Aditya Sautan Ramkumar’s Research: Biodegradable Vitamin D3 Oral Strip for Space and Earth Health

Chennai | Students Aditya Sautan Ramkumar and his mentor Dr. Gnanavel S at SRM Institute of Science and Technology have developed an innovative biodegradable oral dissolving strip to address Vitamin D3 deficiency. This research is particularly significant for astronauts and personnel on long-duration space missions, ensuring their health and well-being.

Despite ample sunlight in India, studies by ICMR and NIN indicate that nearly 70% of Indians suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, with women being most affected. Contributing factors include high melanin levels, air pollution, modern clothing, limited outdoor activity, and unbalanced diets. In space, prolonged microgravity and lack of UV exposure further exacerbate calcium deficiency, muscle weakness, and bone health issues.

To address this, the team created a CMN-based 3D bioprinted oral strip. The strip dissolves in saliva and gradually releases Vitamin D3 for optimal absorption. The process involves converting nanocellulose derived from cotton linter into CMN through chemical processing, mixing it with gelatin to form a bio-ink, and then 3D bioprinting the strips.

Key Objectives of the Research:

• Ensure safety and stability during long-duration space missions.
• Provide rapid dissolution and effective absorption.
• Produce lightweight, durable, and long-lasting strips.
• Maintain resilience against space temperature variations and radiation.

Study results demonstrated that the CMN-based strip is stable, lightweight, easy to handle, and fully safe. Vitamin D3 was evenly distributed with no microfiller inconsistencies, and packaging prevented damage from moisture or oxygen. These strips can be used in extended space missions such as Gaganyaan and future lunar missions.

Beyond space applications, this innovation offers significant contributions to Indian healthcare and nutrition solutions. Data from ISRO missions like AstroSat, Aditya-L1, and XPoSat helped evaluate the strip’s design and durability.

Conclusion: The CMN-based oral strip is a safe, long-lasting, and user-friendly solution that strengthens India’s space preparedness and indigenous biomedical capabilities.

Researchers:

• Aditya Sautan Ramkumar – PG Student, Department of Biomedical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Dr. Gnanavel S – Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Keywords: Biodegradable oral strip, 3D bioprinting, bio-ink, CMN, Vitamin D3, microgravity, space health.