Research

Ruthenium based Metallodrugs

The ruthenium complexes combined with dendritic nanostructures have been developed for enhanced cancer therapies; However, most ruthenium- based metallodendrimers exhibiting anticancer properties have been found to be multinuclear systems with more than one metal center; this may induce metal toxicity, thus incorporating minimal metal centers with efficiently targeted metallodendrimers, which would be a viable solution. Thus, the two challenges, poor drug delivery and multinuclear metallic system-induced metal toxicity, can be overcome by the development of Ru(II)-cored amphiphilic dendrimeric systems, which renders them extremely promising for cancer therapeutics. we have reported the design and synthesis of novel tert-butyl ester functionalized dendritic poly(aryl ether) bipyridyl amphiphilic ligands based Ru(II) polypyridyl coordination entities and evaluating their anticancer potency.

Raju, Liju, et al. "Anticancer Potential of Dendritic Poly (aryl ether)-Substituted Polypyridyl Ligand-Based Ruthenium (II) Coordination Entities." ACS Applied Bio Materials (2023).

Supramolecules- Dendrimers

In this research, we have designed and synthesized a series of novel bipyridine cored poly(benzyl-ether) dendrons containing tertiary butyl esters at their periphery. The molecular structures of the synthesized dendrons were characterized via NMR and mass spectrometry. We investigated the solvent dependent hydrodynamic size of the synthesized dendrons in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water using dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments and the water contact angle of the dendrons was also analyzed. To understand the structure and solvation behaviour of these novel dendrons at the atomistic level, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The behaviour, configuration, and size of the dendrons in DMSO and water were studied through calculation of the radius of gyration (Rg), radial distribution function g(r), and solvent accessible surface area (SASA). The modelling results confirmed the experimental observations that DMSO is a better solvent than water for dendrons as it results in a more unfolded molecular structure. Based on the above experimental results, these dendritic polymers are an excellent candidate for multifunctional theranostics platforms.

Raju, Liju, et al. "Peripherally “tertiary butyl ester” functionalized bipyridine cored dendrons: from synthesis and characterization to molecular dynamic simulation study." New Journal of Chemistry 47.18 (2023): 8913-8924.

Photochemistry and Photophysics of Ruthenium complexes

Chitosan based functional Material

Chitosan, the second most abundant nontoxic biopolymers found on earth after cellulose, is obtained by the deacetylation of chitin produced from crustacean shells and is composed of randomly distributed glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine monomers. It has been widely explored for its potential uses in a multitude of fields including food, sewage treatment, environmental protection and biomedicine due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility.

The presence of different functional groups that can be modified with a range of ligands along with the unique physicochemical properties makes chitosan a good choice for a wide range of applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery vehicles, and enzyme immobilization for bio sensing. The chemical modification of chitosan into composites or hydrogels by the process of crosslinking enhances both its structural stability and durability.

Chitosan-based hydrogels are generated using a range of types, geometries, and formulations that are either physically linked or chemically cross-linked. We have investigated the structural changes and effects of concentration of aromatic cross-linker (terephthaldehyde) on chitosan. In addition, the antibacterial activity of chitosan terepthaldehyde modified with curcumin has been investigated. For the optical detection of heavy metal ions, carbon dots with chitosan crosslinked with glutaraldehyde have been investigated.

Raju, L., AR, S. C. L., Prakash, N. U., & Rajkumar, E. (2021). Chitosan-terephthaldehyde hydrogels–Effect of concentration of cross-linker on structural, swelling, thermal and antimicrobial properties. Materialia, 16, 101082.

Carbon Quantum dots

Renewable resources such as biomass as a resource for material synthesis is an environmentally benign approach.

C-dots are relatively a most diverse class within the carbon family and comprised of sp2 hybridized carbon nanodomains (core states) embedded within a matrix of sp3 hybridized carbon.

It contains variety of surface functional groups depending on the starting materials and synthetic methods.

They have gained exceeding stardom because of their wide range of applications in fields of sensors, bio-imaging, drug delivery and other biomedical applications.

We have attempted the synthesis of crystalline graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from indoor dust particles; a ubiquitous waste material with no practical applications. A simple and facile hydrothermal approach was used to convert indoor household dust into crystalline GQDs with an average particle size of 5.23 nm.

Raju, L., Jacob, M. S., & Rajkumar, E. (2022). Don’t dust off the dust!–A facile synthesis of graphene quantum dots derived from indoor dust towards their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity. New Journal of Chemistry, 46(31), 14859-14866.

Phytochemical and Mycochemical Studies

For thousands of years and in many parts of the world, medicinal plants have been utilized as traditional therapies for a variety of human ailments. Traditional treatments are used by over 80% of the people in developing countries. Due to their rich abundance of biologically active compounds, natural products, medicinal plants serve as the inspiration for the development new molecules with potential applications. We have extracted phytochemicals and mycochemicals (mushroom) and investigated their therapeutic potential. Phytosterols from Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.)Pers) seed extract were identified, ADMET properties were evaluated, and molecular docking analysis was performed against breast cancer. We have investigated the anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential of mushroom species found in Madras Christian College's campus. and exploring their medicinal values.

Raju, L., Jenny, J. C., Merin Saju, S., & Rajkumar, E. (2022). GC-MS analysis, antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of pluteus cervinus: an in vitro and in silico approach. Natural Product Research, 36(17), 4534-4539.

Raju, L., Lipin, R., & Eswaran, R. (2021). Identification, ADMET evaluation and molecular docking analysis of Phytosterols from Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers) seed extract against breast cancer. In Silico Pharmacology, 9(1), 1-9

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