06/24/10

Research activities

I am presently working as a research professor at Myongji University, South Korea. I have continued my work on biosensors since 2000 when I started my Ph.D. on development of clinical and environmental sensors at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India and had a close collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. During my brief postdoc tenure at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and in about two years as postdoc at Myongji University, South Korea I was engaged in designing portable biosensors for clinical applications, while leading a research team comprising of Ph.D. and undergraduate students. In the span of time I successfully completed a number of academic interest projects on design and development of biosensors (mainly standalone bench-top prototypes) and finding new immobilization matrices and stabilization of biomaterials therein. Those projects include:

•  Development of integrated microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for PCR based detection of cancerous cells and DNA amplification. The miniature microfluidic chip was developed by on-chip-integration of electrochemical cell lysis, CE-AD detector for DNA analysis and ITO microheater based PCR amplification of template DNA.

• Development of capillary electrophoresis amperometric detectors against DNA, dopamine, catechol and endocrine disruptors.

• Development of PDMS based micropump and microvalve for integration onto PCR lab-on-a-chip.

• Development of optical (methyl parathion), potentiometric (urea), amperometric (glucose and catalase), conductometric (urea) and capacitive (creatine kinase -MB) biosensors.

• Immobilization and stabilization of enzymes and microbial cells in electrochemically and radiation polymerized synthetic polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polyHEMA and copolymers of polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol.

• Fabrication of computer controlled dissolved oxygen meter, sensitive to parts per trillion (ppt), for assay of catalase in pathological samples, cell and tissue preparations and for developing multi-purpose benchtop glucometer. The DO meter comprised of on-shelf DO probe and op-amp based electronic assembly housed in shielded compartment and the computer interface was developed using Labview software. The instrument is presently operational at Enzyme and Microbial Technology section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India and is used for academic research purposes.

• Fabrication of silicon based interdigitated capacitive biosensor (creatine kinase-MB): The EIS capacitor structure was developed at Centre of Excellence in Nanoelectronics, Department of Electronic Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India using microfabrication technique. It was used for capacitive estimation of purified creatine kinase–MB enzyme, a biomarker for predicting heart attack.

• Development of computer controlled pH meter, sensitive to ninth decimal of pH, for standalone potentiometric clinical urea biosensor. The pH meter comprised of commercial pH probe and op-amp based electronic assembly housed in shielded box and the computer interface was developed using Labview software. This instrument is presently operational at Enzyme and Microbial Technology section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India and is used for academic research purposes.

• Interfacing of analogue electronics to digital environment using LabView based virtual instruments for performing signal acquisition, conditioning and analysis

I am also engaged with molecular biology; clinical biochemistry and microbiological analysis; isolation and maintenance of all cell and tissue types and production, characterization and purification of enzymes. The knowledge in diversified subjects helps me in undertaking complex projects such as biosensors, bioinstrumentation and microfluidics.

Academic achievements  

 During my tenure as Assistant Professor in School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, India, I have been instrumental in formalizing MoU (memorandum of understanding) for collaboration between Nano-Bio Research Centre of Myongji University, South Korea and School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. The second step was to ensure training of KIIT School of Biotechnology students at the Korean Research centre.

Further, my Biosensor and Bioelectronics research group at KIIT University and Nano Electronics and System Laboratory, Myongji University, South Korea formalized a mutual MoA (memorandum of agreement) to expand the scientific collaboration and exchange of faculty and students. I was subsequently invited to South Korean lab as visiting research professor to extend my help in projects related to our common interest.

Entrepreneurship experience

 Apart from academics, I also obtained a support fund for entrepreneurship from Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. This fund is being utilized in running my proprietorship company M/S. Agrosense, whose objectives are to develop and market handheld sensor for soil testing. The prototype for the product has already been developed and being tested by company employees.

Teaching Experience

 Subjects taught (Masters/postgraduate level)

 Theory: Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, Food and Industrial Microbiology, Applied & Advanced Biotechnology

 Laboratory: Industrial and Environmental Microbiology Lab, Chemical and pharmaceuticals biotechnology lab, Industrial Biotechnology Lab, Molecular Biology Lab, Computation Lab, Animal and plant biotechnology Lab.

Research projects guided (Ph.D./PG level)

 The Ph.D. topics under co-guidance include:

• Jung-Min Kim: Label-free DNA hybridization sensors using pentacene thin film transistor

• A.T.M. Kamrul Islam: Microfluidic Biosensor for the Detection of α-Amyloid Based on Cylic Voltammetry

 The P.G. topics guiding include:

• Rohit Chand: Fabrication of integrated microchip for cell lysis, PCR and DNA amplicon detection

 The P.G. topics co-guiding include:

• You Cheol Jang: Microchip capillary electrophoresis devices for genetic analysis

 The P.G. topics co-guided include:

• Gi-Sung Joo: Bio-microchip with amperometric and capacitometric  method for detection of DNA fragments

• Girish Bhanware: Screen printed carbon electrodes for development of integrated lab-on-a-chip

• Gyu-Sik Ra: Development of PDMS based integrated microchip for cell lysis and PCR

• Kon Ha: Miniaturization of a capillary electrophoresis microchip for the sensing of bio-molecules

• Kwang-Su Kim: Fabrication of gas sensors with nanoimprinted Pd-TiO₂ layer

I worked under guidance of following eminent scientists

Prof. Yong-Sang Kim, Department of Nanoscience and Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin, South Korea

Prof. Dr. S. F. D'Souza, Associate Director, Bioscience Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, E-mail: sfdsouza [at] barc.gov.in Phone: +91-22-2559-3632
Prof. A. Q. Contractor, Head, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, E-mail: aqcontractor [at] iitb.ac.in Phone: +91-22-2576-7151

Dr. S. K. Apte, Associate Director (B), Bioscience Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 400085. E-mail: aptesk [at] barc.gov.in Phone: +91-22-25595342
Prof. V. R. Rao, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India

Prof. S. Mukherji, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering Group, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, E-mail: mukherji [at] iitb.ac.in Phone: +91-22-2576-7767

Dr. (Mrs.) Anita Topkar, Scientist, Electronics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, E-mail: anita [at] barc.gov.in Phone: +91-22-7652-2059
Dr. (Mrs.) Aruna Bhatia, Head, Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab
Prof. Chanchal Mitra, Department of Chemistry, Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Prof. Pinaki Sar, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal 

And of course with many other scientists and engineers, who happens to be my colleagues and mentor and guide on several occasions.