TRIVANDRUM, February22 2012: The Amrita University has unveiled a new nano-product that may revolutionise the radiotherapy in cancer patients.The product developed by Amrita Centre for Nano Sciences and Molecular Medicine was launched at the three-day international conference on nanotechnology, Nanobio 2012 that began in the state’s port city of Cochin on Tuesday. The product called Nanophotomed is a cheaper and efficient alternative to the current radio therapy based on X-rays and Gama rays, says Dr Manzoor, Professor of Cancer Nanomedicine at the Amrita Centre for Nanosciences. While the conventional radiotherapy targets the part of the body where the cancer is found, the nano therapy targets the cancerous tissue alone, eliminating the chances for damage to the surrounding health tissues. The medicine, once injected into the body, specifically accumulates in tumour tissues because of the rational design of the nanoparticles. After accumulating in tumour, a low power laser light or LED, is used to sensitise the nanoparticles and kill the cancer. Dr Manzoor, who developed the product, said that the medicine will also not cause any light toxicity as X-rays and Gama rays do. It will also be affordable to the common man as it would cost 60 per cent less than the current phototherapy. “One dose of the photo-dynamic therapy now available in the market cost Rs60,000. A patient needs a minimum of four doses to get the required benefit. This is not affordable to a large section of people”, Dr Manzoor said. The product now in its clinical stage will be subjected to human trial in India and Europe within a year. Amrita has tied up with Netherlands-based Nano 4 Therapy for the clinical trials. Dr Manzoor said that the product was expected to be in the market within four years.
This is the first product from the Amrita Centre for Nano Sciences, which has been designated as a centre of excellence in nano material for biomedical uses by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The centre will also be launching a nano product for energy saving at the ‘Nanosolar 2012’ which will be held on February 24 as part of the Nanobio 2012. The two events has brought together world leaders in the field of regenerative medicine and molecular medicine. Dr Tony Mikos from Rice University said in his keynote address at the conference that the recent advances in nanotechnology had provided powerful tools to regenerate the tissues. These tools enable tissue engineers to develop constructs that mimic the nanoscale elements and environments present within tissues to encourage tissue regeneration.
This is the first product from the Amrita Centre for Nano Sciences, which has been designated as a centre of excellence in nano material for biomedical uses by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The centre will also be launching a nano product for energy saving at the ‘Nanosolar 2012’ which will be held on February 24 as part of the Nanobio 2012. The two events has brought together world leaders in the field of regenerative medicine and molecular medicine. Dr Tony Mikos from Rice University said in his keynote address at the conference that the recent advances in nanotechnology had provided powerful tools to regenerate the tissues. These tools enable tissue engineers to develop constructs that mimic the nanoscale elements and environments present within tissues to encourage tissue regeneration.