NTU Scientists Use Pollen as Drug Capsule
We are pleased to share the research achievement of Associate Professor Cho Nam-Joon and his team, which has been featured in The Straits Times.
The research team, in collaboration with the Samsung Medical Centre, developed a methodology to remove the existing materials within the pollen grains, leaving behind empty shells for encapsulating therapeutic drugs. This novel system can potentially replace current drug therapies which are painful and invasive in nature. The development of synthetic microcapsules can alleviate the problem, however it is costly and difficult to manufacture. Conversely, pollen grains are readily available and abundant in nature. Its inherent properties, such as biocompatibility and uniform size and shape, allow it to be ingested into the human body with drugs encapsulated within. Our body can then break down the shells to release the encapsulated drugs. The findings have been published in several scientific journals, such as Advanced Functional Materials. 
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