NIT Rourkela’s Green Breakthrough: A Biodegradable Antimicrobial Film Set to Change Healthcare Plastics

Ever wondered if the plastic that covers a bandage could disappear without harming the planet? In a modest lab at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, a handful of researchers think they may have cracked that puzzle. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Dr Angana Sarkar, the team – which includes research graduate Dr Pritam Bajirao – has rolled out a thin, yet sturdy, film that not only breaks down naturally but also fights microbes.

The secret sauce is surprisingly simple: they coax bacteria to spin out poly‑hydroxy‑alkanoates (PHA) using sugarcane molasses as food. Once the bioplastic is harvested, a dash of neem oil—renowned for its antimicrobial properties—is blended in. The result is a flexible sheet that can be used for wound dressings, bandages, or any medical coating where you’d normally reach for petroleum‑based plastic.

Cost matters, too. The researchers quote around ₹14.33 for a piece roughly the size of a postage stamp (about 44 cm²). That’s pocket‑friendly for hospitals and clinics, especially in rural corners of India where every rupee counts.

All that effort has now been sealed in a patent – “Biodegradable and Antimicrobial Bio‑composite Film and Process for Preparing Thereof”, Patent No. 594073, Application No. 202531060261 – granted earlier this month. The filing lists Dr Sarkar and Dr Bajirao as inventors, cementing their contribution in the official records.

Beyond the lab, the development dovetails neatly with a string of government calls: Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and the National BioE³ policy, all of which urge home‑grown, sustainable tech. By turning agricultural waste (sugarcane molasses) into a high‑value medical material, the project ticks the boxes for self‑reliance and green manufacturing.

There’s still work to be done before you’ll see the film in every emergency room – scaling up production, navigating regulatory clearances, and convincing manufacturers to swap out their entrenched plastics. Yet the early signs are promising, and the team seems genuinely excited. As one of their recent LinkedIn posts put it, “A proud milestone in our research journey!”

If the film lives up to its promise, the next generation of bandages could be both kind to healing skin and kind to the planet. That’s a win‑win we could all get behind.