Ongoing Projects
Project Title:
Remodeling Technology Integrated Validation of Ayurveda Jihva: Corroborating Saam Jivha Pariksha to Multiple Biomarker Detection Using Point of Care Paper-based Device.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Shahila Parween
Funding Agency:
The IKS Division of Ministry of Education @ AICTE, Govt. of India.
Summary:
The focus of the work is to establish a correlation between the traditional systems practice and modern diagnostic approach, which will benefit in multiple directions. Here the traditional practice of diagnostics will be taken as a control for establishing a modern approach. In this, we are develoPrincipal Investigatorng multiple biomarkers (Lungs: Catalase; Kidneys: Creatinine; Heart: Cholesterol; Intestines: CEA; Pancreas: Amylase; Liver: Bilirubin) detection corresponding to the organs dePrincipal Investigatorcted in Ayurveda Jihva in a paper-based device and its correlation with the Jihva Pariksha. The colorimetric analysis of the paper device will be compared with the tongue analysis thus helPrincipal Investigatorng in justifying modern technology with Ayurveda.
Project Title:
Nanoparticle Enthused Point of Care, Assay Device Aiming Simultaneous Detection and Severity Status of Acute Pancreatitis.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Shahila Parween
Funding Agency:
DST SERB Start-up Research Grant (SERB-SRG), Govt. of India, File Number: SRG/2022/000576
Summary:
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common serious abdominal illness of the digestive system. Several biomarkers have been identified to be known for the diagnosis of AP secreted from pancreatic acinar cells like amylase, and lipase. A higher level of α-amylase, lipase enzyme in human serum is a suggestive indication of the onset of pancreatitis. In this, we aim to investigate simple & innovative approaches for pancreatic lipase and α-amylase detection conjoined with different bio-functionalization techniques on a paper-based microfluidic platform.
Project Title:
An Affordable Point of Care Diagnostic for Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Shahila Parween
Funding Agency:
Seed Fund, MNR Educational Trust, Kukatpally, Telangana
Summary:
Project Title:
RaPrincipal Investigatord and Sensitive Ultrafast ELISA protocol for detection of complete thyroid profiling (TSH, T3 & T4) in less than 5 minutes.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Shahila Parween
Funding Agency:
Seed Fund, MNR Educational Trust, Kukatpally, Telangana
Summary:
This proposal aims to develop a proof of concept for quantitative, raPrincipal Investigatord, and sensitive ELISA protocol targeting the detection of a complete thyroid profiling (TSH, T3 & T4) in less than 5 minutes focusing on real unmet healthcare needs.
Project Title:
A Red Light-Responsive Antibody–Drug Conjugates (ADCs) with Porphyrin Photocaged-Linker
Principal Investigator: Rajasekhar Adiki, Ph.D.
Abstract:
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are developed as a “magic bullet” in targeted cancer treatment, combining sophistically tailored tumour antigen-targeted monoclonal antibodies and highly potent chemotherapeutic drugs as a payload connected with a labile chemical linker. These linkers were designed to release the drug in the vicinity of the tumour microenvironment by endogenous stimuli such as a pH change, a redox reaction, or an enzyme; having no temporal control over linkers may lead to premature cleavage, resulting in off-targeted toxicity. So, there is an urgency to develop linker cleavage technology that relies on an exogenous stimulus that has control over the spatiotemporal site. Towards this, light-responsive materials are evolving as a potential tool that can precisely control at the spatiotemporal level. NIR light-responsive cyanine and self-immolation C4AP linker-based ADCs were reported and explored in cell line studies. However, UV-light (365 nm) activatable photocaged C4AP linker stumble with light toxicity, and singlet oxygen initiates a cyanine uncaging reaction, often not feasible in a hypoxic tumour environment. To overcome these limitations, ubiquitous porphyrin photocages would be an ideal potential tool to release cytotoxic payload in the tumour microenvironment by illumination of near IR light (>640 nm) without dependence on any external factors. Owing to four uncaging sites on porphyrin enables us to install two payloads and two antibodies; it will significantly enhance the concentration of therapeutic drugs in the confined site, and antibodies increase affinity towards the targeted antigen. Moreover, the fluorescence of porphyrin enables us to monitor ADC localization and drug release.
