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American University of Sharjah team obtain US patent for innovative breast cancer treatment

Dubai - Research team is working on programme that will reduce negative effects of chemotherapy

A team of researchers from American University of Sharjah (AUS) has obtained a patent in the US for the treatment of breast cancer. The patent was applied for in 2017 and it was issued on December 15, 2020.

The research team, known as the Ultrasound Group in Cancer Research, is working on a chemotherapy programme that uses microcapsules that target cancer cells and bypasses healthy cells in the body, thus reducing the negative effects of chemotherapy.

This innovation can help cancer patients avoid some of the harsh side effects, and sometimes debilitating effects of current treatments.

Dr. Ghaleb Al Husseini, professor of chemical engineering and Dana Gas Chemical Engineering Chair at the American University of Sharjah and founder of the Ultrasound for Cancer Research group at the university, said: “The patent describes a chemotherapy programme consisting of nanotransmitters that use the drug Herceptone and coat many agents.

“Once the nanocomposites reach the breast cancer tissue and are bound to it, the drug is released using ultrasound, which ensures that high concentrations of the treatment reach the diseased tissues while avoiding interaction with healthy cells in the body, thus reducing the side effects of the treatment.”

He explained that the use of ultrasound is ideal because it is easy to use and widely understood. The research studies provided an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students specialising in chemical, biomedical and electrical engineering at the university to gain research experience.