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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

  • 27 December, 2020

  • 6 Min Read

Nanomicelles: using nanoparticles for cancer treatment

Nanomicelles: using nanoparticles for cancer treatment

Context: GS Paper III S&T Nanotechnology (PT-Mains-Essay)

  • With the advance in nanotechnology, researchers across the globe have been exploring how to use nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery.
  • Similar to nanoshells and nanovesicles, nanomicelles are extremely small structures and have been noted as an emerging platform in targeted therapy.
  • Nanomicelles are globe­like structures with a hydrophilic outer shell and a hydrophobic interior.
  • This dual property makes them a perfect carrier for delivering drug molecules.
  • Now a multi­disciplinary, multi­institutional team has created a nanomicelle that can be used to deliver a drug named docetaxel, which is commonly used to treat various cancers including breast, colon and lung cancer.
  • The nanomicelles are less than 100nm in size and are stable at room temperature.
  • Once injected intravenously these nanomicelles can easily escape the circulation and enter the solid tumours where the blood vessels are found to be leaky.
  • These leaky blood vessels are absent in healthy organs. “Chemical conjugation would render the phospholipid­docetaxel prodrug to be silent in the circulation and healthy organs.
  • But once it enters the cancer cells, the enzymes will cleave the bond to activate the drug and kill the cancer cells

Source: TH


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