Platinum drugs

Context: Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have discovered a Ruthenium−Ferrocene Bimetallic agent that shows a highly potent antitumor effect in platinum-resistant cancers.

About Platinum drugs:

• Platinum drugs are chemotherapeutic agents used for treatment of many types of cancers.
• Platinum-based anticancer drugs are- including cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, nedaplatin, and lobaplatin.
• Patient can experience any combination of around 40 specific side effects by using it.

About Agharkar Research Institute (ARI):

• The Institute, founded in 1946 as the Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science Research Institute.
• It was renamed in 1992 as the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in honour and memory of the Founder Director, the late Professor Dr. Shankar Purushottam Agharkar.
• The ARI is an autonomous research institution fully funded by the Department of science and Technology (DST) government of India, since 1966.
• It operates under the overall umbrella of the Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science (MACS).
• The institute is committed to the promotion of science and technology with emphasis on high standards of research and development activities for the benefit of human kind and the nation.
• The current research activities encompass biological sciences and focus on three broad areas.
  • Animal Sciences
  • Microbial Sciences
  • Plant Sciences
• The ARI is also a main research centre under three All India co-ordinated research projects of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):Wheat breeding, Soybean breeding and grape breeding.
• An agricultural farm located at Hol, near Baramati, about 80 km from Pune, conducts experiments on crop plants and for multiplication of seed of improved varieties.

Source: The Times of India

Previous Year Question

Q.1) With reference to the carbon nanotubes, consider the following statement :

1. They can be used as the carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
2. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body.
3. They can be used in biochemical sensors.
4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2, 3 and 4 only
3. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4