Dr.Aswathy R.G. Profile

Dr. Aswathy R. G.
Post Doctoral Researcher
Bio Nano Electronics Research Centre,
Toyo University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan

Academic Qualifications

Ph.D. in Bio Nano Science Fusion, Toyo University, 2012
M.S. Biotechnology, Manonmanium Sundaranar University, 2005
B.S. Biotechnology, Kerala University, 2003

Professional History

Post-doctoral Researcher, Bio Nano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Kawagoe Campus, Saitama, Japan (April 2012-till date)
Research Assistant, Bio Nano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Kawagoe Campus, Saitama, Japan (April 2009-March 2012)
Project Fellow, Dept. of Biotechnology, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST-CSIR), Trivandrum, India (May 2006-November 2008)
Lecturer, Dept. of Biotechnology, Malankara Catholic College, Mamonmanium Sundaranar University, Tamil Nadu ( May 2005-May 2006)

Awards, Fellowships and Honors

Received Monbukagakusho fellowship, MEXT, Japan - 2008.
Selected for Korean Government Scholarship-2008
First Rank holder for M.S. Biotechnology, Manonmanium Sundaranar University, 2005
Second Rank holder for B.S. Biotechnology, Kerala University, 2003

Title of thesis

Biocompatible Nanoparticles: A nanoplatform for imaging and drug delivery to cancer cells

Link to the presentation

http://webedu.sce.toyo.ac.jp/bionanosci/Viewer/?peid=d0e2caa6fa9e40109579ee3c6d468eb0

Abstract of thesis

Biocompatible nanoparticles, owing to their potential applications in biomedical science, biosensors, biochip designing and drug delivery are gaining great attention in the recent years. The development of nanoparticles with biocompatibility can enhance the interaction of nanoparticles with the living system. The biocompatibility can be exploited for both active and passive imaging and drug delivery in cancer and other abnormalities. The thesis investigates the development of nanoparticles via simple, aqueous green method and their characterization. We coated the nanoparticles with natural biopolymers such as starch, gelatin, carboxymethyl cellulose and zein to render biocompatibility. The biopolymer-coated nanoparticles were investigated for their cellular toxicity and we found that biopolymer coated nanoparticles offered better biocompatibility than their bare counterparts. The fluorescent components of the nanoparticles were utilized for in vitro cellular imaging studies. Cancer cell specific targeting of nanoparticles was performed for efficient delivery of drug to destroy the cancerous cells in vitro.

Our research findings suggest the successful development of biocompatible nanoparticles. The nanoparticle were biocompatible and was tailored to multifunctional nanoparticles by the addition of imaging moiety and encapsulating anticancer drug for efficient drug delivery to the targeted cells. The development of biocompatible NPs is extremely significant while considering the toxicity rendered by the nanoparticles. Several natural biopolymers can be exploited for the efficient capping of NPs while preserving the inherent properties exhibited by the NPs such as QD, magnetic NPs, etc.

Current area of research

Development of Nano-nutraceuticals and its biological and industrial applications.

We are interested in the investigation of the applications of nanotechnology relevant to food and nutraceuticals together with identifying the outstanding challenges. We plan to focus on the features of nanotechnology that are related to the development of smart foods and food packaging materials, without compromising the food quality. We would like to work to address the following issues associated with nano-nutraceutical products:

confirmation of their nutraceutical properties at nanoscale,
confirmation of the quality and stability of the product, and
long-term follow-up to study the unwanted adverse effect of the product.

Nano-cosmetics: Nanofibrous scaffold as facial mask and for wound healing

The application of nanotechnology has overextended across diverse streams of science, from electronics to medicine and has now found profound applications in the field of cosmetics with an attractive term- Nanocosmetics. Nanoparticles can work as ‘designer’ chemicals that can be used in the beauty, skincare and cosmetics industries. These nanoparticles can efficiently deliver more nutrients and anti-ageing molecules to skin, improving the effectiveness of sunscreens, and thus products stay longer. They are often used to reflect light and mask wrinkles, as penetration enhancers, to provide sun protection and also improve color. Various nanomaterials used in cosmetics include liposomes, nanosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles etc. However the safety concerns over the nanocosmetics that upraised have forced the cosmetic industries to constraint the use of nanoparticles in cosmetics. Also the enforcement of laws regarding the safety assessment of nanocosmetics is also gaining greater attention.

In this context we would like to focus on natural products that can be used in cosmetic sector. The combination of several natural products will be highly beneficial when compared with the application of individual ones. Considering this, the development of nanofibrous scaffold as facial mask, incorporating the natural products can enhance the penetration and the availabity of the same and provide better results. Also the nanofibrous scaffold can be modified by incorporated with silver nanoparticles, natural products (curcumin, honey) for wound healing (either burn wound or for microbial infection)

Development and application of NIR Quantum dots for deep tissue imaging.

