BIOPROCESS
TISSUE ENGINEERING
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
AK BioLabs focuses on developing new generation of cryogel biomaterials, smart polymeric materials, and nanomaterials for biotechnology and biomedical engineering applications. We have optimized the efficacy of our cryogel biomaterials by applying them in cell separations, tissue engineering, and bioreactors for therapeutic protein production and as extracorporeal biomedical devices. We have also utilized thermoresponsive smart polymeric material in self-assembling biomolecules and cells for their enhanced utility in bio-processing and regenerative medicine. Further, the lab focuses on natural and synthetic nano-materials for their therapeutic applications in different healthcare problems. Overall the lab focuses on exploring the role of these biomaterials for cartilage, bone, skin, cardiac, liver, and neural tissue engineering applications and stem cell differentiation. Further, these materials were also explored in environmental engineering and bioprocess engineering.
THRUST AREAS
MUSCULOSKELETAL REGENERATION
Providing shape and mobility to our body, musculoskeletal system is important for carrying out day-to-day functions. Being a rigid tissue occurence of musculosketal problems caused by trauma, bone infections and medical problems like osteoporosis and compression injuries occuring in old age. Globally affect the quality of life by hampering the mobility of the person in addition to life long pain and burden on national economy especially in working class and defense personal. Our group aims to design new generation functionalized polymeric, ceramic, composite and metal based biomaterials for musculoskeletal defect healing and bone regeneration. The enhanced bone formation and osteo-activity is achieved by using various bioactive molecules (e.g. bone morphogenetic protein, endothelial growth factors, bisphosphonates) in addition to biomaterials. We have indigenously synthesized nano hydroxyapatite based bone cement which is a potent carrier of growth fctors, drugs and other molecules at the site of fracture and infection. We have developed various composites which can be used for tissue engineered approaches for tissue regeneration and can be applied clinically as fillers and support systems in load bearing and cranial bones. Pre-clinical trials are underway on rat and rabbit in tibia and cranial bone defect models to elucidate the effect of various therapies and approached using developed scaffolds and fillers based on cryogel based and 3D printed scaffolds and injectable bone cements.
CARDIAC REGENERATION AND IMPLANTABLE DEVICES
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The cardiac group aims for development and fabrication of next-generation elastomeric biomaterials and biomaterial scaffolds for repair and regeneration of the cardiovascular tissues. This involves synthesis, characterization, and in-vitro as well as preclinical evaluation of these developed materials in in-vivo animal models. We have successfully fabricated antioxidant polymeric materials and developed them into 3D scaffolds which have shown promising applications for development of cardiac patches for treatment of myocardial infarction. We are using advanced technologies of cryogelation, electrospinning, and 3D printing to develop these scaffolds. Further, we are modifying these antioxidant scaffolds to develop clinically relevant oxygen-releasing scaffolds and implantable devices like cardiovascular stents which have promising applications in cardiovascular tissue engineering.
NEURAL REGENERATION AND THERAPEUTICS
The neuro group focuses towards development of advanced biomaterials for the repair and regeneration of the damaged nerve tissue. The aim is to develop functionalized nerve guiding aligned scaffolds for peripheral nerve and spinal cord injuries. The group has developed functionalized nerve guidance aligned channels mimicking the aspects of the lost peripheral nerve using various techniques such as cryogelation, electrospinning and 3D printing. The fabricated nerve guidance channels have shown in-vitro and in-vivo nerve regeneration potential. The group also focuses towards evaluating the therapeutic potential of cell derived extracellular vesicles together with conducting nano-materials in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy. With the developed strategies for bone regeneration and nerve guidance, the research group is further undertaking challenging research problem of vertebral disc and spinal cord injuries.
LIVER REGENERATION AND DRUG SCREENING
Liver is often stated as the grand central station of the body, as it performs a myriad of functions from synthesis to detoxification having an extraordinary ability to regenerate. However, liver diseases come into the picture only when the damage becomes irreversible. Hence, the focus our group is to explore different treatment possibilities which can bridge the gap between liver transplantation or regeneration. Mainly, the synthesis of cryogel matrices that support the growth of liver cells for in-vitro and in-vivo studies; development of a miniaturized platform for screening of drug metabolism and toxicity; optimization of bioprocess and chromatography parameters; designing an integrated extracorporeal liver device; and regenerative therapeutics. Our lab has recently patented an integrated bio-artificial liver device, and it is aiming to up-scale the design for higher animal pre-clinical trials. Further, we are also working on exploiting the therapeutical aspect of exosomes in liver tissue engineering.