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My graduate training focused primarily on LC-MS-based bioanalytical method development, with an emphasis on naturally occurring molecules in bacteria, as well as other endogenous and exogenous molecules. I have developed numerous targeted MRM LC-MS/MS methods to study drugs and drug metabolites, amino acids, peptides, nucleosides and nucleotides, hormones, water contaminants, etc. Later in my career, I worked in regulated bioanalysis and developed high-throughput LC-MS/MS methods to quantify oligonucleotides and small-molecule drugs in biological samples.
Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) chromatogram of 20 common proteinogenic amino acid DL stereoisomers.
Robert Langmuir's 1939 US Patent of Mass Spectrometry.
My research journey started with microparticle-based formulation development and characterization as part of my master's thesis. I worked on the synthesis of polymeric microspheres as drug delivery systems, studied the release of drugs from the microspheres, their morphological and rheological characteristics, as well as drug-excipient compatibility. During my PhD, I developed several LC-MS methods to analyze active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in various formulations to study stability, release characteristics, and cellular uptake. Decades later, I am back to pharmaceutical analysis in my current role at US Pharmacopeia, where I develop analytical methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of drug substances and drug products.
Different drug delivery systems.
(Image © Navid J. Ayon)
Proteomics is the study of proteins, which are composed of amino acids and are responsible for various essential functions in living organisms. Examples of proteins include enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. I was very fortunate to learn shotgun proteomics during a summer internship at Streck Inc. under the mentorship of Dr. Matthew Sobansky. I developed and optimized an untargeted, label-free, bottom-up proteomics workflow for human plasma proteins. Later, I learned intact protein analysis (top-down proteomics) at the Kelleher Research Group, Northwestern University Proteomics Center of Excellence, using Orbitraps.
Metabolomics is the study of endogenous small-molecule metabolites. The metabolome of an organism can be directly linked to phenotypic reactions, and metabolomics can help to understand the biology at any given time and/or condition. Mass spectrometer can greatly aid in the structural analysis of small molecule metabolites. Additionally, untargeted metabolomics can help to explore novel metabolites and can help to discover molecules which can help with disease diagnosis or treatment. During my graduate research, I worked on targeted bacterial metabolomics, focusing on cell-wall and DNA biosynthesis. During my postdoctoral research, I worked on untargeted fungal metabolomics to explore bioactive natural products.
Bioactive molecular networking in which nodes connected in a network represent structurally related compounds based on MS/MS fragmentation patterns.
Drug repurposing is the study of finding new therapeutic uses for existing drugs. One of the greatest examples of drug repurposing is 'Sildenafil', which was originally developed by Pfizer to treat hypertension and was later discovered to treat erectile dysfunction. During my PhD, I led a drug repurposing project in which I developed a high-throughput chemical library screening workflow to test drug metabolites for antibacterial activity and synergistic effects.
Science is more powerful, when combined! Although, I do not have my own lab, but I would like to believe that in future, I will be in a position to be able to collaborate with scientists all around the world. Let's connect! This can be the start of something big!
We need to be humble to begin education, and on our way, it's supposed to make us more humble. (tweaked from Robert Kiyosaki)
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