Page 68 - CTB-1 10 May

68 PIONEERING A NEW FUTURE
L-R: Prof. CNR Rao inaugurating the Faraday Laboratory, Mohali
World-class research facilities are available at INST’s laboratory
Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan at the Faraday Laboratory, Mohali
Prof Amitava Patra, Director, INST
SUCCESS STORIES
INST-Mohali aims to emerge as India’s foremost research institution in nano science and technology, which is globally competitive and contributes to the society through application of nano science and nanotechnology in the field of healthcare, agriculture, energy and environment. In the last seven years, INST has witnessed major breakthroughs in several areas of therapeutics and energy related technologies. Some of the success stories are:
Nano-spray Gel for Frostbite Injury: A convenient, cold-stable spray gel was developed that could be administered on-site for the immediate treatment of frostbite injuries, helping wounds heal. To develop this spray, the researchers packaged heparin, an anticoagulant that improves blood flow by reducing clotting and aiding in blood
vessel repair, into liposomes. These lipid carriers helped delivery of
heparin deep inside the skin. They embedded the heparin-loaded
liposomes in a sprayable hydrogel that also contained ibuprofen (a painkiller and anti-inflammatory
drug) and propylene glycol, which helped keep the spray from freezing
at very low temperatures. The spray reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines at the wound site and in the blood circulation, which accelerated healing.
Nanotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): A novel nanocarrier was developed to control epigenetic regulator polycomb protein Bmi1 targeted AML nanotherapy. They have synthesized the nanocarrier of human serum albumin modified with Polyethylenimine (PEI) and entrapped with Bmi1 siRNA. This was used to regulate Bmi1 gene expression of AML and retard its progress. The complementary sequences of Bmi1 siRNA here
are specifically bound to target Bmi1 mRNA for its degradation. The present research in epigenetic controlling of AML will open up new horizons for the identification of novel biomarkers for AML and help in development of targeted, functionalized nanotherapy for prevention of AML.