Department of ChemistryAdvisor: Prof. S. ThayumanavanPhD focused on the design and synthesis of triggerable systems for amplifying molecular binding events and targeted protein degradation.• Expertise in design and synthesis of small molecules and polymers with different triggerable functionalities to achieve better tunability for various functions• Targeted protein degradation and understanding the pathways using Western blot analysis and confocal microscopy• Mapping the dynamic surface reactions of Triggerable Michael Acceptors (TMAcs) using liquid crystals (LCs)• Understanding the impact of external stimuli on nanoparticle-entrapped Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs)

During the internship at Light microscopy facility (LMF), I worked on automation routines for multiplexed microscopy imaging of numerous samples without human intervention.*Trained people in different types of confocal microscopes; helped them develop their expertise on specific microscope technologies for enhancing their current research thrusts* Organized and delivered a special seminar on image acquisition and analysis automation using NIKON Elements JOBs and General Analysis 3. as a part of the core facility special seminar series*Developed different JOB templates for easy access

Department of ChemistryAdvisor: Dr. Reji VargheseMaster thesis focused on the design and synthesis of DNA based stimuli responsive systems for detecting miRNA and telomerase for cancer diagnosis. • Expertise in understanding the unique structural features of DNA based amphiphiles for the early-stage detection of cancer biomarkers such as miRNA and telomerase with novel 19F NMR (MRI) “OFF/ON” signal.• Focused on synthesizing the DNA amphiphiles through multistep organic synthesis and phosphoramidite chemistry. Characterizations of the molecules have been done, and tested the efficacy of the probe to detect telomerase activity.

Department of BiologyAdvisor: Prof. S. Murty SrinivasulaMinor thesis focused on developing a pH responsive DNA hydrogel for the inhibition of cancer growth• Developed a pH‑responsive DNA based smart hydrogel by conjugating tetra ethylene glycol dendrimers to C‑rich DNA (TEG‑ dendron)• Studied the gelation of TEG‑ dendron at high proton gradient of the cellular environment by confocal and Cryo‑TEM analyses

Department of ChemistryAdvisor: Dr. Reji VargheseWe have designed and synthesized two carbohydrate-based Janus amphiphiles that spontaneously self-assemble into high aspect ratio 2D sheets.• High aspect ratio, sugar-decorated 2D nanosheets are the ideal candidate for the capture andagglutination of bacteria. The unique structural features of the sheet include the extremely high aspect ratio and dense display of galactose on the surface. • The sheet acts as a supramolecular 2D platform for the capture and agglutination of E. coli through specific multivalent non-covalent interactions due to its structural characteristics, and it significantly reduces the mobility of the bacteria and leads to the inhibition of their proliferation. • Our results suggest that the design strategy demonstrated can be applied as a general approach for crafting biomolecule-decorated 2D nanosheets, which can act as a 2D platform for their interaction with specific targets.• To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the crafting of sugar-grafted, high aspect ratio, 2D sheet from the self-assembly of sugar-based Janus amphiphile that efficiently captures, agglutinates and inhibits the growth of bacteria.

Polymer Science and Engineering DivisionAdvisor: Dr.Kadhiravan ShanmuganathanMy summer break in 2017 was spent understanding polymer chemistry basics. I designed and synthesized a material that can coat currency notes to confer antibacterial properties.• PVA was thiolated and then combined with Eugenol to make it antibacterial enabled with the help of a thiol-ene click reaction.• Coating the final product over currency notes makes currency notes antibacterial, reducing the number of pathogens and diseases spread by exchanging currency notes.

Advisor: Dr. G. S. Vinod KumarDuring my first nternship, I focused on solid phase peptide synthesis and curcumin entrapped nanoparticle formulation.• Synthesized a 16 amino acid long, liver targeting peptide for drug delivery application through solid-phase peptide synthesis and curcumin entrapped nanoparticle for the effective delivery of drugs

Department of ChemistryAdvisor: Dr. Reji VargheseDealt with the design and synthesis of an aptamer functionalized salicylaldazine-camptothecin conjugate for cancer diagnosis and therapy. • To demonstrate this approach, DNA functionalized salicylaldazine-camptothecin conjugate has been made from the anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) and light up the fluorescent probe, salicylaldazine (SA) through a reductively cleavable disulfide linker. • After cellular uptake via receptormediated endocytosis, the disulfide bond between dye and CPT is cleaved in the presence of reducing environment resulting in the real-time monitoring of drug release followed by therapy.