Advanced biomaterials important frontier for India’s medical technology ecosystem, says Pathak
Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), has extended financial assistance to OrthoGraft Pvt Ltd of Vadodara, for turning advances in tissue engineering into clinically relevant solutions for difficult-to-heal wounds.
Through TDB’s support, the company will establish manufacturing capabilities for indigenous biological dressings intended for clinical wound-care applications, including chronic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers and burns under a project titled “Production Set-up for Advanced Tissue Derived Biological Dressings”.
OrthoGraft is a DPIIT-recognised medical device startup engaged in developing tissue substitutes for clinical reconstruction and functional repair. The company is developing proprietary technologies for processing viable human tissue into shelf-stable tissue substitutes while retaining key biological and structural characteristics of the native tissue that are relevant to the wound-healing process.
At the core of the project is an advanced tissue-processing methodology designed to achieve effective cellular removal while preserving tissue quality and bioactive components. The resulting biological dressings are being developed with improved tensile strength, maximal retention of bioactive factors and Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR) comparable to commercially available moist wound dressings.
An important aspect of the technology is its approach towards transforming suitable biomedical tissue material into high-value, clinically relevant biological dressings. The project combines tissue engineering, biomaterials science and specialized processing to develop advanced wound-care products with potential application in the management of chronic and hard-to-heal wounds.
With TDB assistance, OrthoGraft will strengthen its production infrastructure at the Savli Technology Business Incubator, Government of Gujarat, Vadodara, where the company has leased a bio-incubation facility. The location provides access to biotechnology R&D infrastructure required for medical device development and translation. The company has also obtained requisite licences from CDSCO for manufacture of medical devices for testing purposes and is exploring collaborations with tertiary-care hospitals and medical institutions for further development and clinical translation of the technology.
The company has developed multidisciplinary know-how in tissue processing and tissue substitutes and currently holds two granted US patents. It is also working with institutions of national importance, including IIT Ropar, and multispecialty hospitals towards development and translation of its technology platform. OrthoGraft has previously participated as an industry startup partner in Government of India-supported multi-institutional R&D and commercialization projects.
Speaking on the occasion on 19 Aug, TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak stated, “Advanced biomaterials and tissue-engineered products represent an important frontier for India’s medical technology ecosystem. TDB’s support to OrthoGraft is aimed at enabling an Indian startup to translate its tissue-processing know-how into commercially manufacturable wound-care products. Such technologies can strengthen indigenous capabilities in advanced healthcare materials while creating pathways for Indian innovations to compete in global markets.”
Expressing gratitude for TDB’s support, the leadership of OrthoGraft Pvt. Ltd. stated that the assistance will help the company establish dedicated production capabilities and accelerate the translation of its proprietary tissue-processing platform into clinically relevant products. The company aims to build an indigenous portfolio of advanced tissue substitutes and contribute towards making high-quality biological wound-care solutions more widely available, the DST said. fiinews.com
