Sankarprasad Bhuniya

Biography

Dr. Sankarprasad Bhuniya currently serves as Research Professor at Amrita Center for Industrial Research & Innovation and Amrita Center for Excellence in Advanced Materials and Green Technologies. He is also a Professor at the department of Chemical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore. Dr. Sankarprasad Bhuniya did M. Sc. in Chemistry (1995) and Ph. D. (Polymer) from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 2000. He worked in Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, South Korea (2013-2014) prior to join in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. He did postdoctoral research in Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH, 2003—2006), South Korea. He worked in the field of nucleic acid chemistry and supramolecular hydrogel. After spending short-time ( July-Dec. 2006) research at BCPS Department in Illinois institute of Technology, USA retuned to India and joined as Senior Scientist to GVK Bioscience private limited (2007-2009). Latter he moved to Korea and joined as Research Professor to Korea University (2009- 2013). He has major research expertise in the field of theranostic drug delivery system for cancer therapy; biomaterials for bioimaging using fluorogenic and MRI modalities. He has published 34 research articles in peer reviewed international journal in chemistry & biomaterials with average impact factor 6.00; Scopus citation index 995 & h- index 17 and 3 patent publications.

Research Interest

Theranostic prodrugs: The advances in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics have directed to develop new type of healthcare system to reduce the drug abuse, safety and precise treatment. In search of innovative product for health care, the term, “theranostic” gained interest in clinical science. It is an appealing formulation in combination of diagnosis and therapy to improve the biodistribution and systematic administration of therapeutic in the target place. Importantly, it could be provided clear-cut solution for long time pending diseases, namely, genetic diseases and oncogenic diseases. Present needs motivated us to develop “theranostic” as future of personalized healthcare. Molecular Sensor (Chemo-sensors & bio-sensors): To understand the chemical transformation at the molecular level in the cellular milieus is challenging and it motivates the chemist to search new way to learn the biological system. Thus bio-inspired emerging strategy for fluorescent based bio-imaging is to sort and identify the species of interest within this complex microenvironment by exploiting differences in molecular reactivity. MRI Contrast Agent: Magnetic resonance imaging is widely used as clinical imaging tools which provide noninvasive three dimensional spatial images of hard and soft tissues as well. Clinically, one third cases gadolinium based contrast agents are used to enhance image contrast. Presently contrast agents are incapable to provide brighter images under higher magnetic field scanner as because of high tumbling motion, mono hydration number of gadolinium complex. Additionally, the conventional MRI contrast agents are incapable to give meaningful information on various metabolic irregularities which are being associated with various diseases etc. Thus, challenge has been focused to develop gadolinium/manganese based T1 MR Contrast agent which can provide information / interrogate on metabolic process.