IIT Madras Partners IIT Mandi to Boost Anti-Cancer Drug Production

The project received funding from the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, with the findings published in the peer-reviewed Journal Frontiers of Plant Science.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) and IIT Mandi have partnered to make the plant cells of Nothapodytes nimmoniana to increase production of Camptothecin, a vital component in anti-cancer drugs.

The Plant Cell Technology Lab at IIT Madras spearheaded the development of a genome-scale metabolic model for N nimmoniana plant cells using computational tools. This breakthrough addresses the increasing demand for Camptothecin, the third most sought-after alkaloid, commercially extracted in India from the endangered Nothapodytes nimmoniana plant.

The research project received funding from the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, with the findings published in the peer-reviewed Journal Frontiers of Plant Science.

Commenting on the same, Prof Srivastava, the principal investigator of the research project, said, "Integration of metabolic engineering with bioprocess engineering principles can ensure enhanced and sustainable production of Camptothecin, meeting its increasinhg market demand and conserving natural resources."

Earlier in 2021, IIT Madras researchers identified a microbe as a sustainable alternative source for Camptothecin, which is crucial for drugs like Topotecan and Irinotecan. The excessive harvesting of approximately 1,000 tonnes of plant material to extract a single tonne of Camptothecin led to the red-listing of its major plant sources by the IUCN, with the N nimmoniana population declining by over 20% in the last decade.

"This platform technology for model-based rational metabolic engineering of plant cells can be adapted to enhance the production of many other high-value phytochemicals," Prof Raman,  co-investigator of the research project,  added,

The study offers a five-fold increase in Camptothecin synthesis, addressing the challenges of climate change and deforestation. Dr Masakapalli from IIT Mandi said, "The scientific strategies adopted in this work pave the way to engineer plant cell bio-factories for sustainable biomanufacturing of high-value phytochemicals."

With cancer causing nearly 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020, and an expected rise in cases in India, this research addresses a crucial need in the field of cancer treatment.

In related developments, IIT Madras researchers have initiated the #Right2Face project, providing 3D-printed face implants to Black Fungus patients. This severe condition, reported in COVID-19 patients and those with certain medical conditions, received aid through approximately 50 custom implants for economically weaker sections.

Additionally, IIT Madras researchers unveiled 'GBMDriver,' a ML-driven tool enhancing the identification of cancerous brain and spinal cord tumours. accessible online, this tool represents a significant step forward in cancer diagnostics.