Project Title:
NIR Fluorescence Image-guided Drug Delivery via Hemicyanine Small Molecular Photocages.
Principal Investigator: Rajasekhar Adiki, Ph.D.
Abstract:
Targeted chemo-phototherapy has received widespread attention in cancer treatment for its advantages in minimize the side effects of chemotherapeutics and improving therapeutic effects. Similarly, near-infrared light (NIR, λ = 700–1100 nm) has become a prevalent choice in fluorescence imaging owing to its appealing advantages like deep penetration depth, low autofluorescence, decent spatiotemporal resolution, and a high signal-to-background ratio. In recent years, great efforts have been given to researching multifunctional tools that combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions for highly efficient and low toxicity antitumor treatments. I want to develop a NIR inducible cancer drug caged photocage molecule (a light sensitive). This technique simplicity, safety and noninvasiveness, which facilitates to diagnose tumor and release drug in its microenvironmental system by NIR light. Cyanine and cyanine derivatives are well known for their NIR absorption with photocaged properties, but mostly hampered with their solubility and low cell permeability. So, I will focus on small molecules for better absorption like hemicyanine, which are conjugate with photocaged molecules like coumarin and BODIPYs. These conjugates will exhibit NIR fluorescence with uncaging properties.
Project Title:
Integrating PHA production with astaxanthin and bioelectrochemical systems for maximum energy recovery.
Principal Investigator: Prasun Kumar, Ph.D.
Summary:
Microbial biotechnology offers promising avenues for sustainable and eco- friendly production of valuable compounds. This project aims to harness the potential of novel bacteria for the simultaneous production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and Principal Investigatorgments. An integrated process will be developed wherein the volatile fatty acid rich stream of cell-free fermentation broth will be used for electricity generation through bioelectrochemical system. Currently, starch-based polymers are being produced by various companies while the microbial polyester – PHA remains to be explored. PHA is a biodegradable polymer with applications in various industries, while microbial Principal Investigatorgments have diverse applications in food, cosmetics, textiles, and more. Being of highly diverse polymer and wide applicability in pharmaceutical industry both PHA and Principal Investigatorgments are well suited bioproduct to increase the IRR of the process. However, the high-cost of production due to expensive feed material and extraction process limits the PHA production in large scale. The designed systems will lead to the production of high-value compound and biopolymer at the first stage and generate electricity and reduce the COD of the final effluent. The polymer extraction process will recycle the solvents without altering the solubility or partition of biopolymer. Thus, a cost-effective integration of whole bioprocess will lead maximum energy recovery from the substrate fed to this bioprocess.
Project Title:
Enzyme mimetic nanoparticles loaded with antibiofilm agents against Acinetobacter baumannii.
Principal Investigator: Prasun Kumar, Ph.D.
Funding Agency:
Internal funding (MNR Educational Trust)
Summary:
Microbial associations with human beings are well established. However, human beings are quite susceptible to the attack of pathogenic bacteria. Use of antibiotics to fight bacterial infection has been the focus for healthy lifestyles for almost ten decades. It has been realized that bacteria develop resistance to most of the recently developed antibacterials. This problem of resistance to antibiotics becomes more acute in biofilm forming bacteria. Quorum sensing (QS) is a unique ability by which bacteria sense the presence of a large population of their similar beings in their immediate vicinity. Bacteria release signal molecules to communicate among themselves. At high cell density bacteria sense the signal molecules and retrieve them, to express certain pathogenic traits. Biofilm enables bacteria to resist antibiotics up to 1000 times compared to their planktonic counterparts. Thus, inhibition of QS is highly desirable for nosocomial infections such as Acinetobacter baumannii. This pathogen is among the priority list of WHO and ICMR due to its pathogenicity and prevalence. On the other hand, few metallic enzyme-mimics are known to work as peroxidases and/ or SOD and degrade reactive oxygen species. However, enzyme mimetic nanoparticles are not explored for antibiofilm activity against A. baumannii. In addition, such nanoparticles loaded with QS inhibitor will further reduce the formation of biofilms. Such approach will not only reduce the virulence of pathogens but also allow the antimicrobials