Project Themes explored in “JILabs”
(i) Multifunctional nanoparticles for detection and imaging: Assembly of magnetic nanoparticles onto the ends and ends and sides of gold nanorods for bimodal imaging, photothermal therapy, and targeted drug delivery are explored. We are also exploring silica particles for targeting and drug delivery in animal models.
(ii) Single Molecule tools for Epigenetics: We are collaborating with Dr.Kirchmaier’s group in Biochemistry to develop single molecule platforms comprising of FCS, FLCS, and FRET-FLIM to detect histone modifications and its relationship to gene expression and DNA methylation to understand chromatin folding.
(iii) Single cell mechanistic studies using SERS: We set to explore chemical Imaging of cellular structures using biodegradable SERS containers and bioneedles etc
(iv) Dynamic SERS mapping of Phosphorylation: We collaborate with Dr. Larker’s group in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology to develop SERS strategies for ABL kinase phosphorylation in living cells.
v) Raman Chemical Mapping of Chromate Uptake, Localization and Reduction in Remediating Bacterium: We are developing a novel single-cell Raman imaging platform and fluorescence lifetime imaging techniques for dynamic monitoring of bioremediation pockets in microorganisms to address a variety of mechanistic questions related to biological reduction of heavy metals, bioremediation efficacy and the fate of metal contaminants in the environment.
(vi) Single molecule tracking and intracellular kinetics using Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and FLIM: We study the oligomerization and kinetics of Toll-like receptors and G-protein receptors for drug response.
(vii) Pathogen biosensors using SERS and Multitasking nanoparticles: An approach to detect pathogenic bacteria using nanoparticles in conjunction with a portable spectrometer is explored for onsite detection of multiple pathogens down to a few cells (<10 CFU/ml).
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