Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT Delhi

On‐going Programmes in Life Sciences at IIT Delhi and Vision for Future

Prof. Surendra Prasad, Director

Prof. Saroj Mishra, Department of Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology

Prof. Harpal Singh, Centre For Biomedical Engineering

Prof. C. S. Dey, School of Biological Sciences

Prof. B. Jayaram, Chemistry, Supercomputing Facility & School of Biological Sciences

1

Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT Delhi

Evolution of Bio‐Engineering & Biosciences at IIT Delhi

1969: Centre for Biochemical Engineering  (BERC)

1971: Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CBME)  (Jointly by IIT & AIIMS) 

1980: Biochemistry Cell 

1989: Department of Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology (DBEB) 

2002: Supercomputing Facility for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology  (SCFBio)

2008: School of Biological Sciences  (SBS)

2

Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT DelhiTeaching and R & D Focus

Departmet of  Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology (DBEB)HRD Programmes: Dual Degree B.Tech & M. Tech. & Ph.D. (supported by DBT) Research Focus: Industrial Biotechnology, Primary & Secondary Metabolites, Process Optimization & Scale up, Bioseparation, Bioreactor design, Bioorganic Synthesis, Bioinformatics

Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CBME)HRD Programmes:  Ph.D.Research Focus: Medical Devices & Diagnostics, Drug Delivery Systems, Nano‐medicine, TissueEngineering, Implantology

Biochemistry HRD Programmes: M.Sc. (as an integral part of M.Sc.Chemistry) & Ph.D.Research Focus: Applied Enzymology, Bioseparation, Biochemistry of Extremophiles

Supercomputing Facility for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (SCFBio) HRD Programmes:  Short‐term Training CoursesResearch Focus: Computational Genome Analysis, Protein Tertiary Structure Prediction & Computer Aided Drug Design

School of Biological Sciences (SBS) HRD Programmes:  Ph.D.Research Focus: Infectious Diseases & Non‐communicable Disorders

3

Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT Delhi

Faculty Strength (50+)DBEB: 16+ ( Prof. Sunil Nath, Prof. G.P. Agarwal, Prof. V.S. Bisaria, Prof. Subhash Chand, Prof. Saroj Mishra, Prof. SN.Mukhopadhyay; Prof. T.R. Sreekrishnan, Prof. AK Srivastava, Prof. P.K. Roychoudhury, Dr. Vikram Sahai, Dr. Prashant Mishra, Dr. Atul Narang, Dr. D. Sundar, Dr. Ravikrishnan Elangovan, Dr. Ritu Kulshreshta, Dr.  Shilpi Sharma) 

CBME:  7 (Prof. Alok Ray, Prof. Harpal Singh, Prof. Sneh Anand, Prof. Nivedita Gohil, Prof. S.M.K. Rahman, Dr. Veena Koul, Dr. A. Mishra) 

Chemistry: 10 (Prof. M.N. Gupta, Prof. B. Jayaram, Dr. Sunil Khare, Prof. P. S. Pandey, Prof. NalinPant, Dr. Shashank Deep, Dr. Pramit Chowdhury, Dr. V. Haridas, Dr. N. G. Ramesh, Prof. H.M. Chawla)

SBS: 8 (Prof. C.S. Dey, Prof. James Gomes, Dr. Aditya Mittal, Dr. Archana Chugh, Dr. BiswajitKundu, Dr. Manidipa Banerjee, Dr. Tapan Choudhury, Dr. Vivekanandan Perumal)

Other Departments: 15+ [Prof. S.N. Maheshwari (CSE), Prof. M. Balakrishnan (CSE), Prof. L.K. Das (IDDC), Prof. S. Pattanayek (CHE), Prof. S.D. Joshi (EE), Dr. S. Ghosh (HUSS), Prof N. Bhatnagar(Mech),  Dr. P.M. Pandey (Mech), Prof. D.K. Pandya (Phy), Prof. B. Gupta (Tex), Dr. S. Ghosh(Tex), Dr. B. Satapathy (CPSE), Dr. S. N. Naik (RDAT), Dr. A. Mullick (RDAT), Dr. Satyawati Sharma (RDAT) ]

4

Research focus at DBEB

Bioreactor Design, Process Optimization and Scale‐up Enzyme Transformations (Lipase, β‐glucosidases)

Upstream: Microbial physiology, Protein chemistry and Protein engineering, Cloning and expression in E. coli and P. pastoris.

Bioprocesses: Optimization, Modeling, Design of bioreactors for microbial, plant and animal cell fermentations.

