Research Projects

Problem definition: Oral cancer is one of the most life-threatening cancer, quite common in men in India, if it is not dragonised at early stage does not heal. Chemotherapy is used as a first line treatment option at stage IIIrd and IVth severity; however, treatment response is negligible [4]. Due to the weakend immune system of the cancer patients the, conventional therapy fails and to control the infection, the high doses of antibiotics is required to apply along with other medicines and found that most of the antibiotics became resistant to microbes and cancer spreads very fast [6]. Therefore, a new therapeutic approach and a tool is essential for the treatment of Oral cancer and the associated microbial infection. Objectives: We propose to design an Implantable Engineered-Cells-Polymer-hydrogel patch (IECPhP) for precise interleukin based immune therapy for the treatment of Oral cancer and associated microbial infections. Herein, (i) in vitro Screening of Interleukins for the treatment of Oral Cancer and trickling the associated microbial infection will be performed. Then, (2) we will Design the Implantable Engineered-Cells-Polymer-hydrogel patch (IECPhP) by polymer hydrogel and engineered cells that will be able to release Interleukins. Then, (3) Dose dependent toxicity study and in vivo therapeutic study of oral cancer and monitoring of microbial infections will be studied. Finally, (4) In vivo immunological study and rechallenging of cancer and microbial infection in mouse model will be performed. Hypothesis: Implantable Engineered-Cells-Polymer-hydrogel patch (IECPhP) will precisely control the secretion of interleukin and will successfully challenge and suppress the poorly immunogenic metastatic cancer and associated microbial infections due to pathogens by improving the tumour microenvironment and improving the immunity by controlling the communication with the innate and adoptive immune cells (T cells). The engineered cells will be loaded in the polymer hydrogel patch and will be implanted in oral cancer cavity. The IECPhP will act as a sustained cytokine generator and will eradicate the metastatic oral cancer and the associated microbial infections. Novelty: This proposal demonstrates a novel IECPhP that offers a spatial and temporal progressive treatment approach for the treatment of metastatic Oral cancer and associated infection. IECPhP will control the release of selected interleukin that will increase the immunity at the tumour microenvironment by means of communication with the adoptive immune cells and will kill the cancer cells. The proposal is unique and novel. Deliverable: The deliverable product is an “Implantable Engineered-Cells-Polymer-hydrogel patch”. The successful completion of this project has very high clinical potential for the therapy of metastatic Oral cancer and associated microbial infection. The product can be transferred to the industry and other health care sections for the clinical trial.