New Delhi, February 12 – Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed and patented a new drug delivery system aimed at improving breast cancer treatment. This innovation leverages nanomaterials to precisely deliver anti-cancer drugs to affected cells, offering a safer and more effective alternative to conventional treatments.
According to Professor Swati Sudhakar from the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, the nanocarriers used in this system are biocompatible and non-toxic to healthy cells. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which attack both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to severe side effects like hair loss, nausea, and fatigue, this targeted approach minimizes damage to healthy tissue.
Sudhakar further explained that frequent doses of chemotherapy drugs can lead to cancer cells developing resistance over time, reducing treatment effectiveness. In laboratory tests conducted on breast cancer cells, researchers found that nano-archaeosomes filled with anti-cancer drugs effectively inhibited tumor growth, even at low drug doses.
The study, funded by IIT Madras and the Ministry of Education, has been published in renowned journals like Materials Advances and Nanoscale Advances under the Royal Society of Chemistry.
A patent for this breakthrough was granted last month, marking a significant step toward transforming cancer therapy. The next phase of research involves testing the system on animal models to further evaluate its efficacy and safety.
By delivering controlled drug doses directly to tumor sites, this new system ensures longer drug availability, reducing the need for frequent doses and improving the overall effectiveness of breast cancer treatment.
