Anik Chaturbedi - Research

So far, my research has involved developing predictive mathematical models to study and predict the behavior of various kinds of processes and also performing the related experiments to generate the experimental data (or in some cases use experimental data generated by collaborators from both academia and industry) necessary to calibrate and validate these models. In this way, during my Ph.D., I have studied different processes such as agglomeration of biopolymer micro- and nano-particles in liquid based systems and their use for water purification by adsorbing heavy metal ions from wastewater (for my doctoral dissertation), pharmaceutical and agricultural granulation processes (as part of different collaborative industrial projects), and disintegration and dissolution of tablets (as part of my summer internship at Genentech). As a postdoctoral researcher, I am working on developing mathematical models of biological systems of different scales, such as the cross-talk between two map kinase signaling pathways or the feedback control of purine synthesis inside individual yeast cells, or the evolution of microbial communities of different kinds of yeast cells due to cooperation and competition. These models are being calibrated and validated using experimental data generated in our own or our collaborator's labs.

My main research areas (starting with the most recently started) are:

Evolution of microbial communities

Image on the left is not related to this work. Article on this topic is in preparation.

Decoding intracellular biochemical networks

Image on the left is not related to this work. Articles on this topic are in preparation.

Disintegration & dissolution of tablets (at Genentech, USA)

For a summer internship at Genentech, I worked on applying novel process analytical tools (PATs) such as FBRM (Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement) & PVM (Particle Vision and Measurement) in line, to study tablet disintegration and dissolution in a dissolution vessel in real time to gain insight into the mechanisms of tablet disintegration and dissolution. I also developed a mechanistic mathematical model to simulate tablet disintegration and dissolution and predict drug release profile in silico.

Understanding pharmaceutical granulation processes (in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, USA)

For a collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical high shear wet granulation process was studied. A base model for the simulation of wet addition of binder was developed and then extended to capture the dry addition of binder, which is more complex due to additional heterogeneity in the system. Both of these models were calibrated to facilitate prediction of granulation behavior across different binders and binder addition methods. A graphical user interface was developed to enable independent testing of model prediction by industry personnel. Further, the effect of different process parameters and different formulation properties on the final particle size distribution was examined through both modeling and experiments.

Published articles on this topic are here and here. One more is in preparation.

Parallelizing mathematical models for real time predictive control

The objective of this work was to employ high performance computing systems to solve the developed PBM & DEM-PBM coupled model such that it can be used to predict behavior of the wet granulation process accurately and in a computationally efficient manner. Usually such simulations with current techniques take up to several days to complete. This model could be used to design a control system around the granulation process to help control the product quality, which is of prime importance to the pharmaceutical industry.

Published articles on this topic are here and here.

Understanding agricultural granulation processes (in collaboration with Evonik Industries, Germany)

For a collaboration with Evonik Industries, a population balance model was developed to simulate granulation of oxide powders to capture the variable properties of spray grain lots and aid in production of granulated powders with optimum size distribution and good flow properties. The process model was calibrated with experimental data for accurate prediction of experimental outcome in silico. I also developed a graphical user interface in MATLAB for easy use of the developed model by company personnel. Article on this topic is in preparation.

Article on this topic is in preparation.

Design of novel biopolymer heteroaggregates for water purification

Heteroaggregation, the process of aggregation between dissimilar particles is becoming increasingly popular due to the versatile applicability of heteroaggregates. The specific requirements of these widespread application areas require customized heteroaggregates with unique set of properties related mainly to the size and composition of these heteroaggregates. This has created an immense need for a developed understanding of the heteroaggregation process. However, research on heteroaggregates have been very limited, even fundamental questions pertinent to the mechanism of heteroaggregation process remain unanswered to date. The goal of this work was to study and understand the heteroaggregation process both at particle scale to answer some of these fundamental queries about heteroaggregate structure and composition and also use that knowledge to advance the development of process scale models of heteroaggregation.

Published articles on this topic are here and here.

More details can be found in my PhD thesis here.