Research Projects

India is facing a significant oral cancer burden, with over 657,000 new cases reported worldwide and in India. The main causes include chewing betel quid, smokeless tobacco, and exposure to Human Papilloma Virus. Traditional therapies like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have toxic effects and drug resistance, leading to increased recurrence rates. Traditional plant-based medicines have been effective in inhibiting tumors, but their clinical translation is hindered by poor bioavailability and off-target effects. To address these limitations, a group has combined plant-derived materials with nanotechnology. They have synthesized gold and silver nanoparticles using Ph-A and B as reducing agents, which are compatible for photothermal therapy, anticancer therapy, and imaging applications. The group proposes an easily scalable injectable nano Bioinspired hydroGel nano-BiG using synthesized nanoparticles. This non-invasive, cost-effective, and practical therapy for relapsed or refractory oral tumor cells is proposed. The study aims to develop a phase convertible nano hydrogel sensitive to light and convert it to heat, with the hope of showing antimicrobial effects and potential efficacy against oral cancer.