Follow us
After holding research for many years, a group of Indian scientists has finally figured out the secret formula to treat oral cancer wounds with honey. The research has been conducted by biotechnologists, doctors and chemical engineers at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
They have developed a therapeutic patch made of silk and embedded it with honey. The research was conducted at the School of Medical Sciences and Technology, IIT-Kgp. Through the research, it has been made clear that the therapeutic patch not only heals cancer wounds faster but also avoids recurrence of oral cancer after surgical intervention.
Also read: - Researchers at IIT-Kharagpur Enable Web Access for Disabled
Monika Rajput, one of the researchers, explained that honey acts as a significant wound healing power source and consists of anti-cancer and antibacterial properties. The process of research involves modulating cellular environment with the help of biometrically devised honey-silk fibroin scaffolds.
The idea of using honey to treat oral cancer wounds came from Jyotirmoy Chatterjee, and the implementation of the idea was made possible with the aid of soft nanotechnology concepts carried out by Rabibrata Mukherjee, Professor at IIT-K.
Also read: - Faculty of IIT-Kharagpur Develops Smartphone App for Malaria Diagnosis
Nandini Bhandaru, one of the co-researchers explained that the patients affected with oral cancer have to undergo surgery. The doctors remove the affected part from their body. However, it develops into a wound after few days which may contain cancerous or pre-cancerous cells. Hence, there are chances that the patients might be affected by cancer again. The technology developed by IIT-Kgp will control such wounds.
Currently, there isn’t any therapeutic patch available in the market which can heal cancer wounds. The team has filed a patent and the research work done by the team has been published in the international journal of the American Chemical Society.