Downstream: Membrane based, Chromatography based, Aqueous two‐phase based Separation

Scale‐up: Bacterial, fungal, Plant cells

(Primary and secondary metabolites, Sugars as nutraceuticals and drugs,Recombinant HSA and interferon, Waste water treatment,biopesticides/biofertilizers)

5

Seeds of P. hexandrum

Germinated seedling

Callus culture

Suspension culture

Batch cultivation

Batch cultivation with fluorescence probe

Continuous cultivation with cell retention

Setric impeller

Plant Cell Culture Development and Large Scale Cultivation

Conessine, Azadirectin,Taxol, Artemisin

6

Recent Patents

Patents  (U.S. and Indian)1. T7 RNA polymerase based novel Corynebacterium vectors(JKD, US patent)2. Process development for treatment of high strength wastes(TRS)3. Production of L‐lactic acid (PKRC)4. Use of soluble lignin extract for production of hydrolytic enzymes(VS,SM,VSB)5. A combination treatment for decolorization/detoxification of textile 

wastes(TRS,MC,SM).6. Development of a suitable bioreactor system for azadirectin production by hairy 

roots of Azadirecta indica (AKS,VSB,SS).7. Plane cell/hairy root cultivation using inert solid substrate (AKS,SS,SG).8. A process for enhanced production of bioactive compounds (VSB,AKS,AB,AJ,NG).

7

Technology Transfers and Consultancies

1. PenG acylase (Ranbaxy)

2. Process for animal feed (Tetragon Chemie, Bangalore)3. Biopesticides/Biofertilizers (Panacea Biotech) 4. Xylanase for pulp and paper (International Panacea Ltd.).5. An integrated process for production of urokinase by mammalian cell lines (in 

process with BCIL)6. Recombinant Therapeutics (in process with Panacea Biotech)

8

Future Plans

Research Front:• Modification of Glycolytic pathway, Process optimization and scale up of 

Pichia pastoris for therapeutics.

• Novel Enzymes (Laccases, Glycosyl Hydrolases)

• Plant‐microbe interactions, Regulation by RNA

• Molecular motors

• Anaerobic and aerobic processes for waste treatment

Infrastructure front:• Up‐gradation of Bioprocess Facility to state‐of‐the‐art centre

• Integrated Downstream Processing Facility for Proteins

• Protein Engineering Core Laboratory

• P2 Lab for Recombinant Therapeutic Protein Production

9

Medical diagnosticsPathogenic bacteria detection, Early cancer detection, Bioactive ABO bloodgrouping card, Metaland Iron measurement in biological fluids, Affordable and non‐invasive glucose monitoringsystems, Hormone detection in body fluids

Nanomedicine/Drug delivery systemsBiodegradable nanoparticle based drug delivery systems for diabetes and frostbite, nanoparticulatesystem for macrophage and cancer targeting, Polymeric antimicrobial agents for sterilization anddisinfection, Intranasal vaccine delivery

Tissue EngineeringPolymeric scaffold for cell growth and toxicity testing

ImplantologySoft and hard tissue implants, antimicrobial bone cement

Medical Devices and BioinstrumentationElectrically enhanced transdermal drug delivery systems,Low cost 12 lead ECG with telemetriccapability, Wireless ECG systems, intelligent above knee and below knee prosthesis

Research and Development Focus

Centre for Biomedical Engineering

10

S. No. Name of the instrument /product Name of Person Who Developed

Patent

1. Electrooculogram based Multi-mode Controller

Sneh Anand, Jayashree Santhosh 14606/DEL/2007

2. Device for External Counter Pulsation Therapy

Sneh Anand 2117/DEL/2008

3. Zig-G, A Wireless ECG system Sneh Anand, Abhinav, Meghna 683/DEL/2009

4. Bioactive ABO Blood grouping Card Harpal Singh 239/DEL/ 2005

5. A Pneumatic Damper Controlled AK Prosthesis

Sneh Anand, Manoj Soni, S. Maij

886/DEL/2009

6. Fluorescence based sensing of myoglobin and process thereof

Nivedita K. Gohil 2294 DEL 2007

7. A test kit and method for measurement of metals in biological fluids

Nivedita K. Gohil 2713 DEL 2008

8. Novel Clinical Kit to estimate iron overload in humans

Nivedita K. Gohil PCT/IN2009/000696

9. Composition of oral insulin delivery of therapeutic agent and processes thereof

Harpal Singh 1437/DEL/2006

10. A topical formulation for prevention and management of peripheral vascular diseases and a process of preparation thereof

Harpal Singh 1878/DEL/2009

Patents

11

S. No.

Technology /product Concerned Faculty Company

1. Electrically enhanced transdermal Drug Delivery System

Veena Koul,Sneh Anand

TROIKA Ahmedabad

2. Abdominal Stapler Dr. Anurag Srivastava,Sneh Anand

Johnsons & Johnsons, Mumbai

3. Antimicrobial acrylic bone Cement for fixation of Hip and Knee Joints

Harpal Singh XL- Orthomed,Faridabad

4. Heat sealable coatings for industrial and medical packagings

Harpal Singh Kumar Printers , Okhla, New Delhi ,

5. Immobilization of aminoacylase on functionalized acrylics for production of

6- aminopencillinic acid from pencillin.

