Review Article
J Venom Res (2012), Vol 3, 15-21
Published online: 23 October 2012
Full Text: (PDF ~379kb) | (PubMed Central Record HTML)
Archita Biswas †, Aparna Gomes †, Jayeeta Sengupta ‡, Poulami Datta ‡, Santiswarup Singha §, Anjan Kr Dasgupta § and Antony Gomes ‡*
† Drug Development/Diagnostics & Biotechnology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S C Mullick Road, Kolkata – 700 032, Kolkata, India
‡ Laboratory of Toxinology & Experimental Pharmacodynamics, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, 92 A P C Road, Kolkata – 700 009, Kolkata, India
§ Department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata – 700 019, Kolkata, India
*Correspondence to: Anthony Gomes, Email: agomescu@gmail.com, Tel: +91 94 33139031, Fax: +91 33 23519755
Received: 25 May 2012, Revised: 24 July 2012, Accepted: 09 August 2012
© Copyright The Authors
ABSTRACT
Nano-medical approach to develop drugs has attracted scientists from different arenas to design nanoparticle conjugates with potential bio-molecules for better efficacy of the molecule. The promising candidates of this category would be venom-toxins of animal origin of potential medicinal value. Traditional systems of medicine as well as folklores mention the use of venom-toxins for the treatment of various diseases. Research has led to scientific validation of medicinal applications of venoms-toxins and many active constituents derived from venoms-toxins are already in clinical use or under clinical trial. Nanomedicine is an emerging field of medicine where nanotechnology is used to develop molecules of nano-scale dimension, so that these molecules can be taken up by the cells more easily compared to large molecules that may tend to get eliminated and have better efficacy. This review will focus on some of the potential venoms and toxins along with nanoparticle conjugated venom-toxins of snakes, amphibians, scorpions, bees etc. for possible therapeutic clues against emerging diseases.
KEYWORDS: Venoms and toxins, nanotechnology, nanoparticles, nanoconjugation, therapeutic potential