Team led by Scientists of Amrita School of Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine received an international patent on nanomedicine in USA and Australia.

Nanoparticle based treatment is one of the latest advancements in the field of cancer. Nanomedicines can deliver drugs specifically to cancer without affecting rest of the body. However, conventional nanomedicines cannot be controlled or visualized from outside the body once it is injected into patients. Dr. Shantikumar V. Nair and Dr. Manzoor Koyakutty of Amrita School of Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham led the team that invented a special type of nanomedicine that responds to radio-wave signals sent from outside of the body. For example, after injecting the nanoparticles into the tumor, the particle can be heated-up using an external radio-waves, so that the tumour can be visualized using MRI and burned–off in a controlled manner. This technology can improve a method called radio-frequency ablation therapy of cancer, as reported by Dr. Anusha Ashokan (Nature-Sci. Reports). In addition, the heat generated within the nanoparticles can be used to control the drug-release within the solid tumours, as demonstrated by Dr. Vijay Harish. The nanoparticles are made of a biodegradable mineral material viz. Calcium Phosphate, which is endogenously present in human bone, hence safe for human use.