Center for Cancer Nanomedicine & Translational Health - Instrumentation List & CALR
Principal Investigator
Prof. Sivakumar Vijayaraghavalu
Objective
- Advance cancer nanomedicine as the flagship program, developing polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, and nanogels for targeted delivery to address drug resistance and advanced metastatic cancers, Establish epigenetic nanotherapeutics (DNA methylation, HDAC inhibitors, miRNAs) to overcome therapy resistance, Design theranostic nanoparticles combining imaging and therapy for early detection, monitoring, and precision treatment, Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering: fabricate nanostructured scaffolds for bone, cartilage, and wound healing, addressing trauma, orthopedic needs, and diabetic ulcers, Advanced drug delivery systems: develop dissolvable microneedle patches for insulin, antibiotics, vaccines, and pain medications, and innovate nanocarriers for oral and pulmonary delivery using mucus-penetrating nanoparticles, Nanotoxicology and environmental safety: investigate toxicity of environmental pollutants including nano-particulate matter, microplastics, cosmetic nanoparticles, and metal-based powders used in traditional medicines, generating safety data to guide regulatory standards, Education and training: launch Master's and Ph.D. programs in nanomedicine and provide structured training through workshops, courses and collaborative projects, building skilled manpower for India's biotech and healthcare sectors
Description
- The Center for Cancer Nanomedicine and Translational Health at IIT Madras will pioneer affordable, precision healthcare solutions. By targeting drug-resistant and metastatic cancers, advancing innovative drug delivery systems, and developing regenerative and safety platforms, the center will directly reduce cancer mortality, lower treatment costs, and empower families with better care.
Impact
- Affordable, accessible nanomedicine therapies for drug-resistant and metastatic cancers, reducing late-stage disease burden, Lower treatment costs by reducing drug dosage and hospital admissions, while maintaining or improving efficacy, Improved survival and quality of life through targeted, less toxic therapies, Regenerative therapies for orthopedic injuries and chronic wounds, reducing disability and recovery time, Non-invasive microneedle systems for home-based care, reducing hospital dependency and expanding rural access, Nanotoxicology data to inform environmental and consumer safety regulations, Creation of trained nanomedicine professionals, ensuring sustainability, Beneficiaries include patients and society gaining access to affordable targeted therapies and safer drug delivery, students and young researchers through hands-on training, clinicians and researchers through translational collaborations and technology transfer, and startups and healthcare innovators via incubation and accelerator programs