IIT scientist's injectable hydrogel for early cancer detection wins global award

An injectable, stimuli-responsive hydrogel developed by an IIT Gandhinagar PhD scholar enables minimally invasive delivery into tissues, where it forms a biocompatible scaffold for enhanced cancer detection and accelerated tissue regeneration.

In a major boost to India's biomedical innovation landscape, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT, Gandhinagar, have developed an advanced injectable hydrogel technology with promising clinical applications.

The breakthrough marks a successful translation of laboratory research into a patented biomedical technology with strong real-world potential.

The smart biomaterial can support doctors during minimally invasive procedures, particularly in treating gastrointestinal conditions such as colorectal polyps, abnormal growths that can develop into cancer if not detected and removed early.

Harshil Dave, a second-year PhD scholar in the Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering at IIT Gandhinagar and lead of the research, has been awarded the Vikram Sarabhai Young Scientist Award 2026.

The award was announced on 28th February 2026 by the Institute of Researchers (InRes), an organisation dedicated to advancing academic research by sharing knowledge, providing critical financial assistance to students and bridging the gap between researchers and industry professionals.

Current clinical practice involves injecting fluids beneath such polyps to create a cushion for safe removal. However, commonly used solutions like saline are quickly absorbed and often require repeated injections, increasing procedural complexity.