IIT Madras Researchers Patent 2 Indian Spice-Based Anti-Cancer Compounds
For the potential treatment of cancer, researchers at IIT Madras have patented 2 Indian spice-based anti-cancer nanomedicines. The medicines based on the formula are likely to be available in the market by 2028, the source said.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Distinguished Alumnus Awardee and Infosys Co-Founder Gopalakrishnan through Pratiksha Trust supported the funding for the research.
The nanomedicines have shown anti-cancer activity against the animal cancerous cell line of lung, breast, colon, cervical, oral and thyroid however did not affect the normal cell line. The researchers are currently working on the safety and cost aspects of the findings. Human and clinical trials are being planned to make the medicines available in the market by 2027-28.
R Nagarajan, professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras commented that to resolve the bioavailability issue of the Indian spice oils, formulation of nano-emulsion was tried in the research. This research based on nano-oncology has advantages over the conventional cancer treatment for being nontoxic and side effects free.
The other advantages of cancer nanomedicine over traditional therapy approaches include better drug accumulation, a suitable size spectrum in the nanometre range, and longer circulation times.
The patented spice-based nano-formulation has proven effective in common types of cancers. “This nanomedicine is being developed to reduce the cost of treatment and to overcome the side effects seen in existing treatments”, said Chief Scientific Officer, IIT-M.
Being the world’s largest spice producer, India could achieve a low-cost spice-based cancer nanomedicine that can improve the quality of life of cancer patients. This has the additional advantage of influencing multiple oncogenic signalling pathways, commented scientists at IIT-M.
The present research based on nanotechnology can prove to be a boon considering the global surge in cancer cases as well as cancer deaths in all age groups. Among all types of cancers breast, lung, and colorectal cancers are considered the most common worldwide. As per the World Health Organisation in 2020 around 4 lakh children developed cancer globally.
Notably, the Indian government has also given priority to cancer prevention through its universal healthcare system. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 announced the government’s plans to focus on vaccination against cervical cancer for girls aged 9 to 14 as part of her Interim Budget 2024.
