Latest news with #RamakrishnanGanesan
The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
BITS Pilani Hyderabad scientists develop smart wound dressing to kill infection-causing bacteria
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus has developed a smart wound dressing capable of killing the infection-causing bacteria and also visually signalling the presence of infection — all without the use of traditional antibiotics. The work has been published in ACS Infectious Diseases, a journal of the American Chemical Society, highlighting its promise in tackling one of the most pressing global health threats of our time—Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said an official release on Monday. The study has been authored by a team comprising Vaishnavi N., Ramakrishnan Ganesan, and Jayati Ray Dutta who have also developed a user-friendly colour analysis application for instant infection assessment by analysing a photograph of the dressing. The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged healing, the spread of infection, or even sepsis. The newly developed wound dressing addresses this issue using a multi-layered design: base layer with antibiotic-free fibres functionalised with ionic silver to kill bacteria on contact. Over this, a hydrogel layer is embedded with an enzyme-specific colour-changing compound to serve as an infection sensor. When bacteria colonise the wound, they release enzymes that migrate upward into the hydrogel layer, triggering a visible colour change — a signal that infection is present. 'Our dressing is designed to be proactive. It simultaneously kills bacteria and alerts clinicians or caregivers to the onset of infection. It does so without relying on antibiotics, which is key in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria,' said the scientists. The technology functions without the need for complex equipment or laboratory processing, making it particularly well-suited for bedside care and home use. The research team envisions the dressing being further developed into commercial point-of-care products, including infection-responsive bandages or integrated wound monitoring strips. Such products could revolutionise the way wounds are monitored and treated, especially for diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and burns. This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the release added.
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
BITS Pilani Hyd scientists develop smart wound dressing to kill infection-causing bacteria
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus has developed a smart wound dressing capable of killing the infection-causing bacteria and also visually signalling the presence of infection — all without the use of traditional antibiotics. The work has been published in ACS Infectious Diseases, a journal of the American Chemical Society, highlighting its promise in tackling one of the most pressing global health threats of our time—Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said an official release on Monday. The study has been authored by a team comprising Vaishnavi N., Ramakrishnan Ganesan, and Jayati Ray Dutta who have also developed a user-friendly colour analysis application for instant infection assessment by analysing a photograph of the dressing. The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged healing, the spread of infection, or even sepsis. The newly developed wound dressing addresses this issue using a multi-layered design: base layer with antibiotic-free fibres functionalised with ionic silver to kill bacteria on contact. Over this, a hydrogel layer is embedded with an enzyme-specific colour-changing compound to serve as an infection sensor. When bacteria colonise the wound, they release enzymes that migrate upward into the hydrogel layer, triggering a visible colour change — a signal that infection is present. 'Our dressing is designed to be proactive. It simultaneously kills bacteria and alerts clinicians or caregivers to the onset of infection. It does so without relying on antibiotics, which is key in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria,' said the scientists. The technology functions without the need for complex equipment or laboratory processing, making it particularly well-suited for bedside care and home use. The research team envisions the dressing being further developed into commercial point-of-care products, including infection-responsive bandages or integrated wound monitoring strips. Such products could revolutionise the way wounds are monitored and treated, especially for diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and burns. This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the release added.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad develops plant-based cure for Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia
Hyderabad: Researchers at the BITS Pilani , Hyderabad, have developed a plant-based drug formulation that could offer more affordable treatment for iron overload, a condition common in patients with Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia . The new formulation, tested successfully on rats and mice, uses compounds found in plants to remove excess iron from the body and does so using a much lower dosage than the standard treatment available in the market today. Published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, the study explains how the team combined caffeic acid, a naturally occurring compound, with amino acids to create two formulations: Caffeic Acid–Spermine (CA-Sp) and Caffeic Acid–Histidine (CA-His). "When compared with the current drug in use, CA-Sp required just one-fifth of the dosage to remove excess iron," said department of biological sciences professor Jayati Ray Dutta. She worked on the project along with Ramakrishnan Ganesan from the department of chemistry. Researchers pointed out that even though the treatment duration was kept the same for comparison, the new drug showed better iron removal and lower toxicity. "We tested for liver inflammation and found that our drug performed better than the standard one," Dutta said. Apart from effectiveness, the formulation also scores high on affordability. "The current drug costs about 300 per dose. Our plant-based formulation could cut the cost by more than 50%," she added. The researchers used the natural iron-binding ability of polyphenols and paired them with compounds known as biogenic amines, which are commonly found in nature. "This is a step forward in developing green, affordable therapies for transfusion-dependent patients. It has the potential to transform iron overload treatment, not just in India but globally," said Ganesan. Iron overload is a growing concern in India, especially among patients with Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia who depend on frequent blood transfusions. Left untreated, excess iron can severely damage the liver, heart, and endocrine system, they added and pointed out that India is home to over 100,000 Thalassaemia patients, many of whom require perpetual iron chelation therapy (ICT) to manage iron toxicity.
