The Hindu Business Line : Polymer research drives new biomedical applications

While these are just some interesting examples of ongoing research at the Sriram Institute for Industrial Research (SIIR), a forthcoming seminar aims to throw more light on `Polymers in biomedical applications' by showcasing innovative R&D in labs across India.

"Specialty polymer research is an expensive business, for instance R&D for discovering a simple biomedical application might fall in the range of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. This is akin to the costs involved in discovering a drug molecule although the scales are different," Dr S. Bera, Deputy Director, Material Science Division, SIIR, told Business Line.

Across the country, research institutes such as the IITs at Delhi, Kharagpur and Kanpur are involved in various aspects of polymer research. While India is making breakthroughs in polymer research and its applications in biomedical devices, a lot more can be done, Dr Bera said. Over the last three to five years SIIR is trying to make inroads in the area of specialty polymer research.

Projects valued at Rs 1.5 crore are currently being conducted at SIIR, Bangalore and Rs 2 crore at SIIR, Delhi. While Dr Bera is reticent on naming the private sponsors, he said the research work at these labs include discovering polymer alternatives to conventional stapler pins, surgical adhesive and plaster casting.

In order to create more awareness about specialty polymers and biomedical applications in polymer, SIIR in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Ministry of Science and Technology (Government of India) will conduct the `National Seminar on Polymers in Biomedical Application' at Hotel Atria in Bangalore on January 12 and 13. Interested research institutes, academicians, consultants and technologists can contact SIIR on 080-28410165 or 28410172.

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