Raipur: Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhilai, under the guidance of Dr Sanjib Banerjee, have developed a ‘Smart Materialsfor controlled distribution Anti-cancer drugswhich aims to increase the efficacy of treatment, reduce side effects, and promote Early detection of cancer,

This innovative material is made through a simple and cost-efficient “industry friendly” process. It allows controlled release of anti-cancer drugs. This invention led to Dr Sanjib Banerjee, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Bhilai, and his team being granted a patent by the Patent Authority of the Government of India on May 30, 2024, as informed by an IIT Raipur spokesperson. Other team members include Subrata Dolui and Bhanendra Sahu.

Controlled delivery of anti-cancer drugs significantly enhances treatment efficacy, targets treatments more precisely, and reduces side effects, leading to better patient outcomes. Achieving such controlled delivery requires the design of intelligent drug delivery vehicles. These vehicles are critical to maximising the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs while minimising side effects. However, according to an IIT Raipur spokesperson, existing drug delivery vehicles often face challenges in translating these technologies into biomedical applications due to issues such as limited payload capacity, high cost, and lack of target specificity. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In 2018, it was responsible for approximately 9.6 million deaths, Financial Stress Cancer impacts individuals, families, communities and health systems. Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow and multiply uncontrollably, disrupting normal cellular Early detection and treatment of cancer is important, as various treatment options are available to help manage or even cure the disease. With such advancements, it is hoped that the burden of cancer can be reduced, providing some relief from physical and mental stress. Emotional Challenges Millions of people around the world are facing this problem.