Researchers from the Institute of High-Technology Physics of National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University will create medicines targeted to reach the intended location, in particular anticancer drugs which have not been produced in Russia so far, said press-service of the University on Tuesday.
According to TPU, in 2011 researchers from the Institute of High-Technology Physics became residents of the Innovation Center “Skolkovo” with the project on principally new medicines allowing fighting against a number of hard-to-cure diseases.
“We have developed several groups of medications based on recently discovered organic synthesis methods. Anticancer medicines were the main focus of our efforts. We chemically sew proteins to the surface of special nanoparticles and these proteins “cling” to cancer cells and destroy them. We also apply this principle to produce diagnostic medicines, for example, magnetic contrast for magnetic resonance imaging. These medications are used but not produced in Russia,” press-service quoted Victor Filimonov, biotechnology and organic chemistry department chairman, TPU.
The Institute of Metal Physics of Ural Branch of RAS and a large pharmaceutical enterprise from Ekaterinburg were the project applicants.
“The basis for nanoparticles is produced in Ekaterinburg while researchers from TPU sew biologically active substances-medicines thereto,” explained press-service.
The Institute of High-Technology Physics was established in June 2010 on the basis of the Research Institute of High Voltage and 11 departments of different faculties of TPU. The Institute works in the area of mechanical engineering, oil-and-gas complex, pharmaceuticals, power production and other significant sectors of economy. The Institute performs researches and trains specialists for these sectors. TPU was established in 1896 as Tomsk Technological Institute of Emperor Nikolai II. Today, the University consists of 11 educational institutes, three faculties, 100 departments, three research institutes, 17 scientific and educational centers and 68 scientific research laboratories. In 2009 TPU received the status of National Research University.