Carbon nanotechnology to be used for targeted drug delivery system

US-based company Cromoz in partnership with the Indian Institute of Kanpur (ITT) has developed a water-soluble carbon nanotube-based cancer drug delivery system to be launched in Hyderabad in India. The water-soluble carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have functional groups on the walls that allow for conjugation with cancer drugs and will serve as a drug delivery vehicle with the ability to target the cancer site.

The targeted drug delivery reduces the amount of chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment without compromising the drug efficacy and minimises the side effects. The reduced dosage will make the cancer treatment more potent and targeted, while making the treatment and more affordable and available to a larger community.

"A certain percentage of these carbon nanotubes are composed of smaller quantum carbon dots," said Iffat Allam, president and ceo of Cromoz. "These can be used as fluorescent probes for imaging living biological processes and to monitor cancer growth.

"These non-toxic quantum dots are of assorted sizes, they absorb and emit light at different wavelengths. This results in multi-coloured images which will be very useful to diagnose a specific organ and its function and the effect of drug delivery to specific cancer sites."

Whereas some companies have wrapped insoluble CNTs with hydrophilic molecules to make them disperse in water, Cromoz has successfully derivatised the multi-wall of CNTs and carbon dots to make them water-soluble. These derivatised CNTs are bio-friendly, fluorescent and hence well suited for drug delivery.

Cromoz has successfully conjugated cancer drugs such as Taxol and Gemcitabine and is currently working with Johns Hopkins Cancer Center in Maryland, US. Early next year the company will initiate an r&d and manufacturing facility in Biotech Park in Hyderabad, India.