Our endeavor addresses the pressing challenge posed by the rising incidence of tibial fractures, which significantly impacts community well-being. Our frontline efforts are directed towards devising effective solutions through innovative approaches in tissue engineering for bone defect repair. Our primary focus lies in leveraging cell-based therapies, biomaterials, and growth factors to address this issue.

Our pioneering work has resulted in the successful development of peptide nanocarrier systems encapsulating bone growth factors, synthesized through nanobowl fabrication techniques. Through rigorous testing in both in vitro cellular models and in vivo animal models, our nano systems have demonstrated remarkable efficacy.

Moving forward, our objective is to transition these promising nano systems into clinical stages, thereby advancing healthcare interventions for the treatment of tibial fractures and contributing to the vitality, economic prosperity, and health of our communities.

Nanophotonics in cancer-

Cancer accounts for approx. 10 million fatalities worldwide. Even though the availability of various distinguishing therapies inclusive of radio-therapy, chemo-therapy, and surgical resection has improved the survival rate of cancer patients, an absolute eradication of cancer is still a challenge. Recently, phototherapy has received huge attention due to its merits including spatiotemporal addressability, minimal invasiveness, and relative clinical safety in cancer treatment. When exposed to NIR light, photosensitizers induce heat generated hyperthermia for aiding cancer cell killing. Nanophotonics has emerged as a promising field for cancer research and treatment due to its ability to manipulate light at the nanoscale level. We work in the following areas of nanophotonics with potential applications in effective cancer diagnosis and therapy. In our group, we propose to utilize the NIR responsive ability of transition metals in conjugation with biocompatible peptide-based nanostructures to explore its potential in inducing photothermal cancer therapy.

Photothermal Therapy (PTT): Nanophotonics has been utilized in PTT where peptide based nanoparticles (NPs) absorb light and convert it into heat, leading to localized hyperthermia and tumor cell destruction. Gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and other nanomaterials with peptide nanostructures have been employed for targeted PTT, enabling precise tumor ablation while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Moving forward in this direction, we  aim towards preparing peptide/amino acid-metal hybrid based nanosystems for realizing photothermal therapy of cancer.

Photoacoustic Imaging: Peptide based Nanophotonics has been used by us for the development of photoacoustic imaging techniques for non-invasive visualization of tumors with high resolution and sensitivity. Our nanoparticles with strong light absorption properties can be selectively delivered to tumors, enhancing contrast in imaging and allowing for early cancer detection.

Drug Delivery Systems: Peptide based nanophotonic platforms have been engineered by our group for targeted drug delivery to cancer cells mainly glioma. Nanoparticles functionalized with targeting ligands are being guided to tumors using light-based techniques, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy while reducing systemic side effects.

Theranostics: Nanophotonic-based theranostic platforms integrate diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities into a single system. These systems enable real-time monitoring of treatment response while simultaneously delivering therapeutic agents to tumors, offering personalized cancer therapy approaches with enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity.

Our endeavor addresses the pressing challenge posed by the rising incidence of tibial

fractures, which significantly impacts community well-being. Our frontline efforts are

directed towards devising effective solutions through innovative approaches in tissue

engineering for bone defect repair. Our primary focus lies in leveraging cell-based

therapies, biomaterials, and growth factors to address this issue.