GUWAHATI: In a significant academic achievement, the Department of Chemistry at Assam University, Silchar, has secured its inaugural patent for the invention of organic photosynthesis, serving as an anti-HIV agent.
The groundbreaking patent, titled "MESO-TRIS-CARBOXYPHENYLPORPHYRIN FULLERENE ADDUCTS AS ANTI HIV AGENTS," is the result of collaborative efforts between Dr. Devashish Sengupta and his team at Assam University and the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at South Asian University (SAU) in New Delhi.
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The patented invention revolves around the discovery of amphiphilic non-cationic fullerene porphyrin (F-P) dyads as potent inhibitors of HIV-1 under photodynamic conditions. The invention holds promise for treating cancer among HIV patients, offering a synergistic medicine to combat drug resistance and suppress the virus.
Dr. Sengupta, along with collaborators from Assam University and SAU, has developed a scalable method for synthesizing water-soluble fullerene-meso-tris-carboxyphenyl porphyrin (F-P) dyads. These dyads have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in impeding the entry and production of HIV-1 subtypes B and C.
The patent marks a significant milestone in the realm of HIV research and presents a promising avenue for combating drug resistance and treating cancer in HIV-afflicted individuals. Primate studies for in vivo validation are underway, with technology transfer anticipated in the near future.