Research
Copyright © 2008 Jayesh Bellare; Designed by Sagar, Manu & Jaiswal. All rights reserved.
Research Areas
The key essence of research in the Jayesh Bellare's group is its multidisciplinary nature. Work focuses on the development of state-of-the-art technologies as relevant to the current needs of the society ranging from medical implants to drug delivery.
Biomaterials comprise a heterogeneous group of materials, intended to be used for human application, characterized by non-toxicity and biocompatibilty. Our lab focuses on the development of biomaterials based on the following themes:
- Use of nanofibrous composite materials as bone-scaffolds.
- Development of novel biochemicals, for mimicking bone architecture, to be used as bone grafts.
- Preparation and optimization of bioceramic coated Nano-biocomposites as bone implant materials.
In the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of medicine therapeutic preparations called Bhasmas which, in fact, are extremely fine powders coated with herbal extracts exist (herbo-mineral preparations). However, use of toxic materials such as sulphur, mercury and arsenic in Bhasma preparations highlights the considerable technical challenge in understanding the physicochemical, therapeutic and toxicological basis of this complex ancient technology. There does not appear to be any cogent explanation or hypothesis currently in use to explain why such a complex technology is needed and what is really produced other than plain ash, which confers this activity. The emerging knowledge of nanoparticles could throw some light on the therapeutic efficacy of these preparations. The objectives of our studies with respect to bhasmas are enlisted below:
- Establishing the presence of nanoparticles in the bhasmas.
- Verifying the chemical composition and nature and phase of these nanoparticles using state-of-the-art techniques.
- Establishing bio-activity of these nanoparticles using suitable bioassays.
- Elucidating the mechanism of action of these herbo-mineral preparations.
Occlusion devices for heart ailments are in much demand owing to the increasing number of such cases. Following fields of enquiry are being followed in this direction:
- Development (including design, fabrication & testing) of a cost effective alternative to the commercially available Patent Ductus Arteriosus (a congenital heart disease) occlusion device as suited to the Indian conditions.
- Comparative analyses of the fabricated device under identical testing conditions with other commercial PDA closure devices. Simulation of device-models on Finite Element Analysis software.
Hollow fiber membranes (tubular membranes having diameters less than 0.5mm) have widespread applications in such diverse fields as water purification, pharmaceutics, biomedicals etc. Work in our lab is directed along the following:
- Preparation of porous hollow fiber membranes by dry-wet and wet spinning.
- Design, characterization and optimization of core-shell type hollow fibers including understanding of online phase separation phenomenon using in-situ video microscopy.
- Development and adaptation of the hollow fiber membranes for hemodialysis and blood oxygenator.
The field of nano-biotechnology encompasses studies of the interactions between nano-sized delivery agents and cells. Apart from implications in drug delivery, this interesting area opens newer vistas such as the decoding of the delivery of nano-vesicles inside the cell, specific receptor pathways, effects on gene expression and implications thereof. Research in the lab is along the following directions:
- Development of quantum dots for in-situ tracking of cellular phenomena.
- Flow cytometric analyses of nanoparticle-cellular interactions.
- Gene and molecular expression studies.
Surfactants are important component in many biological and industrial systems as well as in various consumer products. Surfactants form a variety of microstructures in solution, some of which are equilibrium and others non-equilibrium microstructures. All such microstructures are surfactant aggregates, also known as "association colloids". During the dissolution of a surfactant in the solvent, various types of non-equilibrium microstructures have been observed.
- Estimation of strength of myelin figures.
- Mechanical properties of vesicles are estimated using Micropipette aspiration.
- Effect of salt, pH and additives on mechanical properties of vesicles.
With the advent of newer dugs to curb life-threatening diseases, it is becoming increasingly important to deliver the drug in such a way so that it remains in circulation for the requisite period while retaining its activity with reduced toxicity. Work in the lab is directed to develop efficient drug delivery vehicles including:
- Polymeric nanoparticles for the delivery of hydrophobic as well as hydrophilc drugs in neoplasias.
- Liposomal vehicles for pulmonary drug delivery.
- Protein-drug nanoaggregates for retinal carcinomas.
