The Surat-based Concept Medical Research Private Limited (CMRPL) has applied for patent in India and the US for introducing nano particles to release drugs to block cell proliferation in the narrowed diseased coronary arteries.

Manish Doshi, president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CMRPL told Newsline: “There are no biotechnologists in India or in any other country who have used nanotechnology to release drugs into the diseased coronary arteries. The drugs are generally released through stents, known as Drug Eluting Stents (DES). The stents are bio-absorbable but are made of polymers. If the polymer remains in the diseased artery for long, it may result in inflammation, clotting and toxicity, thereby leading to further complications. As such, there are instances of complications arising after angioplasty.

He also explained about the advantages of releasing drugs such as Sirolymus and Heparil through use of nanotechnology. He said: “In comparison to the polymer, the size of the drug carrier will decrease to six fold thereby helping experts to overcome several complications. We have applied for a patent in India and the US. Further tests on animals will be conducted. Besides, we also have a coating technique in the stent for which CMRPL has applied for a patent.”

Elsewhere, Dr Suhas Lele, a cardiologist from the Vadodara-based Bhailal Amin General Hospital along with experts from Anand Agriculture University (AAU) and the Anand-based Muljibhai Kidney Hospital have successfully released drugs in the thigh, head and neck region through bio-absorbable stents in rabbits. This is the first time such an experiment has been done in India.

Dr Lele said: “There were several phases of the stent technology. Earlier the biocompatible and bio-absorbable stents were not in use. Then came the time when every company started selling stents with both technologies.”

He added that a lot still needs to be explored. He said their tests on 40 rabbits, where they released DES in the thigh and the neck region, were successful. “Basically, we were successful in releasing the drug not only in the heart, but also diseased arteries.”