Researchers at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Thiruvananthapuram have developed a curcumin fibrin wafer, which will directly target malignant cancer cells, sparing the healthy ones.

The efficacy of this technology has to be tested in animal models of cancers first and if found effective and safe, has to be tested in patients having cancer, said SCTIMST director Dr Asha Kishore.

The US patent has been given jointly to SCTIMST and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, for the novel technology developed for sustained delivery of a potential chemotherapeutic molecule in and around cancer tissues, a press release said.

How will curcumin fibrin wafer be used?

Oral and intravenous chemotherapy are effective in cancer because it kills cancer cells. However, it can also kill normal cells in the process, causing unacceptable side-effects. In contrast, continuous local delivery of anti-cancer drug directly on cancer tissue will avoid the drugs affecting normal cells and tissues.

While designing such drug delivery systems, it is essential to use biomaterials that are absorbed from the body without causing any damage to healthy tissues. Several natural products have been identified by various laboratories that have the potential to kill cancer cells.

Curcumin is a molecule purified from turmeric, which has proven anti-cancer effects reported from laboratories all over the world.

The researchers have enabled technology to test the anti-cancer properties of curcumin through a method of directly applying to cancer tissues. The biomaterial wafer is targeted for implantation to the affected site after surgical removal of cancer tissue for killing any remaining cancer cells that have the potential for recurrence or spreading to other parts of the body.

In addition to drug delivery, the fibrin wafer can promote blood clotting at the surgical site.

However, curcumin is not well suited for cancer treatment in humans as it is neither water soluble nor bio-available and degrades very quickly in the system.

The knowhow of a sustained drug delivery has been granted a US patent, which involves human plasma proteins, albumin and fibrinogen. These proteins form natural blood clots after incorporating curcumin and are processed to form a stable, easy to use wafer configuration.

When applied to the body tissues, the curcumin present in the wafer is released into tissue fluids. The human albumin present in the fibrin clot binds to albumin receptors on cancer cells, thus permitting entry of curcumin into cancer cells.

Simultaneously the fibrin clot is removed by the body’s natural clot break down mechanism without causing any adverse effects, the press release said.

The SCTIMST had earlier transferred the technology for binding curcumin with albumin to an industry partner and it is currently being tested comprehensively for regulatory approval and future commercialisation by the company.

The ICMR has funded both the research projects, which were led by Dr Lissy Krishnan and her team at the biomedical technology wing of the SCTIMST.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store