Mangalore: Scientists develop drug delivery method to target brain tumour

Scientists from Manipal university have developed a drug delivery method which can be useful for brain tumour.

A team of scientists led by Dr. B. S. Satish Rao have been successful in engineering a multifunctional nanocomposite carrying anticancer drug which can be used to tackle glioblastoma, a brain tumour. The drug is named Temozolamide.

Glioblastoma is a form of a brain tumour which accounts for about 80% of all the glial neoplasms. 

According to a statement released by Manipal University,'' the super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were functionalised by tagging ligand like transferrin protein, that helps to cross the blood brain barrier''.

Nestin anti-body, another protein was attached to target the tumour cells. 

The study involved exposing the human glial tumour cells which are grown in the mouse brain. The scientists gave the mice the nano engineered drug.

It was found out that the drug was able to cross the blood brain barrier. The drug concentrated in the tumours sparing the other healthy tissues which surrounded the tumour cells.