Lab bench to battlefield: Bengaluru innovation helps save lives

BENGALURU: An innovative haemostatic dressing developed by scientists at IISc and manufactured by a Bengaluru-based startup from its Doddaballapur unit is proving to be an asset for Indian defence forces , providing rapid bleeding control in emergency battlefield situations along the border.

The innovative product ( FIBROPLUG ), a patented technology developed through industry-academic collaboration — IISc and Fibroheal Woundcare Pvt Ltd — is a silk-chitosan composite haemostat.

The product’s unique bio-composite formulation facilitates rapid clotting while establishing a protective barrier over wound sites, making it an essential tool for military healthcare professionals operating in challenging conditions.

Fibroheal co-founder Vivek Mishra told TOI that in just the past week, the startup has supplied 5,000 units of FIBROPLUG to 16 field hospitals spread across the western and northern sectors.The dressing features a two-layered structure, with a base of chitosan (derived from shellfish) that quickly attracts blood cells and initiates clotting, topped with a layer made of silk fibroin infused with silica particles.

“This combination overcomes limitations of existing haemostatic products. While traditional chitosan-based bandages are often sticky and can cause rebleeding when removed, FIBROPLUG’s silk layer forms a smooth barrier against the skin, preventing adhesion and allowing for easy removal without disturbing the healing wound,” Prof Kaushik Chatterjee from IISc, who lab developed the technology which has been transferred to Fibroheal, told TOI.

Laboratory tests on rats demonstrated the dressing's effectiveness, stopping bleeding in just over 30 seconds while leaving no residue or causing rebleeding. Human applications have shown similarly impressive results, with bleeding control achieved in under two minutes—significantly faster than conventional dressings.

The product is available in four different delivery systems and various sizes, enabling effective haemorrhage control across a range of traumatic wounds, including difficult and deep injuries.

Fibroheal, founded in 2017 by Mishra and Bharat Tandon, was established with the vision of addressing critical gaps in the Indian wound care and medtech segment by harnessing the biomaterial applications of silk proteins. The company approached researchers at IISc led by Prof Chatterjee in 2018, initiating a partnership that would eventually yield results.

“Our first engagement with the armed forces happened before. That was for a special forces unit, details of which we cannot share. I think once our product got qualified with them, the other orders started coming in," Mishra said. “We started receiving orders from the last week of April.”

While FIBROPLUG has proven very useful in military settings, its potential extends well beyond the battlefield. The same technology that saves lives on the front lines can be equally effective in civilian emergency scenarios, from car accidents and kitchen mishaps to playground injuries.

The dressing's ease of use makes it suitable for inclusion in ambulances, hospitals, schools and homes, potentially democratising access to advanced wound care across India.

While Fibroheal continues to expand production at its Doddaballapur facility, Vijay Singh, IP manager at IISc’s IPTeL (Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing) said: “...The project goes on to show not only Indian scientific ingenuity but also a model for successful industry-institute collaboration that translates academic research into life-saving products with global potential.”