The most widely used chemotherapeutic drug Cisplatin has severe toxic effects on other organs of a cancer victim.The Indian biologist Shiladitya Sengupta has succeeded in warding off these effects to a significant by tweaking the molecular structure of this drug.This drug destroys tumour cells as well as healthy kidney cells.He and his colleagues have subsituted two molecular structures on the Cisplatin molecule with a synthetic molecule.A molecule larger than 5 nanometer- five billionths of a metre- ca not enter the kidneys. While Cisplatin is less than 5 nm, the Cisplatin-Polymer compound is larger,80nm to 100 nm and thus has no effect on the kidney.Hats off to him!
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In the past 5 years, the science of genetic engineering has made giant strides. Starting from scratch using lifeless chemicals, scientists are now able to create viruses, such as the polio virus. Technically, viruses are not "alive" because they require cells to survive. But soon -- perhaps some time this year -- scientists expect to create bacteria, which are definitely alive. From there, it will be a short step to manufacturing new forms of life that have never existed on Earth before. This startling new enterprise is called "synthetic biology."
Well it is indeed a great acheivement. I dont understand when once a medicine comes into the market why it is banned after sometime with a reason that some chemical in it is harmful. will introducing do they ignore this chemical structure and its affects on human organs...
The fact is that the distance a particular medicine travels from lab,market and home is a long one.When a drug is experimented under lab conditions some of its harmful effects do not manifest at that stage which occur on actual administration on patients.If the side effects are very serious then the ban comes.
