Dr.B.Sivakumar Profile

Dr. Sivakumar Balasubramanian,

Bio-Nano Electronics Research Center,
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary New Science,
Toyo University,
2100, Kujirai, Kawagoe,
Saitama 350 8585, Japan.

Educational Qualification:

Ph.D. Bio Nano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Japan, 2013.
M.S. Biotechnology, Manonmanium Sundaranar University, India, 2005.
B.S. Biochemistry, Madras University, India, 2002.

Professional History:

Post Doctoral Researcher, Bio Nano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Japan, Oct 2013- till date.
Research Assistant, Bio Nano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Japan, Oct 2010 - Sept 2013.
Microbiologist, Alchem International Limited, Haryana, India, December 2006 to May 2009.
Microbiologist, Shree Aqua Products, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, October 2005 to November 2006.

Awards and Honors:

Recipient of Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship (Apr 2012 – Sept 2013).
Recipient of JASSO Scholarship (Apr 2011- March 2012).
Second Rank Holder for M.S Biotechnology.
Qualified Japanese language exam, N3 Level conducted by Japanese Foundation and The Japan Educational Exchanges and Services.

Title of thesis:

Multifunctional biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles as theragnostic agents: applications in cancer nanotechnology.

Abstract of thesis:

Within the last two decades a new emphasis has been instigated to control and to better understand the nanometer-size objects due to the advent of a new interdisciplinary field- Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have garnered a lot of attention in biomedical and industrial applications owing to their biocompatibility, ease of biofunctionalization and its inherent magnetic properties. MNPs are of great relevance for researchers from a wide range of disciplines, such as magnetic fluids, data storage, catalysis, and bioapplications. The magnetic properties possessed by MNPs add a new dimension where they can be easily manipulated upon the application of an external magnetic field.

The central hypothesis of this thesis is development of biocompatible MNPs and its biological theragnostic applications. We enhanced the biocompatibility of MNPs by efficiently coating with different biopolymers (Carboxymethyl cellulose, bacterial exopolysaccharides and PLGA). The multifunctionality to polymer coated MNP was rendered by efficiently attaching functional groups for biorecognition by cancer cells. The magnetic functionality has been exploited to render the MNP a diagnostic tool and targetable nanodrug carrier for cancer therapy. In short the extraordinary properties of multifunctional MNPs such as the application of the same for magnetic targeting, controlled drug delivery and in magnetic hyperthermia were investigated. The exceptional nanocombination of MNPs, drugs (5-FU, Gemcitabine and curcumin), targeting ligands (Folate, Transferrin, Anti HER2 antibody and AS1411 aptamer), and imaging agents (FITC, SYPRO ruby, Curcumin) permitted the nanoconjugate to be located within the cancer cells and triggered the release of drugs to target cells, thus facilitating imaging to be combined with efficient therapy. Magnetic- based theragnostic NPs are of significant interest in cancer nanotechnology owing to the abundant advantages these materials possess in the presence of a magnetic field.

Current area of research:

Development of highly efficient magnetic nanoparticles as theragnostic agents.
Theragnostic nanoparticles are promising therapeutic model; a treatment strategy, which merges therapeutics and diagnostics strategies. It takes advantage of the ability of nanoplatform to incorporate both therapeutic and imaging functions. Theragnostics encompasses a complete range of subjects, including molecular imaging, personalized medicine, and pharmacogenomics to promote effectual targeted therapies. The advantage in developing such function-integrated moites is that several nano-platforms are by themselves, imaging agents. For example, magnetic nanoparticles (iron oxide nanoparticles), semiconductor quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles and polymeric nanoparticles, have been researched very well in the imaging scenario and are promising nano-candidate for nano-assenbly of theragnostic nanoparticles. Our research focuses on the development strategies and the potential applications of emerging theragnostic nanosystems in cancer biology.

List of Publications:

Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. 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
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, 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, R.G. 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)
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, Y. Nagaoka, M. Suzuki, T. Fukuda, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. 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
R.G. Aswathy, Balasubramanian 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.
R.G. Aswathy, Balasubramanian 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.
R.G. Aswathy, Balasubramanian 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
R.G. Aswathy, Balasubramanian Sivakumar, T Ukai, D Brahatheeshwaran, Y Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Biocompatible luminescent jelly quantumdots for bioimaging, Materials Express, 2011, 1: 291-298
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, 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 –Minor revision -submitted)
Manuscripts communicated
R. Sreejith, R. G. Aswathy, Balasubramanian Sivakumar, T. Ukai, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar,
Enhanced Biocompatibility of Quantum Dots by Extremophilic Polysaccharide Conjugation for Nontoxic Bioimaging and Clinical Diagnostics (Molecular Biosystem -Under review)
Manuscript Under Preparations
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, 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)
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthi Kumar,
Brain Imaging- Brief Review on Recent Technological Innovations (manuscript under preparation)
Book chapters
Vivekanandan P, Balasubramanian Sivakumar, D Sakthikumar,
Imaging in neurodegenerative diseases, Molecular Imaging, (to be submitted); Oxford University Press.

Conferences / Posters Presented:

Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, Y. Nagaoka, K. Venugopal, Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar
‘Cancer therapeutic approach accelerated via magnetic hyperthermia by dual drug loaded, transferrin and folate decorated polymeric nanoformulation’ (Poster) , The 11th International Symposium on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, November (2013), Hakusan,Tokyo, Japan.
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, Y Nagaoka, Y Yoshida, T Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar (Poster)
‘An Approach towards Cancer therapeutics with targeted Curcumin loaded PLGA magnetic nanoparticles’, 3 rd India-Japan Symposium on Frontiers in Science & Technology: Successes & Emerging Challenges, September (2012), Tokyo, Japan.
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, R. Sreejith, Y Nagaoka, Y Yoshida, T Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar (Poster)
‘Microbial exopolysaccharide stabilized magnetic nanoparticles as efficient theragnostic agents aganist cancer’ BNERC and IJAA Joint International Symposium on Advanced Science and Technology, December (2012), Hakusan Campus, Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy, R. Sreejith, Y. Nagaoka, M. Suzuki, Y.Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar (Poster)
‘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
Balasubramanian Sivakumar, R.G. Aswathy Y. Yoshida, T. Maekawa, D. Sakthikumar (Poster)
‘Synthesis and characterization of biocompatible carboxymethyl cellulose coated magnetic nanoparticles’, India-Japn Symposium on Global Challenges in Health and Environment, October (2011) , Tokyo, Japan.