Harpal Singh and S.Chand Ranbaxy Ltd. , Gurgaon, Haryana,

7. Bioactive ABO blood grouping card Harpal Singh Span Diagnostics, Ahmadabad (Under negotiation)

Know‐how transfer

12

Cellular fluorescence  imaging (MCF‐7 cell line) with folated & non folated CdSe/CdS/ZnS‐MPA quantum dots

1 hr (folated) 4 hr (folated)

1 hr (non-folated) 4 hr (non-folated)13

0.000

20.000

40.000

60.000

80.000

100.000

120.000

3.38 6.75 12.50 25.00

%Vi

abili

ty

Conc. (pmol/well)

In-Vitro toxicity studies of Q.D.'s by XTT assay

CdTe CdSe/Cds/ZnS

40.000

50.000

60.000

70.000

80.000

90.000

100.000

10µg (25pmol of Q.D.'s ) 20µg (25pmol of Q.D.'s ) 40µg (25pmol of Q.D.'s ) 80µg (25pmol of Q.D.'s )

% viability

Conc. (µg/well)

In‐Vitro toxicity studies of Polymeric silica nanoparticles by XTT assay

In‐Vitro toxicity studies of quantum dots and quantum dots Doped polymeric silica nanoparticles for cancer 

detection

14

Synthesis of super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and their evaluation for as MRI contrast agent and hyperthermia studies

SQUID analysis of Iron oxide NP's

‐5.00E‐03

‐4.00E‐03

‐3.00E‐03

‐2.00E‐03

‐1.00E‐03

0.00E+00

1.00E‐03

2.00E‐03

3.00E‐03

4.00E‐03

5.00E‐03

‐1.50E+04 ‐1.00E+04 ‐5.00E+03 0.00E+00 5.00E+03 1.00E+04 1.50E+04

Magnetic Field (Oe)

Mom

ent (e

mu)

15

CELLULAR INTERNALIZATION STUDIES OF FOLIATED IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES

1 hr 2 hr 4 hr 6 hr

1 hr 2 hr 4 hr 6 hr

SPIO‐FA

SPIO

16

Cellular Interaction studies of SPIO’s

Time dependent cell intraction studies of iron oxide NP's

-20.00

10.00

40.00

70.00

100.00

130.00

160.00

30 60 120 240 360 480 720

Time point

Iron

conc

/cel

l(pg)

SPIO-FA (NP's) SPIO (NP's) FA(TRTD) SPIO-FA

17

Antimicrobial Polymers  (Sutures, Bone cement and water disinfection)

Modified Suture(3rd Day)

Commercially Available 

Unmodified Suture

(3rd Day)

γ Rays / plasma exposure

O2

OOH

OOH

PP Matrix

Grafted PP Suture

Monomer(Acrylic Acid) N2 

60° CNH3

Drug Drug

NH3+ +

Drug immobilized PP suture

18

BIOACTIVE BLOOD GROUPING CARD

Patent  No. 239/DEL/2005Best Project Award in I2Tech 2005

Technology is ready for transfer and DST has  approved the funding  for multicentric clinical trials

19

In vivo evaluation studies of biodegradable nanoparticle based Parenteral depot of Insulin(single dose) in Diabetic 

rabbits

20

Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT Delhi

Biochemistry1. Crosslinking for preparing Elisa conjugates & protein stabilization2. Bioseparation in the context of proteomics3. Efficient Biocatalyst design for low water media & MediumEngineering4. Enzyme based routes for Biodiesel propagation5. Efficient Biocatalyst Design for Biomass conversion inclusive ofmicrowave assisted pretreatment of cellulose, starch etc.6. Novel microbe based Genes & Enzymes for Food Bioprocesses(Detoxification & Value Addition)7. Chemical coatings in cosmetics and food sector for improvedlongevity

21

ChemGenome2.0

From Gene to Drug : The Dream @ SCFBio

Tertiary Structure

Sanjeevini

Genome

DNA

Protein

Drug

BhageerathSEEARTINSCIENCE……

Primary Sequence

RNA

22

SBS IITD 23

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

• Vision: To become the pioneers of modern interdisciplinary biologicalsciences by integrating emerging disciplines with biologicalsciences, and to nurture and sustain a vibrant comprehensiveprogramme in research and instruction.

