Interview with Subhankar Kundu | Vigyan Patrika – Bio Patrika
Mr. Subhankar Kundu, hailing from Gangarampur, West Bengal, completed his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta, in 2014. He earned a gold medal during his M.Sc. from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, in 2016. Following this, he joined the Ph.D. program at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, under the mentorship of Dr. Abhijit Patra.
Subhankar’s research focuses on the development of functional fluorescent materials for intracellular sensing and imaging, and the study of complex molecular self-assembly processes. His recent work, titled “Deciphering the evolution of supramolecular nanofibers in solution and solid-state: a combined microscopic and spectroscopic approach,” was published in Chemical Science.
🧪 How would you explain your paper’s key results to a non-scientific audience?
Nature loves patterns—from snowflakes to seashells—and so does chemistry. In our bodies and beyond, tiny molecules often come together in organized ways through a process called self-assembly, similar to how Lego pieces snap together to form structures. This is how DNA forms its double-helix or how proteins misfold to form amyloid fibrils in disease.
Inspired by nature, scientists like us study how small designer molecules can self-assemble into beautiful, functional nanostructures like nanofibers. These structures can glow (fluoresce), and that makes them incredibly useful for imaging cells, sensing molecules, or building tiny devices.
In our study, we used a molecule named TPAn that self-assembles into either spherical nanoparticles or nanofibers depending on the environment. This transformation is similar to how proteins form fibers in cells. Using high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, we tracked this transition and discovered that the behavior of TPAn in lab solutions differs from its behavior inside living cells.
We also explored how TPAn interacts inside HeLa cells, where it specifically lights up lipid droplets—tiny fat-storage units in cells. Interestingly, although TPAn enters cells as a single molecule, it behaves like an aggregate due to interactions with the hydrophobic (water-fearing) environment inside lipid droplets.
🔬 What are the implications of your findings?
This study bridges the gap between how we observe molecular self-assembly in solution vs. in real biological environments. By correlating size, shape, and fluorescence behavior of aggregates using both microscopy and spectroscopy, we’ve laid the groundwork for better understanding self-assembly in complex biological systems.
These insights can help develop advanced nanomaterials for bioimaging, sensing, drug delivery, and even environmental applications.
✨ What was the “eureka moment” during your research?
There wasn’t one single eureka moment—there were many! From learning how to use complex instruments like the PicoQuant MicroTime 200 for fluorescence lifetime imaging, to analyzing data from fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS)—every step brought its own excitement and breakthroughs.
🧭 What’s next for you?
Having gained a solid understanding of single-molecule spectroscopy, we’re now planning to investigate how hierarchical porous structures grow. This will be done using FCS and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) to uncover the kinetics and mechanisms behind their formation.
💡 Where do you seek scientific inspiration?
I believe the best inspiration comes from within—through learning, doing, and solving challenging problems. Scientific excitement for me arises from understanding instruments, analyzing complex data, and stepping beyond comfort zones. That, and the support of colleagues and mentors, has fueled my journey.
🌱 How do you hope to contribute to Indian science?
For India to compete globally in science, we need stronger links between classroom science and laboratory research, and better translation of academic discoveries to industry. School education should focus on instilling curiosity and the habit of questioning.
In my own field, I hope to take up the challenge of applying single-molecule spectroscopy in industrial and environmental research—especially in areas like pollution detection, biomedical diagnostics, and material development—which can help advance Indian science on the global stage.
📖 Reference
Kundu, S., Chowdhury, A., Nandi, S., Bhattacharyya, K., and Patra, A.
Deciphering the evolution of supramolecular nanofibers in solution and solid-state: a combined microscopic and spectroscopic approach.
Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 5874–5882.
Link to paper
Edited by: Ashwani Kumar and Ritvi Shah
Explore more
🎤 Career – Real career stories and job profiles of life science professionals. Discover current opportunities for students and researchers.
💼 Jobs – The latest job openings and internship alerts across academia and industry.
📢 Advertise with BioPatrika – Reach the Right Audience, Fast!
