successfully reported the antibacterial superiority of N,O-CMCh-Zn complex over Ch-Zn.

We are currently exploring hydrogels as a scaffold system for wound healing. They are appealing mainly because of their closeness to the extracellular matrix of tissues. We have fabricated a composite scaffold with a novel polysaccharide base comprising a drug (antibacterial and wound healer) and keratin. These upon placement on the wound would convert to a hydrogel offering exudates absorption and moist environment.

Microneedles

Microneedles have been reported to be painless and can deliver the therapeutic moieties in a controlled manner with the convenience of self-administration. Our research in this area is focused on fabrication of microneedles for efficient delivery of protein, vaccine and potent therapeutic moieties for systemic and local drug delivery. Exploiting microneedle-based transdermal devices and formulations will have a great impact in future medicine. Our lab is investigating the feasibility of microneedle fabrication, insertion capabilities and mechanical properties of the microneedles.

Coronary Stents

Biodegradable coronary stents as drug delivery systems are reported to be safer and promising device compared to bare metal stents and drugs eluting stents. In our lab, biodegradable stents are being investigated for percutaneous coronary intervention to support mechanical need of healing artery. We are evaluating drug loaded nanoparticles as a promising technology for improved and sustained drug delivery to the diseased vessel walls. Our studies are focused on fabricating biodegradable coronary drug eluting stents combining the benefits of nanotechnology.