Nithyadevi Duraisamy

• Project Lead 1: Knee Osteoarthritis in Musculoskeletal Repair and Regeneration
  Project Establishment: Initiated and led a project targeting knee osteoarthritis through advanced tissue engineering and regenerative medicine techniques.
  Focus Areas: Concentrated on the repair and regeneration of the cartilage and menisci layers in the knee.
  Innovative Strategies: Developed and implemented novel approaches for restoring musculoskeletal function and alleviating pain.
  Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate diverse expertise and push the boundaries of current therapeutic approaches.
  Patient Outcomes: Aimed to improve patient outcomes by translating cutting-edge research into practical applications for knee osteoarthritis treatment.
• Project Lead 2: Vaccine Prediction for Bovine Coronavirus
• Project Establishment: Initiated and led a project focused on predicting and developing vaccines for Bovine coronavirus.
  Vaccine Prediction Tools: Utilized advanced computational tools such as Vaxijen, ToxinPred, PSIPRED, IEDB, ImmSim, and AlphaFold2 Colab to identify potential vaccine candidates.
  In-Silico Analysis: Conducted extensive in-silico analysis to identify epitopes and model their interactions with MHC class II molecules.
  Collaborative Development: Worked closely with a multidisciplinary team to validate computational predictions through experimental assays.
  Outcome: Aimed to accelerate the development of effective vaccines to combat Bovine coronavirus, improving livestock health and preventing economic losses in the agricultural sector.

Research Experience

Research Grant Support: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21)

• Project Focus: Investigated electrically stimulated ionically conducting polymers as degradable biological grafts, in contrast to synthetic and non-degradable biological grafts.

Specialization Areas:

• Ionically Conducting Biopolymers: Advanced knowledge in the development and application of biopolymers for medical use.
• Electrical and Mechanical Stimulation: Pioneered techniques to stimulate tissue, bone, and nerve healing.
• Targeted Drug Therapy: Developed methods for targeted drug delivery through 3D imprinting and electrospinning.
• Technological Expertise:3D Imprinting: Leveraged 3D printing technology to create scaffolds and grafts with high precision.
• Electrospinning: Fabricated nanoscale fibers suitable for tissue engineering applications.
• Electrochemical Theory: Applied electrochemical principles to improve the effectiveness of biopolymers.
  

• Innovative Teaching Techniques: Proficient in using lectures, media, group discussions, and role-playing to create an engaging and effective learning environment.
• Student-Centered Approach: Experienced in working with students individually and in small groups to reinforce concepts and enhance academic performance.
• Commitment to Student Success: Dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals through tailored support and encouragement.

Title: In-vivo and In-vitro Studies on Bio-compatible Pure and Drug-loaded Biopolymer Induced Silver/Titanium Dioxide Core-shell Nanoparticles for Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy

• Polymeric Induced Metal/Metal Oxide Platforms:Designed and developed polymeric induced metal/metal oxide platforms to investigate the pathophysiology of the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus.
  Applied these platforms for bioimaging and targeted drug delivery to breast cancer tissues.
  
• Charge Manipulation with Biosurfactant Polymers:Utilized biosurfactant polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium alginate to create positive and negative charges.
  Attached anticancer drugs between the metal/metal oxide nano core-shell layers for enhanced drug delivery.
  
• Development of Anticancer Drug-loaded Nanoparticles:Conducted unique research on anticancer drug-loaded core-shell nanoparticles (nanospheres) using Letrozole and Doxorubicin.
  Employed the Stober chemical method for nanoparticle synthesis.
  Conducted in-vivo studies using chemically induced animal models (Xenograft studies) with SD-type rats to evaluate the efficacy and targeting capabilities of the developed nanoparticles.
  

• Analytical Instrumentation Proficiency:
  Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM):
  - Trained in the operation and analysis of samples using AFM.
  - Evaluated surface topography and material properties with high precision.
  Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (UV-Vis):
  - Operated UV-Vis spectroscopy to analyze sample absorbance and concentration.
  - Interpreted spectral data to determine the optical properties of materials.
  Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR):
  - Conducted FTIR analysis to identify chemical bonds and functional groups in samples.
  - Interpreted IR spectra for material characterization.
  Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX):
  - Operated SEM for high-resolution imaging of sample surfaces.
  - Performed EDAX to determine the elemental composition of samples.
  - Evaluated and interpreted SEM and EDAX data for comprehensive material analysis.