Our current research
Physicochemical aspects of polyelectrolytes and polyampholytes
-Tithi Basu
This research topic aims at understanding the behavior of charged polymers (polyelectrolytes/ polyampholytes) to design cross-linker free biomaterials. Biomaterials like hydrogels are developed from natural polymers for their biodegradable and biocompatible nature. To increase their dissolution resistance, they are either chemically crosslinked or their structures are chemically modified. These induce toxicity which hampers their biocompatibility. The domain of charged polymers includes different parameters which are non-linearly coupled to each other. Hence, in this research, more emphasis is given to the interactions of the charged polymers, to get the desired cross-linker free biomaterial.
Multi-scale design of biomaterials
-Sunetra Venkat Chituru
Polyelectrolytes and polyampholytes are macromolecules containing charges . These macromolecules consist of information with repeating units like DNA and RNA which are the basic units of life. Gelatin is a naturally occurring polyampholyte which is derived from collagen. Gelatin based hydrogels, nanofibers and nanospheres have been used as novel drug delivery vehicles. Understanding the effect of ionic strength and pH on the conformation of gelatin is essential for the preparation of gelatin based biomaterials with tunable physical properties. Increasing ionic strength of these solutions lead to the presence of fluctuations in the system. Here, we look and quantify the fluctuations in aqueous Gelatin by taking into account the effect the external parameters like pH and salt concentration. Relating these microscopic properties to the bulk properties through experimental and computational studies will lead to the bottom-up multiscale design of biomaterials.
Interaction-based approach to design polymer biomaterials- An indepth study of ion effects
-Sougat Das
The conventional approach for developing any polymeric biomaterial is to follow protocols available in the literature and perform trial-and-error runs without a scientific basis. Here, we propose an analysis of a complex overlay of molecular interactions that provides a strategic pathway for biomaterial development. This work provides an innovative, interaction-basedmethod for developing a biomaterial. It also gives an analysis of different interactions of salt and acid ions on the polymer and polymer mixtures and their subsequent effect on the
biomaterial design.
Polymer Microparticle drug delivery : Polymer drug interaction study
-Subrat Kumar Panigrahi
Conventional drug delivery systems are associated with various shortcomings, including low bioavailability and limited control over release. Here, the initial focus is on the rational design of biomaterials for tailored drug delivery, which includes the significance of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the ability to encapsulate and release a variety of pharmaceutical compounds. Biodegradable polymeric microparticles have emerged as versatile carriers in drug delivery systems addressing all these challenges. Biodegradable polymer are used as encapsulating materials to encapsulate both hydrophilic and a hydrophobic drug. Morphological, drug release and polymer -drug interaction study are performed for better understanding of microparticles properties for different applications, which can help in contributing to advancing in the field of drug delivery system.
Interaction studies of Polyelectrolyte- Polyampholyte with salt
-Shriram Bhatt
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation plays a key role in cellular transitions. Investigating protein-polymer interactions is a pathway to understand these transitions. Here, we investigate the interactions between polyelectrolytes and polyampholytes and analyze the phase
separation, experimentally (through in-vitro studies) and theoretically.
Such studies aid in exploring the role of Membrane less Organelles and liquid liquid phase separation in cellular transitions.
Former Research/Projects
Value from Waste : Use of low grade coals
- Dr. Santosh Kumar Sriramoju
Sustainability in mineral processing is a one of the key parameters to achieve circular-economy in iron and steel manufacturing plants. Due to the availability of high-ash feedstocks and drift origin, coal washeries generates huge quantity of high-ash coal rejects. Handling and disposal is coal rejects is always the biggest challenge for coal washeries. Fine-coal rejects can be a potential material for generation of value-added carbon products due to its fine size, availability in the slurry form, presence of good carbon values, and better liberation properties. In our research, different methodologies are explored to extract clean coal from high-ash rejects and utilize the prepared low-ash clean coal for high-valued carbon materials such as coal-water-slurry fuel, activated carbon and synthetic anode materials. Since lignite coals are of low-grade containing high percentage of humic substance and moisture, similar study is being performed to enhance its property.