Kruti Naik, a PhD candidate at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), is pioneering new ways to treat eye infections and vision-related diseases that could transform patient care in Africa and beyond.
Instead of relying on traditional eye drops, Naik is developing microneedle patches—similar to contact lenses—that deliver medicine painlessly and directly to the eye. This innovation reduces drug wastage, avoids refrigeration challenges, and could combat severe infections linked to rising antibiotic resistance.
Her work combines microneedle delivery with nanomedicine principles to target diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and inflammation caused by both infectious and chronic illnesses. Currently collaborating with Dr Garry Laverty’s team at Queen’s University Belfast, Naik is also developing self-assembling hydrogels that act as long-lasting implants, steadily releasing medication for conditions like HIV, TB, and cancer.
Backed by a Wits Foundation UK fellowship and NRF/DSI SARChI funding, Naik’s research highlights how accessible, patient-friendly technologies can make life-saving differences. As South Africa marks Women’s Month, her achievements showcase the vital contributions of women scientists to advancing global health.
