Not all heroes wear capes—some make haemostats from silk. In our country where silk is synonymous with tradition, one man saw the future in its strands. When Vivek Mishra, the founder of Fibroheal Woundcare, gazed at the silkworm cocoon, he envisioned its utilization beyond textiles.
Back in 2017, Vivek was trodding onto an untraversed path—one where biotech, sustainability, and healthcare converged. By forming a partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Fibroheal started to rethink silk’s role in society. After extensive R&D, it turned out that silk fibroin, a protein, holds the key to biomedical potential. And the mission became clear: harness it to transform wound care in India.
Such a revolutionary innovation can never go unnoticed. Fibroheal was honoured with the Smart Bio Awards’ ‘Startup of the Year’ award in recognition of its noteworthy contributions to healthcare and science.
After years of research and regulatory navigation, Fibroheal launched FIBROPLUG—a first-of-its-kind bio-composite wound dressing made from silk fibroin and chitosan. Lab tests showed that it could stop bleeding in under 30 seconds. But it’s real test wouldn’t come in a lab—it would come on the battlefield.
In April 2025, FIBROPLUG was deployed with Indian Army medics. The results were immediate and powerful. Soldiers injured in high-pressure zones were stabilized faster than ever before. What once started as a lab bench experiment is now saving lives in real-time—under fire, in harsh terrain, with no room for error.
While FIBROPLUG has a significant use case in military settings, its potential extends well beyond the battlefield. From vehicle crashes and kitchen accidents to playground injuries, civilian emergency situations can benefit equally from the same innovation that saves lives on the front lines. The dressing’s ease of use makes it a suitable addition to first aid kits across ambulances, hospitals, schools and homes, potentially making modern wound treatment more accessible to all Indians.
Fibroheal’s story isn’t just about product innovation. It’s about founder grit, deep-science conviction, and the belief that Indian biotechnology can solve Indian problems—and global ones too. With each new milestone reached, the company demonstrates the power of repurposing traditional materials to fulfil contemporary demands, ultimately leading to life-saving innovations and scientific advancements in healthcare.
