Dreaming Big About Small - Chinmay Soman's Nanotechnology Research Page

Research

I am currently working on two research projects involving nanoparticles and nanoparticle based methods for early detection of cancers.

Cancers are a major cause of death in the developed world. However, most cancers can be treated effectively - dramatically reducing mortality rates - when they are diagnosed early^{[1, 2]}. Early diagnosis implies catching the primary cancer before it has started metastasizing, i.e. spreading to other locations. Metastasized cancers are very hard to treat - requiring extensive chemotherapy, and have a high chance of relapsing. Hence, earlier the detection of cancer, better the chance of successfully curing or containing it. Ideally, you would get screened for all cancers routinely - similar to yearly mammograms or prostate exams.

For my PhD research, I have invented and developed a novel method for detecting cancer marker proteins at extremely low concentrations (currently femto-molar). In addition to routine screening in a rapid, cost effective and automated manner, this method could be used for individualization of the treatment regime, and for frequent monitoring of cancer. This method can also be utilized for highly sensitive detection of other analytes - such as viruses and toxins. The first paper demonstrating the feasibility of this technology has been published in Langmuir. This paper was featured on Nanowerk.com and in Biophotonics News. Two more papers describing further details of this technology are currently in preperation.

A US patent application and an international patent application for this technology were filed in April 2008. We presented a business plan based on this technology at Nano Nexus 2007, winning the 2^nd runner up prize, as well as at the Tennessee Biotechnology Association's business plan competition, winning the 1^st prize.

The other project involves development of magnetic nanoparticle composites which can be used to increase the sensitivity of MRI detection of cancers. These nanoparticles can also be modified for use as targeted therapeutic agents. A provisional patent application for this technology was filed in June 2008.

Association

I'm a graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Program in Materials Science at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Todd Giorgio, at the Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Departments, is my PhD advisor.

Much of my current experimental work is conducted at the VUIIS, in the VU Medical Center, and in the VINSE facilities.

Dr. David Cliffel, at the Department of Chemistry, was my previous advisor [May 2003- May 2004].

Dr. Murali Sastry, at the Nanomaterials Science and Technology division, National Chemical Laboratory, India, was my undergraduate research advisor [June 2000 - June 2002]. Since 2005, he is the Chief Scientist at Tata Chemicals Innovation Center.

I am an engineer (BE Metallurgy, with Distinction) from the College of Engineering, Pune, a top 20 engineering school in India.

Projects

Currently I am working on synthesizing several kinds of nanoparticles modified with biologically active molecules, to be used for cancer detection, imaging, and targeted drug delivery.

For my master's project, I have prepared and characterized conjugate of monolayer protected gold nanoclusters and cytochrome-c, while maintaining the electrochemical activity of the protein.

In my undergraduate years, I worked on several research projects including:

Fungal-protease/gold nanoparticle composite
Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles
Multi-component lipid films (Langmuir-Blodgett and vacuum deposited)

Extracurricular

I am the founder and moderator of an entrepreneurship and investment related yahoogroup intended mainly for our high school group, most of whom are now engineers. Feel free to browse the links section to get an idea of what we've been up to.

Research	back to top
I am currently working on two research projects involving nanoparticles and nanoparticle based methods for early detection of cancers. Cancers are a major cause of death in the developed world. However, most cancers can be treated effectively - dramatically reducing mortality rates - when they are diagnosed early^{[1, 2]}. Early diagnosis implies catching the primary cancer before it has started metastasizing, i.e. spreading to other locations. Metastasized cancers are very hard to treat - requiring extensive chemotherapy, and have a high chance of relapsing. Hence, earlier the detection of cancer, better the chance of successfully curing or containing it. Ideally, you would get screened for all cancers routinely - similar to yearly mammograms or prostate exams. For my PhD research, I have invented and developed a novel method for detecting cancer marker proteins at extremely low concentrations (currently femto-molar). In addition to routine screening in a rapid, cost effective and automated manner, this method could be used for individualization of the treatment regime, and for frequent monitoring of cancer. This method can also be utilized for highly sensitive detection of other analytes - such as viruses and toxins. The first paper demonstrating the feasibility of this technology has been published in Langmuir. This paper was featured on Nanowerk.com and in Biophotonics News. Two more papers describing further details of this technology are currently in preperation. A US patent application and an international patent application for this technology were filed in April 2008. We presented a business plan based on this technology at Nano Nexus 2007, winning the 2^nd runner up prize, as well as at the Tennessee Biotechnology Association's business plan competition, winning the 1^st prize. The other project involves development of magnetic nanoparticle composites which can be used to increase the sensitivity of MRI detection of cancers. These nanoparticles can also be modified for use as targeted therapeutic agents. A provisional patent application for this technology was filed in June 2008.
Association	back to top
I'm a graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Program in Materials Science at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Todd Giorgio, at the Biomedical and Chemical Engineering Departments, is my PhD advisor. Much of my current experimental work is conducted at the VUIIS, in the VU Medical Center, and in the VINSE facilities. Dr. David Cliffel, at the Department of Chemistry, was my previous advisor [May 2003- May 2004]. Dr. Murali Sastry, at the Nanomaterials Science and Technology division, National Chemical Laboratory, India, was my undergraduate research advisor [June 2000 - June 2002]. Since 2005, he is the Chief Scientist at Tata Chemicals Innovation Center. I am an engineer (BE Metallurgy, with Distinction) from the College of Engineering, Pune, a top 20 engineering school in India.
Projects	back to top
Currently I am working on synthesizing several kinds of nanoparticles modified with biologically active molecules, to be used for cancer detection, imaging, and targeted drug delivery. For my master's project, I have prepared and characterized conjugate of monolayer protected gold nanoclusters and cytochrome-c, while maintaining the electrochemical activity of the protein. In my undergraduate years, I worked on several research projects including: Fungal-protease/gold nanoparticle composite Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles Multi-component lipid films (Langmuir-Blodgett and vacuum deposited)
Extracurricular	back to top
I am the founder and moderator of an entrepreneurship and investment related yahoogroup intended mainly for our high school group, most of whom are now engineers. Feel free to browse the links section to get an idea of what we've been up to.