Polymer Nanobiomaterial Research Laboratory
Smart Materials and Devices Division (SMAD)
Yenepoya (Deemed to be University)
Polymer synthesis - The synthesis of novel polymers with well-defined compositions, architectures, and functionalities has great interest in academic as well as industrial research. The controlled/living radical polymerization (CLRP) methods involve the radical process, which is more tolerant of functional groups and impurities compared to other conventional polymerization methods. Typically, the CLRP techniques are employed where the polymerizations proceed in the absence of irreversible chain transfer and chain termination. In this research domain, our effort is to develop novel block copolymers through the modern CLRP techniques like atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, ring opening polymerization and click chemistry strategies for diverse applications in material science and biomedicine.
Polymer hydrogel/nanogels- Stimuli-responsive, bio-polymeric hydrogels have great interest as potential biomaterials due to its tunable physical and chemical properties for both creating bioactive cellular micro-environment and for the sustained delivery of therapeutic agents. Hydrogel materials are proposed in clinical applications as soft contact lenses, wound dressing materials, as biological adhesives in surgical procedures etc. In general, wide range of polymeric compositions can be used to fabricate hydrogels or nanogels. In this domain, our effort is to develop novel, multi stimuli-responsive hydrogel and nanogels based on natural polymers and biocompatible synthetic polymers for drug delivery, wound healing etc.
Fabrication of stimuli-responsive nano carriers - Stimuli-responsive polymeric nanocarriers (Micelles, polymersomes, nanospheres, etc.) emerging as targeted drug delivery vehicles for the therapy of various diseases as well as for several other biomedical applications. An ideal drug carrier should be capable of releasing the encapsulated or conjugated drug in a targeted and sustained manner in response to internal or external stimuli-triggers (pH, bioreduction, temperature etc.) of the pathological sites. Targeted drug release can minimize the probability of drug resistance and severe systemic side effects. In this research domain, our effort is to develop various stimuli-responsive polymeric prodrugs based on novel block copolymers for targeted therapy of various diseases.
Polymer scaffold biomaterials - A scaffold is an important component in tissue engineering, which serving as a 3-D structure for cell interactions and extracellular matrix production. Importantly, a biocompatible scaffold should have the ability to perform as a substrate that will support the appropriate cellular activity, including the facilitation of molecular and mechanical signaling systems, in order to optimise tissue regeneration, without eliciting any undesirable local or systemic responses in the eventual host. Tissue engineering merges the fields of cell biology, biomaterial engineering, polymer science and medicine. Importantly, a variety of engineered scaffolds can be created for tissue engineering by using biopolymers, biopolymer hydrogels or electrospun polymer nanofibers. Herein, our effort is develop biocompatible and degradable polymer based scaffold biomaterials for tissue engineering applications.
