Work done in the lab of Prof. R. R. Deshmukh at Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai
About author
Mr. Ajinkya M. Trimukhe, is a final year PhD (Physics) at Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai. He has completed his B.Sc. in Physics and M.Sc. in Chemical Physics. He has submitted his PhD thesis on “Pulsed plasma surface modification approaches for biomedical applications”. He was selected for an oral talk titled “Pulsed plasma modified nanosilver for gene therapy” in an international conference EUROMAT-2017 in Greece and also won best paper presentation award in 2nd National Conference APST, SIET, Coimbatore. His research papers have yielded more than 400 citations on google scholar. His research interests lies in the field of material science, pulsed plasma technologies, functionalization/surface tailoring of nano-particles, materials, foods, drugs, to create antimicrobial surfaces for various biomedical applications. He has published about 11 research papers and authored 2 book chapters in international journals of high repute. He has also applied for an Indian patent and is also a member of various international societies.
Interview
How would you explain your research outcomes to the non-scientific community?
My research outcomes paved ways to resolve few biomedical challenges by using cold plasma. Cold plasma is the fourth state of matter, plasma (ionised gas), is made up of highly excited atoms, molecules, electrons, ions, UV-Vis radiations, radical species, and neutrals. Plasma is divided into two categories: 1) hot plasma, such as the sun’s corona, and 2) cold plasma. Gaseous molecules are stimulated into energetic states and a glow discharge (cold plasma) is produced when a significant electric field (power) is applied. Any complex object’s surface characteristics can be altered by the high density of energetically preferred reactive species in the plasma. Surface tailoring/functionalization is confined to a few tens of nanometers, thus bulk attributes are preserved. Plasma surface modification is often a dependable, reproducible, and reasonably economical process that may be applied to a variety of sample configurations and applied to a wide range of materials, including metals, polymers, textiles, ceramics, and composites. My research outcomes are divided into 3 basic categories:
- Cancer therapy
- Pharmaceuticals and
- Antimicrobial surfaces.
In part A, we used pulsed plasma to synthesize and modify silver nanoparticles and bind them with biopolymer chitosan oligosaccharide and DNA (pGIPZ) to create a metallo-polymeric-nano carrier (MPNC). It was observed that our carrier containing DNA transfected (expressed) in the cancer cells. Thus, in future if we have to carry anticancer medicine, we can use this technique. This research work has provided a new way to destroy the cancer cells also known as gene therapy [1].
In part B, we have worked on two different Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) i) Ritonavir and ii) Omeprazole. Ritonavir is an anti-HIV and poorly water-soluble drug. To overcome the solubility problem, we used oxygen pulsed plasma to enhance its solubility as well as the dissolution rate. We successfully enhanced the apparent solubility rate by 5.87 folds and intrinsic dissolution rate by 1.95 folds. The methods used in this research can help enhance the solubility of drugs, thereby reducing the dosage of drugs and economic burden on patients [2]. Omeprazole is a gastric acid suppressing drug. We use this medication mostly to reduce the acidity, chest burns, acid refluxes, etc. Mostly when these drugs are taken by us, the drugs tend to degrade significantly in our upper stomach which is mostly acidic with pH 1.2. To overcome this issue ,there are expensive enteric coated drugs available in the market and are made with conventional pan coating methods due to higher usage of coating material. This research work demonstrates a successful novel method of enteric coating of drugs through pulsed plasma by using monomers of Methyl acrylic acid and Methyl methacrylate in vapor phase. This research work has a potential to deliver a new, safe, and cheaper alternative to contemporary drug surface modification methods [3].
In part C, we have synthesized an agarose-chitosan based composite scaffold and modified its surface with pulsed plasma assisted selenium deposition. The rationale behind this study was to develop a scar free wound healing material which can have enhanced antimicrobial properties and can 3D engineer the wound healing tissues within the pores of scaffold. The plasma modified scaffold exhibited significant reduction in chances of Staphylococcus Aureus and Staphylococcus Epidermidis bacterial infections in in-vitro studies as compared to the untreated ones. Animal studies showed significant improvement in the wound healing for the plasma treated scaffold as compared to the untreated ones as well as other over-the-counter ointments such as betadine. This research work demonstrated the significance of antimicrobial properties of wound healing materials for faster and efficient wound healing.
How do these findings contribute to your research area?
These findings are significant contributions in the plasma medicine field. These findings are completely new in terms of application of cold plasma in biomedical applications. My research publications during my PhD have already yielded more than 400 citations which shows the intent of its acceptance and significance in plasma research. The objective of such contributions not only adds to the research field but also addresses and resolves the most current global challenges like cancer therapies, drug solubility, absorption and degradation issues thereby reducing the economic burden. Antimicrobial resistance is a slow pandemic globally and after Covid-19, researchers are focused on resolving it. Some of my findings can resolve surface related infection and transmissibility issues in near future after further optimizations.
“This research work demonstrated the significance of antimicrobial properties of wound healing materials for faster and efficient wound healing.”
What was the exciting moment during your research?
The most exciting moment during my research was when I designed, built and operated my first 360º rotating plasma reactor (first of its kind in India). The next was my first patent submission and my first author publication acceptance.
What do you hope to do next?
I hope to continue my research through post-doctoral studies, leading towards my entrepreneurial journey.
Where do you seek scientific inspiration from?
I seek my scientific inspiration from Sir Nikola Tesla and Sir Albert Einstein.
How do you intend to help Indian science improve?
I intend to improve the Indian science from school students to the very person with non-science background by inculcating the analytical bent of mind. I have already volunteered as guest speaker and examiner at various schools and colleges to inspire the students from the learnings of science and its advantages which can resolve many societal issues. Dissemination of scientific findings in lay terms and demonstrating some simple understandable experiments in various workshops or via infographics on social media sites targeting a higher number of audiences.
Reference
- Pulsed Plasma Surface Functionalized Nanosilver for Gene Delivery. A. M. Trimukhe, P. A. Pofali, A. A. Vaidya, U. Koli, P. Dandekar, R. R. Deshmukh, Ratnesh D. Jain. Frontiers in Bioscience, Landmark, 25, 1851-1871, (2020) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32472761/).
- Novel pulsed oxygen plasma mediated surface hydrophilization of ritonavir the enhancement of wettability and solubility. Satish V. Rojekar, Ajinkya M. Trimukhe, Rajendra R. Deshmukh, Pradeep R. Vavia. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 63, 102497 (2021) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102497).
- Pulsed plasma surface modified omeprazole microparticles for delayed release application. Ajinkya M. Trimukhe, Satish V. Rojekar, Pradeep R. Vavia, Rajendra R. Deshmukh. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 66, 102905, (2021) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102905).
Edited by: Anjali Mahilkar