Research Projects

Neonatal sepsis is a life threatening disease causing almost 4 million deaths worldwide. In order to reduce the death rate due to neonatal sepsis; early detection of the disease is essential. It is a complex disease and repeated collection of blood is required from newly born babies; it will be very helpful if a non-invasive method of collection of test fluid and accurate testing is available. Objectives: The objective of the proposal is to develop a silk Fibroin (sF) based hydrogel microneedle system with sufficient strength such that it can penetrate the stratum cornium and extract the Interstitial Fluid (IsF). The micro needles system will be developed and tested in vitro and in vivo using immuno assays. Hypothesis: Neonatal IsF contains three times greater volume and is similar to blood, hence could be used for detection of neonatal sepsis biomarkers. CRP and interleukin is chosen as biomarker for neonatal sepsis. Hydrogel forming microneedles could be used for extracting IsF without pain and could be used for the detection of neonatal sepsis biomarkers. Experimental: Hydrogel forming microneedles using silk fibroin and its combinations will be developed and based on uptake and extraction ability of the biomarker; by the microneedles; the best formulation will be chosen and analysed for detection of CRP and interleukin-6 in vitro and in vivo using immuno assays. significance: Neonatal sepsis is a very serious disease and needs to be diagnosed in the initial stages and should be treated at the earliest for effective recovery. Hydrogel micro needles is a promising technology due to its non-invasive nature, ease of administration and can be used for routine diagnosis over a longer time, causing minimum inconvenience to neonatal patients. This will in help in achieving the millennium development goal of achieving the child survival.