Medical science has made tremendous progress in the last century. It has managed to invent cures for several life-threatening diseases. It has developed ways to deal with ailments that were unimaginable even 5 decades ago.
However, it is still fighting with a menace called cancer. There are many kinds of cancer that is still giving the medical community sleepless nights. In this dull scenario, Professor Kattesh Katti’s claim about a treatment for prostate cancer is welcome news.
Professor Kattesh Katti’s Research for Treatment of Prostate Cancer
According to Professor Kattesh Katti, the magical key to treat prostate cancer can be found in green tea and gold. His claim is based on his extensive research on the subject.
Professor Katti’s research dealt with the discovery of radioactive nanoparticles of gold that can be utilized in the treatment of cancerous cell growth. The nanoparticles can be employed to attack cancerous cells and tumours with the aim to destroy them. The nanoparticles can be produced in a number of ways. One of the ways is to make gold react with toxic chemicals and produce gold nanoparticles.
Green Process for Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Professor Katti discovered that there are other methods as well to achieve this effect and one such method is to use a green process involving natural substances. He found that chemicals derived from natural substances like soybeans, skin of mango or cinnamon contain similar abilities.
During his recent visit to the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, Professor Katti shared some of his views on the topic. According to him, “”Not every day is a great day in research. But I’m hoping that one day, I’ll be able to develop nanoparticles that work when injected only around the tumour to minimise toxicity.”
He further said, “Since nanoparticles are being injected to the body, it’s better to reduce the toxicity of the chemicals used to produce them.”
Awards and Recognition Achieved by Professor Kattesh Katti
Professor Kattesh Katti has been the recipient of many major recognitions, awards and citations due to his research. Today he is considered to be one of the top scientists in his field.
He received the Hevesy Medal Award 2015, which is given to acknowledge exceptional achievement in radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry. He also received the fellowship of the National Academy of Inventors. But even after achieving so much, the humble man has not forgotten his modest roots in a small town of Karnataka in India.
History of Professor Kattesh Katti
Professor Kattesh Katti was born in Dharwad in a large joint family comprising of 30 members. The family survived on meagre means. Katti attended a school near his home and was quite interested in science from his early days in school.
His aim was to be a teacher. However, his stint at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore gave a new dimension to his life. Though he had trained as a teacher, he went on to complete his PhD from the Indian Institute of Science in 1984.
In 1985 he went to Germany as a Hamburg fellow. Later he joined the school of medicine in the department of radiology at the University of Missouri in the capacity of an assistant professor.
Today the scientist lives in the United States of America. His wife is a senior research scientist at the radiology department in the Missouri University. He has two children.
About Development of Science and Technology in India
In his speech at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, Professor Kattesh Katti said that many brilliant brains in science have left for the US due to the availability of more opportunities there. He quoted the Global mobility: Science on the move, published by the Nature in 2012, that said that India sends the maximum number of scientists abroad and the US is the most sought after destination for foreign scientists.
He was of the view that India needs to spend more money on science and technology. He is supportive about higher contribution from the private sector to science. He said, “Government investment in the US has been going down year after year but private donation has been rising to make up for it.” He wants to see a similar thing happening in India also for the cause of science and technology.
