Liposomes, tiny spherical structures made from lipids, are widely used as a drug delivery system because they are stable, safe, and can be tailored for different applications. However, they often suffer from low loading efficiency (they cannot hold much cargo) and tend to lose the molecules they carry over time. Although techniques to improve liposome loading capacity have been proposed, they are limited to specific types of drugs. An alternative delivery system is coacervates, which are liquid-like droplets formed by the self-assembly of charged molecules. Coacervates can efficiently encapsulate and retain a wide range of cargo molecules, but their poor stability has limited their practical use. To overcome the limitations of both systems, our lab is developing lipid membrane-coated coacervates (LMCs), a hybrid delivery platform that combines the high cargo-loading capacity of coacervates with the stability and biocompatibility of lipid membranes. This approach brings together the best features of liposomes and coacervates while minimizing their drawbacks, resulting in a versatile and robust delivery vehicle. Such hybrid structures have previously been studied as protocells (simple, cell-like systems) in origin-of-life research and synthetic biology. However, their potential as practical delivery systems is only beginning to be explored. Currently, our lab is developing LMC-based platforms for the efficient and safe delivery of mRNA vaccines targeting infectious diseases, with funding support from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

N-acyl amino acids (NAAs) are amino acid-based surfactants that are highly valued for their applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They are particularly preferred as eco-friendly and gentle cleansing agents compared to conventional sulfate-based surfactants. Consequently, the industrial-scale synthesis of NAAs has gained commercial interest. However, traditional chemical methods used in the manufacture of NAAs often rely on hazardous reagents, generate environmentally harmful waste, and require extensive purification steps before the final product can be utilized.  Enzyme-based synthesis routes present a greener alternative, but these methods tend to be expensive and challenging to scale. To tackle these issues, our lab is developing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly synthesis method for producing NAAs from ester-linked lipids, such as phospholipids and monoglycerides. Notably, we aim to adapt this method to utilize phospholipid-rich byproducts generated during vegetable oil refining. This approach not only reduces waste but also adds value to the oils and fats industry. This project is supported by the CSIR-IICT Startup Research Grant.

Protocells are simplified models of living cells that are created in laboratories using basic chemical and biological components. They are designed to mimic essential features of life, such as compartmentalization, molecular transport, and chemical reactions, all within a membrane-enclosed space. A common example of a protocell is a vesicle, which can be generated from simple single-chain lipids (like fatty acids or N-acyl amino acids) as well as more complex phospholipids (commonly known as liposomes). Due to their structural simplicity and ability to replicate key cellular functions, such as the encapsulation of molecules and selective permeability, protocells serve as valuable tools in both fundamental and applied research. They provide a model system to explore how life may have originated from non-living matter and help researchers identify the minimal physical and chemical requirements needed for cellular functions. In addition to basic research, protocells, particularly liposomes, have widespread applications in biotechnology and medicine, especially for drug and biomolecule delivery. Several liposome-based formulations have already received approval for clinical use. Our lab employs a bottom-up approach to design and construct new protocell systems using previously unexplored lipid compositions. Through this research, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of complex biological systems using simple protocell models and develop next-generation delivery platforms for biomedical applications.