Pharmaceutical biotech lab

Bioprocess Designing: Biotechnology holds key to sustainable supply of novel products not only to the healthcare market but also to other markets including the energy sector. New bioprocessing strategies are imperative to ensure cheap and reliable sources for the protein / peptide based biopharmaceuticals as well as biofuel and other cellular secondary metabolites of commercial interest. Through my research projects I would like to establish scalable bioprocessing platforms for sustainable manufacturing of proteins / peptides and commercially relevant cellular metabolites / biomaterials.

Development of novel Antimicrobial Biomaterials: Development of antimicrobial coatings for implants using antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been suggested as one of the best solutions for all bio-implant related infections particularly the catheter associated urinary tract infections. However, strategies for coating these bioimplants with AMPs are challenged by the loss of activity following immobilization. To address this bottleneck, I would like to work on peptide immobilization strategies on diverse biologically relevant surfaces.

Bioanalytical Method development: New bio-manufacturing strategies for novel biotech products demand new analytical methods for product as well as process development / monitoring. Over the past couple of years bio-analytical strategies have gained particular emphasis with FDA's QbD initiative where novel PATs have become a mandate. As such I am particularly interested to work on developing analytical platforms that can be used for manufacturing diverse bio-products.

Molecular Modelling and Related Studies: Computational studies possess the capacity to provide key insights within a particular process which is beyond perception to human eye through experiments carried out on bench. Studies at different levels of resolution both empirical and semi-empirical can help in exploring new worlds previously unknown to the world.

Bacterial Concrete design: Calcite producing bacteria have the capability to be used together with concrete so that they can be used to cover up any cracks being developed on concrete structures thereby saving hazardous cement as well as costly manpower. Hence the calcite production capacity of bacteria are being characterised from a bioprocessing perspective, the overall goal here is to develop a rationally designed and optimized commercially viable self-healing concrete material.