It’s the year 1965. Barnett Rosenberg is a Biophysical Chemist. He is studying the effect of the electric field on cell division. Cell division or growth of E-Coli bacteria. Thus, generating an electric field by using platinum electrodes. Thus, putting electrodes in a cell containing a bacterial solution and studies bacterial cell division.
Rosenberg & colleagues find exciting results. The cells of bacteria are growing more & more. Only the size of the cells is increasing. Increases 300 times more than the normal cells. But, there is no multiplication. Cells are not multiplying.
What is happening? Unusual result. In fact, no one understands.
Rosenberg is very curious. He has great imagination & perseverance.
Somehow, he finds the truth. Platinum from the electrode is corroding. Hence, this leads to the formation of a compound, Cis-platin. Therefore, cis-platin stops cell multiplication. However, it takes three years to confirm anticancer activity. Cancer is a disease in which cells multiply. Without stopping. Rosenberg proves that cis-platin can cure cancer in mice. In fact, it’s an accidental discovery.
Thus, the US Foods & Drug Administration approves it in 1978.
Hence, the drug is given to humans. People suffering from cancer or tumours.
There are again problems. Problems of horrible side effects. Nausea, vomiting, anaemia & kidney damage. But, scientist changes it & make it less toxic.
This drug mixes with blood. They gave it through intravenous injections. It reaches the cancer cells. Attacks DNA of cells. The cancer cells thus, suicides. We know this as apoptosis in medical science.
Presently, scientists are using liposome. The liposome is like the human cell. Liposome traps or encloses cis-platin molecule. It remains in the blood. When it reaches tumour cells, it releases cis-platin. Thus, cis-platin acts only on tumour cells. Hence, it does not affect normal cells.
Scientists are also thinking of nanotube & gold particles. Attaching cis-platin with these molecules. Thus, delivering drugs to the proper site.
Thus, it’s a story of an accidental discovery. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of it.
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