A young researcher from Mehsana is rewriting the rules of colon tumor removal. Harshil Dave, pursuing his PhD at IIT Gandhinagar, has engineered a smart hydrogel that could drastically improve the safety and efficiency of endoscopic surgeries for colorectal polyps.
What sets this technology apart? Its shear-thinning behavior: it flows like a liquid when injected via endoscope but gels up instantly upon placement under the tumor. This solid cushion elevates the growth perfectly, enabling precise resection without the slippage issues of conventional fluids like saline.
In standard procedures, liquid lifters evaporate fast, forcing surgeons to improvise. Dave’s solution, built from water-soluble plant-extracted molecules that self-assemble into nanofibers, stays put, reducing complications and operative time.
Assistant Professor Mukesh Danka, Dave’s mentor in Biological Sciences and Engineering, recalls the eureka moment three years back. ‘Testing the DGM molecule in water revealed nanofibrous hydrogels with ideal injectability,’ he said. Designed for small GI tumors, it also holds promise for drug delivery during endoscopy.
Recognition has poured in: publication in a top journal, the 2026 Vikram Sarabhai award, successful animal trials, and a patent. As human clinical trials loom, this invention stands poised to elevate India’s contributions to global oncology, offering hope for less invasive cancer interventions.
