Karuna Nambi Gowri

Bio

Karuna Nambi Gowri works in King’s Biomedical Research Lab, developing laser-fabricated bioresorbable barbed sutures for reconstructive surgery. She spends her days micromachining polymeric monofilaments into precise wound closure devices and carefully testing their performance. In the lab, Karuna is known for her calm focus with precision equipment and her steady hands during fabrication. She is also the athlete of the group – a former gold medalist in Gymnastics and the lab’s unofficial heavy lifter. Outside the lab, Karuna reads and writes novels, listens to music, watches movies, plays sports, and enjoys traveling and photographing nature.

Area(s) of Expertise

Karuna’s research focuses on the design and development of bioresorbable barbed sutures for reconstructive surgery. She uses ultrashort pulse lasers to create precise barb patterns on polymeric monofilaments and studies how these patterns affect strength, flexibility, and overall wound closure performance. Her work looks closely at how processing conditions influence device behavior and how these sutures can be translated toward clinical use.

She collaborates with Prof. Xin Zhao (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University) on laser processing and mechanical testing, and with Dr. Adam Summers, MD, on reconstructive surgery applications and clinical insight. She works under the guidance of Prof. Martin W. King.

In addition to barbed sutures, Karuna has experience with plasma surface treatments for biomedical materials and fiber characterization in wet-laid systems. Her background combines polymer science, textile engineering, and medical device development.