Cromoz Inc (Research Triangle Park, NC) will initiate testing of a water-soluble carbon nanotube-based cancer drug delivery system in Hyderabad, India. The water-soluble carbon nanotubes, which have functional groups on the walls that allows for conjugation with cancer drugs, were developed in partnership with the Indian Institute of Kanpur (ITT). The conjugated carbon nanotubes serves as a drug delivery vehicle with the ability to target the cancer site which has the potential to increase the drug efficacy.
The target drug delivery reduces the amount of chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment and minimizes the side effects. The reduced dosage without compromising the drug efficacy will make the cancer treatment more potent and targeted to killing the cancer and more affordable and available to a larger community.
"Certain percentage of these carbon nanotubes are composed of smaller Quantum Carbon Dots," stated Iffat Allam, President & CEO of Cromoz Inc. "The nontoxic carbon quantum dots can be used as Fluorescent Probes for imaging living biological processes and to monitor cancer growth. These quantum dots are of assorted sizes, they absorb and emit light at different wavelengths. This results in multi-colored images which will be very useful to diagnose a specific organ and its function and the effect of drug delivery to specific cancer sites."
Cromoz has successfully conjugated cancer drugs such as Taxol and Gemcitabine and is currently working with Johns Hopkins Cancer Center in Maryland, USA. Early next year Cromoz will initiate a research and development (R&D) and manufacturing facility in Biotech Park in Hyderabad, India.
Cromoz Inc., is an advanced materials innovator and manufacturer focused on the development of carbon nanotechnology-enabled products primarily for the biomedical industry. These innovative products are based on two proprietary technologies, water-soluble carbon nanotubes and water-soluble fluorescent carbon quantum dots. The CNTs (Carbon Nano Tubes) are insoluble in water. Some have used a common technique to wrap the CNT with hydrophilic molecules to make them disperse in water. Cromoz scientists have successfully derivatized the multi-wall of CNTs and Carbon Dots to make them water-soluble. These derivatized CNTs are bio-friendly, fluorescent and hence well suited for drug delivery.
