Research Highlights

SERB funded Project: Role of extracellular vesicles in wound response and repair in C. elegans.

This project aims to promote extracellular vesicles for wound healing applications. Their enigmatic role could be further explored  as interventions for advanced regenerative medicine. Therefore understanding stage-specific EVs involvement in wound response and repair will help in the the treatment of dermal diseases. 

The objective of this project includes-

· Identification of unique/specific EV profiles from C. elegans in different wound healing phases.

· Documentation of EVs-based cellular communication.

· Transcriptomics and proteomics mining for cell- or tissue-specific applications.

· Elucidating cellular and molecular impact of EVs application in wound response and repair.

 Antibacterial activity of extracellular vesicles in burn sepsis model.

Burn sepsis is a serious condition that can be difficult to treat, as the bacteria can develop resistance to known antibiotics. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound particles that are secreted by cells and play a key role in intercellular communication helping in wound repair and tissue remodelling. Recent research has suggested that EVs could have antibacterial properties and could be used as a novel approach for the treatment of burn sepsis. However, the potential of EVs to control burn sepsis in an insect model and the mechanisms by which EVs exert their antibacterial activity in this condition are not fully understood. The findings of this research could have important implications for the development of more effective and affordable therapies for burn sepsis and contribute to the improvement of patient outcomes. The objectives of this research proposal are:

. Establishment of insect burn sepsis model.

. Isolation and characterisation of extracellular vesicles.

. Evaluate the efficacy of EVs as antimicrobial agents in insect model.

 Fabrication and characterization of conductive biogel. 

This study focuses on fabricating biogels that replicate extracellular matrix (ECM) conditions to promote cell adhesion, enhance electrical conductivity, and support cellular survival in vitro. The biogel components facilitate cellular structural integrity, growth, and prevent degradation.