1. A. P. C. Ray Memorial Cancer Chemotherapeutic Research Unit
An exclusive Drug Discovery Laboratory which focuses on discovery of new anti cancer drugs was set up in the year 2004 by Prof. (Dr.) Subrata Sen, as “CANCER CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC RESEARCH UNIT” under the mentorship of internationally acclaimed scientist Prof. (Dr.) A. U. De.
It was Dr. Sen’s dream that this research unit is dedicated to the savant Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, a saint scientist & forerunner of modern Pharmaceutical Education in India which entailed its re-naming as “A. P. C. Ray Memorial Cancer Chemotherapeutic Research Unit”. This research Unit was inaugurated pompously by The Then President of INDIA his Excellency, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on 4th July 2006 on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebration of College.
Features of this research unit
- Synthesis of custom drug candidates by diverse organic reaction processes like Catalytic Hydrogenation Ligand based and Structure based Drug design (involving 2D, 3D QSAR and Docking).
- Gas phase reaction, Cryo-reaction at -196°, Microwave synthesis, Sonochemistry, Reactions involving most challenging chemicals like alkyl lithium, phosgene, sulphur dioxide etc with state-of-the-art operational and safety facilities.
- Structural elucidation of the synthesized compounds by MS, NMR, XRD, FTIR etc.
- In-vivo anticancer activity study on two cancer strains EAC & SARCOMA-180.
- Cytotoxicity study on HUVEC & VERO cell lines.
- Study of antitumor activity on RPMI-8226 (Human Multiple Myeloma) and A549 (Human Lung Cancer) cell lines
- Study of apoptosis inducing activity on RPMI-8226 (Human Multiple Myeloma) cell line by FACS.
- In-vivo antiangiogenic activity and apoptosis enhancement study on RPMI-8226 (Human Multiple Myeloma) xenografted on nude mice by immunohistochemistry.
- Establishment of mechanism of action (transduction of receptor) through Western Blot.
- Pharmacokinetic study of the new chemical entities.
- Toxicity study of the new molecules developed as Multifunctional Candidate Drugs.
2. Phytochemical Research Unit:
- This division focuses on identifying, isolating and developing drugs from various natural sources having a potential to become a drug.The research activities performed in this lab are-
- Study of phyto-pharmaceuticals obtained from various natural sources.
- Identification and characterization of phytochemicals by different techniques like TLC, HPTLC, HPLC.
- Biological evaluation of various plant extracts.
- Invivo biological activity studies of phytochemicals of different categories like anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobials etc.
3. Bio science research unit:
- Molecular cancer cell biology works.
- Establishment of mechanism of action through western blot technique.
- Study of Gene expression.
- Microbial nano particle synthesis and their application in cancer cell biology.
- Isolation and purification of different microbial metabolites and their application in bio-remediation process.
4. Formulation development research unit:
This research unit is involved with different projects carried out for development of new and innovative formulations for medicines of different categories.
- Pharmacokinetic study of drugs and drug metabolites.
- Development of Liposomal drug delivery system.
- Development of transdermal drug delivery system.
- Development of controlled release formulation.
- Use of nanocrystal technology in different aspects.
- Development of mucoadhesive formulations.
- Development of new encapsulation techniques.