The Department of Pharmacy at BITS Pilani has achieved a significant milestone with its latest research being highlighted in The Hindu. The study reports the development of an innovative nanomedicine-based topical gel showing encouraging results in preclinical studies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
π Read full news coverage:
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/new-nanomedicine-based-gel-from-bits-pilani-shows-encouraging-preclinical-results-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/article70742583.ece
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent joint pain, swelling, and progressive joint damage. Current treatment strategies often rely on long-term systemic medications, which may lead to undesirable side effects. Addressing these challenges, the BITS Pilani research team has developed a targeted drug delivery system designed for localized application.
The formulation utilizes hyaluronic acid-coated lipid nanoparticles to enhance the delivery and bioavailability of 3-Acetyl-11-keto-Ξ²-boswellic acid (AKBA), a natural anti-inflammatory compound derived from Boswellia serrata. This innovative approach enables improved drug accumulation at inflamed joints, resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models.
One of the key advantages of this technology is its topical gel format, which allows direct application to affected areas. This localized delivery system has the potential to reduce dependence on oral medications, thereby minimizing systemic exposure and improving patient compliance.
The research was led by Ms. Sakshi Priya (DST-INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow) under the supervision of Prof. Gautam Singhvi, with contributions from Mr. Vagesh Verma under the guidance of Dr. Aniruddha Roy.
Encouraged by the promising preclinical outcomes, the team is now progressing toward advanced safety studies and clinical trials. A patent has already been filed for the developed formulation, and efforts are underway to establish industry collaborations for further development and translation.
This achievement highlights BITS Pilaniβs continued commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences, aiming to deliver safer and more effective therapeutic solutions for global healthcare challenges.
