Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology (DPST) and the UGC Centre of Advanced Studies (UGC-CAS) is organising a two day Indo-US joint symposia on nanomedicine: Its prospects and challenges from November 14 – 15, 2011 at ICT campus.

Nanomedicine, is a concept originated from India. In Ayurveda, the use of Bhasmas is still popular which is a form of nanomedicine. The modern medicine has realized the potential of nanomedicine to reduce the dose, toxicity and for its targeting potential worldwide.

The nanomedicine is used for diagnostics and therapeutics of cancer, neurodegeneratives, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases is established and a thrust area of research. Many nanotechnology products based on immunomodulator formulations are in clinical use.

Prof Vandana B Patravale, professor of pharmaceutics, DPST and ICT, Mumbai said that this will be the first time where India and US will come together and this collaboration is expected to foster between the US and Indian investigators and it will be academia-academia, industry-industry collaboration.

“It will be beneficial for Indian consumers as the high end technologies could be identified with drug delivery systems, and devices. This could be the key feature to drive growth of pharmaceutical and medical sectors into cost effective, patient compliant, safe yet superior products for Indian market,” further she added.

This symposia will target biomedical engineers, pharmaceutical and clinical researchers, clinicians as well as graduate and post doctorate fellows and research scientists from both academia and industry who have an interest in nanomedicine and its potential to improve patient care.