• Mission:Promoting goal‐oriented innovative interdisciplinary researchby interfacing modern biology with applied engineeringsciences to address problems affecting human health andwelfare, and training scholars to be the next generationscientists

Focus: Infectious diseases & Noncommunicable disorders

23

Faculty and Expertise

Aditya MittalPhD: Drexel University; PDF: NIH

Kinetics and self assembly in biological systems.

Archana Chugh PhD: Delhi University; PDF: Lethbridge Research Centre

Cell penetrating peptides, Marine bioprospecting

Bishwajit Kundu PhD: IMTECH; PDF: Case Western

Protein misfolding and diseases, protein engineering

Chinmoy S. DeyPhD: Jadavpur University; PDF: CalTech & Baylor College of Medicine

Diabetes and infectious diseases

James Gomes PhD: Tulane; Industry: Process Service Inc, USA and Larsen & Toubro

Systems Biology

Contd.

24

Faculty and Expertise

B. Jayaram PhD: City Univ NY; PDF: Columbia University

Computational Biology

Manidipa Banerjee PhD, UCSD; PDF: Scripps Research Institute

Viral diseases, virus-based nanoparticles

Tapan K. Chaudhuri PhD; Bose Institute; PDF: University of Tokyo and Yale University

Protein folding and molecular chaperone

Vivekanandan PerumalPhD: CMC; PDF: Johns Hopkins

Infectious diseases and cancer biology

25

Research : Present and Future

• Current Research Focus– Mechanisms of protein‐protein interactions and 

amyloidogenesis in neurodegenerative disorders– Production of therapeutic recombinant proteins through 

chaperone assistance– Diabetes– Hepatitis B– Anti‐malarials– Cell penetrating peptides– Virus‐based nanoparticles– Bioprospecting

• Future research – Genomics and Proteomics of infectious and non‐communicable 

diseases

26

Understanding disease mechanism, target identification and designing drugs 

Viral diseases

Diabetes

AD, ALS

Structural BiologyAditya MittalBishwajit KunduB JayaramManidipa BanerjeeTapan Chaudhuri

Computational and Systems BiologyAditya Mittal B JayaramJames Gomes

Cell and Molecular BiologyArchana ChughBishwajit KunduChinmoy S DeyTapan ChaudhuriVivekanandan Perumal

Therapeutics

Archana ChughChinmoy S DeyManidipa BanerjeeTapan ChaudhuriVivekanandan Perumal

27

SBS IITD 28

Patents & Products– Anti‐diabetic drug screening (USPTO)

– Nanocarrier mediated plant transfection

– Anti‐leukemic protein drug

– Urokinase production

– Solid state reactor

Start‐up Companies– Initiated : 1

– Leadinvent : Computer Aided New Molecule Discovery

28

“Infected”sample

Total Protein, DNA

, RNA

Separation of Proteins and Nucleic Acids

High throughput Proteome and Genome

Genomic screening between control and 

“infected”

Proteomic screening between control and 

“infected”

Protein‐Protein Interactions, “Metabolomi

cs”

In vitro screening of infectious agent on cell lines (several with different 

receptor biology)

Gene specific variations

Druggable target(s) identification

In silico drug design

Pre‐clinical (animal) and clinical testing*

Lead molecule synthesis*

*Will be outsourced, either to collaborativelaboratories or commercial organizations 29

Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT Delhi

Summary of Available Expertise at IIT Delhi

1. Devices & Diagnostics (Micro & Molecular)

2. Bioreactor Design, Process optimization & Scale up

3. Microbial & Enzyme Manipulations

4. Infectious Diseases & Non‐communicable Disorders (Experimental, Computational & Systems Biology Approaches) (BSL‐1, 2 & 3 level Labs in the making)

5. Bioenergy30

Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT Delhi

Proposed Challenges & Potential Areas of Partnershipfor the Consideration of DBT_IIT Consortium

1. Affordable Diagnostics/Devices

2. Design, Process Optimization & Scale up of Biological Processes (Microbial, plant & animal cell fermentation..)

3. Genomics/Proteomics & Diseases Target Identification & Database Creation (Neurodegenarative/diabetes etc.) 

4. Novel Genes & Enzymes for Food Bioprocesses (Detoxification & Value Addition)

5. Bioenergy31

Bio‐Research & Training @ IIT Delhi

32