Current Affairs - Science - Discussion

RK-251 is a smart cancer drug developed through collaborative research led by the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, and IIT-Guwahati. The drug is designed to selectively activate inside cancer cells by responding to high levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are more abundant in such cells. Once activated, RK-251 releases the anticancer compound NBDHEX. The drug demonstrated high efficacy against triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. Preclinical testing using zebrafish embryos showed zero toxicity, while fluorescence helped monitor drug activation in ROS-rich environments.