We are interested to exploit the NIR window, also known as the diagnostic window (700–900 nm), for sensitive detection techniques. Nanoparticles, particularly semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), can be utilized for the purpose of optical imaging. These semiconductor QDs possess novel electronic, optical, magnetic, and structural properties, which are quite different from those of bulk materials. NIR QDs with these unique properties can be utilized as contrast agents for optical imaging, particularly for deep tissue imaging. Deep tissue imaging provides more information about the pathological status of the disease, which makes the treatment more effective and efficient.

We have utilized the aqueous NIR QDs for in-vivo imaging and the biodistribution of the same. Also we have imaged the cancer in cancer bearing mice with our nanoformulation.

Publications

B. Sivakumar, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Y. Nagaoka, S. Iwai, M. Suzuki, K. Venugopal, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar,
Curcumin and 5-FU loaded, Folate and Transferrin decorated polymeric magnetic nanoformulation: A synergistic cancer therapeutic approach, accelerated by magnetic hyperthermia (International Journal of Nanomedicine – In Press)
B. Sivakumar, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, R. Sreejith Y. Nagaoka, S. Iwai, M. Suzuki, T. Fukuda, T. Hasumura, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar,
Bacterial exopolysaccharide based magnetic nanoparticles: A versatile nanotool for cancer cell imaging, targeted drug delivery and synergistic effect of drug and hyperthermia mediated cancer therapy, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology 2014, 10, 885-899
Ravindran Girija Aswathy*, B Sivakumar*, Y. Nagaoka, S. Iwai, M. Suzuki, K. Venugopal, K.Kato, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar,
Aptamer targeted theragnostic multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles as nanoplatform for pancreatic cancer therapy, RSC Advances, 2013, 3, 20579-98
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Yutaka Nagaoka, Masashi Suzuki, Takahiro Fukuda, Yasuhiko Yoshida, Toru Maekawa, and Dasappan Nair Sakthikumar,
Multifunctional Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Magnetic Nanovector as a Theragnostic System for Folate Receptor Targeted Chemotherapy, Imaging, and Hyperthermia against Cancer, Langmuir, 2013, 29, 3453-3466.
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, D. Brahatheeswaran, R. Sreejith, T. Ukai, T. Fukuda, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Multifunctional biocompatible fluorescent carboxymethyl cellulose nanoparticles, Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology 2012, 3, 254-261.
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B Sivakumar, D Brahatheeswaran, Y Yoshida, T Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Green synthesis, characterization and in vitro biocompatibility of starch capped PbSe nanoparticles, Advanced Science Letters , 2012, 16, 69-75.
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, D. Brahatheeswaran, T. Fukuda, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Biocompatible fluorescent zein nanoparticles for simultaneous bioimaging and drug delivery application, Advances in Natural Sciences: Nano Science and Nanotechnology, 2012, 3: 025006.
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, T Ukai, D Brahatheeshwaran, Y Yoshida, T Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Biocompatible luminescent jelly quantumdots for bioimaging, Materials Express, 2011, 1: 291-298.
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Y Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Near Infrared Quantum dots for deep tissue imaging, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2010, 397:1417–1435.
D. Brahatheeswaran, V.H. Saino, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar,
Evalutaion of antithrombogenicity and hydrophilicity on zein-SWCNT electrospun fibrous nanocomposite scaffolds. International journal of biomaterials, 2012;2012:345029.
B Dhandayuthapani, A. Mathew, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Y. Nagaoka, K. Venugopal, Y Yoshida, T Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Hybrid fluorescent curcumin loaded zein electrospun nanofibrous scaffold for biomedical applications. Biomedical materials, 2012, 7(4):045001
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Bindhumol I, John RP and Nampoothiri KM,
Evaluation of the Probiotic Characteristics of Newly Isolated Lactic acid Bacteria, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 2008, 151: 244-55.

