Udaipur, Oct. 20 -- Researchers from the Department of Pharmacy at Mohanlal Sukhadia University (MLSU), Udaipur, have developed a patented oral nanoformulation technology aimed at improving the delivery and absorption of cancer drugs. The research could pave the way for more convenient drug administration for cancer patients who currently require intravenous chemotherapy, although clinical trials will be necessary before the technology can be considered for human treatment. The research was conducted under a project funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, through the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). Dr Garima Joshi, Professor in the Department of Pharmacy, served as the Principal Investigator, while Dr Deepak Choudhary and Dr Harish worked as Co-Principal Investigators. Sheikh Shahnawaz Quadir was appointed as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF). The project, titled "Design, Development and Characterisation of Oral Nanoformulation for Treatment of Cancer," focused on developing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and PLGA nanoparticles to deliver anticancer drugs, including gemcitabine hydrochloride and paclitaxel, through the oral route. Explaining the objective of the research, Dr Garima Joshi said, "Conventional cancer treatment often involves intravenous administration of chemotherapy drugs, which can require repeated hospital visits and may cause significant side effects. Our research aimed to develop an oral nanoformulation that could improve drug absorption, prolong drug exposure in the body and potentially enhance the delivery of anticancer drugs to tumour cells." According to the research team, the developed gemcitabine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers demonstrated sustained drug release for up to 72 hours. Laboratory testing also showed approximately five times greater cytotoxicity against PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells compared with free gemcitabine. Animal studies reported a 10.5-fold increase in oral bioavailability, with drug levels maintained for up to 24 hours. In a DMBA-induced pancreatic lesion model, the treated animals showed inhibition of disease progression, with no PanIN-3 lesions or invasive carcinoma observed in the treated group. The formulation also demonstrated enhanced uptake in an intestinal barrier model using Caco-2 cells, supporting further investigation into its absorption through the intestinal barrier. These findings are based on preclinical research and do not establish the treatment's safety or effectiveness in humans. The research led to the Indian patent titled "Nanostructured Lipid Carrier with Acidic Aqueous Phase for Enhanced Gemcitabine Hydrochloride Entrapment," granted under Patent No. 579413 in 2026. The project also supported the development of laboratory facilities and research instrumentation at the university, strengthening its capacity for future work in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. The research team has also reported findings in international scientific journals, including the 'Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology'....