Research Interest

My research is in the area of “Nanomedicine” and focused on delivering drugs using nanoparticles. We are using different types of nanoparticles like lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles and liposomes for encapsulating drugs, depending on the physicochemical properties of the drug and the desired application. We are also interested in surface modifying the nanoparticles with specific “targeting moieties” like a receptor ligand or antibody that will lead to its selective delivery to a particular tissue expressing that receptor e.g. tranferrin receptor antibody for targeting to the brain cells. Another aspect of our research is increasing the efficacy and safety of anticancer treatment by delivering the drug only at its desired site of action. Currently there are two projects going on in my lab which include delivering drugs using nanoparticles for the treatment of multiple myeloma (a type of cancer) and Alzheimer’s disease. Typical experiments in the lab include fabrication of nanoparticles, bioconjugation of targeting moieties, in vitro cell culture studies to know the cell uptake of nanoparticles, in vivo pharmacodynamic studies on small animals like mice and rats. By delivering the drugs using nanoparticles we intend to improve the clinical efficacy of drugs used for the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease etc.