Manuscripts communicated

Ravindran Girija Aswathy*, B. Sivakumar*, Y. Nagaoka, S. Iwai, T. Hasumura, K. Venugopal, K.Kato, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar, Augmented cellular uptake and antiproliferation against pancreatic cancer cells induced by targeted curcumin and SPION encapsulated PLGA nanoformulation (Materials Express –Revised version submitted after minor revision)
R. Sreejith, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, T. Ukai, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar, Enhanced Biocompatibility of Quantum Dots by Extremophilic Polysaccharide Conjugation for Nontoxic Bioimaging and Clinical Diagnostics (Polymer chemistry -Under review)

Manuscripts under preparation

Ravindran Girija Aswathy*, B. Sivakumar*, Y. Nagaoka, S. Iwai, T. Hasumura, K. Venugopal, K.Kato, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar, Multifunctional hybrid magnetic nanoparticles as theragnostic agents: An ‘all in one’ approach for simultaneous chemotherapeutic, photothermal and magnetic hyperthermia mediated destruction of cancer cells (manuscript under preparation)
B. Sivakumar, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar, Brain Imaging- Brief Review on Recent Technological Innovations (manuscript under preparation)
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, Y. Sakamoto, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar, Targeted NIR QDs for photothermal therapy against cancer and deep tissue imaging in in vivo models (manuscript under preparation)

Book chapter

Nanoparticulate materials for bioimaging’, Book: Nanomaterials and hazard assessment', Aswathy Ravindran Girija*, Srivani V*, D. Sakthi Kumar, ‘Publisher: Educational Book Centre, Mumbai, Editor. Dr. PV. Mohanan

Book under preparation

We are under the preparation of a book with Stanford Singpore. Proposed Title: Fusion of Bio Nano Science to fight against cancer and other diseases Or Bio Nanotechnology to fight against cancer and other diseases. Author(s)/Editor(s): D. Sakthi Kumar, Srivani V., Aswathy R. G.

Conferences; Posters/Oral Presentations

Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Biocompatible nanoparticles for drug delivery- Special Lecture in Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University, Chennai, India. Aug 2013 (Special talk)
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, Y. Sakamoto, Y Yoshida, T Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar, Polymeric nanoparticles conjugated with quantumdots as a potential diagnostic tool for in vitro and in vivo imaging, Japan Tissue Culture Association 86th (JTCA meeting) May 2013, Tsukuba, Japan
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, ‘An effective photothermal therapy against cancer cells and deep tissue imaging with targeted NIR QD’ –Oral presentation under Toxicology Session, in International Conference on safe production and use of nanomaterials, November (2012), Grenoble, France (Oral presentation)
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, Y Nagaoka, Y Yoshida, T Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar, Nir Quantum Dots: Therapeutic Efficacy For Photo-Thermal Cancer Therapy And Deep Tissue Imaging, 3 rd India-Japan Symposium on Frontiers in Science & Technology: Successes & Emerging Challenges, September, (2012), Tokyo, Japan.
B. Sivakumar, Ravindran Girija Aswathy, R. Sreejith, Y. Nagaoka, M. Suzuki, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar, ‚Enhanced Antiproliferation Of Cancer Cells By Biocompatible Multifunctional Microbial Exopolysaccharide Stabilized Magnetic Nanoparticles’, International Conference on safe production and use of nanomaterials, November (2012), Grenoble, France.
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, B. Sivakumar, D. Brahatheeshwaran, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar (2011), Folate conjugated biocompatible fluorescent carboxymethyl cellulose nanoparticles, India-Japan Symposium on Global Challenges in Health and Environment, October 7, Tokyo, Japan.
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Srivani . V, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar (2010) Evaluation of invitro toxicity of biopolymer coated PbSe nanoparticles, International Conference on safe production and use of nanomaterials, November (2010) Maison MINATEC®, Parvis Louis Néel , 38054 Grenoble, France
Ravindran Girija Aswathy, Aby C. P., Sunil Kaul, T. Maekawa, Y. Yoshida,T. Hanajiri, D. Sakthikumar (2009) QUANTUMDOTS: Synthesis and application in gastric cancer, 7th International Symposium on Bioscience and nanotechnology, November 20-21, Hakusan Campus, Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan. p 24
I Bindhumol, RG Aswathy, and K. Madhavan Nampoothiri (2008). Optimization of production medium for exopolysaccharides using a newly isolated Lactobacillus plantarum. International Congress on Bioprocesses in Food Industries, November 6-8, at Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. P 119-120
I Bindhumol, RG Aswathy, K. Madhavan Nampoothiri and Ashok Pandey (2007). Nutraceuticals from lactic acid bacteria having probiotic qualities, International Conference on New Horizons in Biotechnology, November 26-29, Trivandrum, India. p 250
RG Aswathy, I Bindhumol, Rojan P.John, K.Madhavan Nampoothiri and Ashok Pandey (2006). Screening of newly isolated lactic acid bacteria for probiotic application, “Exploring Horizons in biotechnology: a global venture” November 2-4, at Sardar Patel University and Charutar Vidyamandal, Vallabh Vidyanagar –388 120, Gujarat, India. p 250