IIT Madras develops injectable hydrogel for fibrosis; treatment cost may drop to Rs 300

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has developed an injectable hydrogel for the treatment of fibrosis and other chronic degenerative conditions. The new single-localised dose medicine is designed to deliver antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory drugs directly at the affected site in a sustained and controlled manner.

The new medical tech - Hydrogel injector will reduce the therapy costs of fibrosis disease from approximately Rs 1,90,932 (USD 2000) to around Rs 28,639 (USD 300), making the advanced fibrosis care more affordable and accessible, IIT Madras said in an official press release.

Explaining the research, Vignesh Muthuvijayan, department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras, 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.”

How does IIT Madras's Injectable Hydrogel Tech works?

The hydrogel fights with disease-related inflammation, and releases higher doses when needed while gradually degrading without leaving any harmful residue, the engineering institute said.

The medical tech can also provide a favourable environment for healthy cell growth while reducing inflammation and fibrosis by creating a combined therapeutic delivery with tissue healing support, it said.

It can also be used in the combination of naturally derived biomaterials obtained from silk cocoons and seaweed, the press release read. These materials are biodegradable, biocompatible, and aligned with India’s strengths in sericulture and its emerging seaweed-based bioeconomy, it added.

Commenting on the usage of the new medical equipment, Varshiny Gopinath, research Scholar, IIT Madras, expressed: “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.”

The engineering institute has also conducted follow-up studies in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego and demonstrated efficacy across multiple disease models, particularly in aged muscle tissue.

The preliminary study shows that hydrogel has potential in treating sarcopenia, an age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that affects an estimated 10 to 16 per cent of the global elderly population and currently has no approved pharmacological treatment, the document read.