Microencapsulated Drugs Developed in Outer Space
In an article on the research that takes place on the International Space Station, a NASA scientist discusses a patented drug microencapsulation system that was developed aboard the Space Station. Their targeted microcapsule research was conducted on prostate cancer in mice. From the article:
“One challenge we have is that it takes time for the results of our experiments to turn into benefits for everyone,” said Julie Robinson, program scientist-International Space Station, based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. “People are familiar with the spinoffs of the Apollo mission, but don’t know what the Space Station is doing now. The clinical trial and research and development trial processes take a little while.”
For example, a microencapsulated system for medicine was recently patented and is entering the testing phase on Earth.
Astronauts aboard the ISS tested a way of encapsulating a drug in a microcapsule to target a specific area of the body when injected. Their research focused on prostate cancer in mice.
“After the Columbia accident happened, we couldn’t make anymore in space. Instead we sharpened our pencils, because we knew this was a desirable system to have, and developed a machine to make the microcapsules on Earth,” said Ms. Robinson.