Cutting Down on Chemotherapy Side Effects

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment can experience side effect such as hair loss, vomiting and even death because they may need high doses in order to combat the disease. To help mitigate these effects, a technology developed by Dr. Semali Perera of the U.K.'s University of Bath's Department of Chemical Engineering has successfully completed preliminary laboratory trials and is about to begin clinical trials on volunteer patients.

Fibrasorb technology involves a flexible, fully resorbable device that can be formulated as a bead, fiber or mesh, or as a tube put into the body with a lead outside the body through which drugs may be fed.

Tiny fibers and beads are soaked in the chemotherapy drug and then implanted into the cancerous area. The fibers are biodegradable and compatible with body tissue and so there is no rejection.

Gradually turning from solid to liquid, the chemotherapy chemical is released in a regular flow into the cancer site. This differs from current methods of injecting chemicals into a cancer patient's vein so that it is carried around the body.

A patent has been applied for on the drug delivery system with great interest expected from drug companies around the world.