Enzymology & Enzyem Technology Immunology, Genetics, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
A Nanobionic Approach For Enhancement For Plant Photosynthesis And Growth By Augmenting Chloroplast Mediated Photon Absorption:
Photosynthesis Is The Main Source Of Energy For The Life On Earth. The Entire Living World Either Directly Depends On It For Their Source Of Energy Or Indirectly As Ultimate Energy Currency In Their Food And For The Carbon Based Fuel In The Planet. But It Is Surprising That Less Than 10% Of Sunlight Saturates The Plant Photosynthetic Machinery And Moreover, Photosynthesis Is Restricted To Visible Spectrum Of Light Only. If The Range Of Solar Light Absorption Spectra Is Extended, The Efficiency Of Plants With Respect To Photosynthesis Is Expected To Improve.
A Number Of Nanomaterials Like Gold, Silver, Titanium Dioxide, Carbon Based Nps Etc. Show Various Novel Optical Properties Like Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (Lspr), Enhanced Rayleigh Scattering, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (Sers) Etc. Some Of These Optical Properties Can Be Utilized To Enhance The Efficiency Of Chloroplast Based Photocatalytic Complex. Plasmonic Nanomaterials And Specifically Their Core/Shell Nano Forms (Where The Surface Plasmon Resonance Or Spr Peak Can Overlap With The Absorption Maxima Of The Chloroplast Photosystem Due To The Red Shift Of Spr) Can Cause Stronger Enhancement Effect Within Photosynthetic Machinery. Some Nps (Like Single Walled Carbon Nanotube, Nano Titanium Dioxide Etc.), Allow Absorption Of A Broad Range Of Light In The Uv, Visible And Near Infrared Region, Which Is Not Normally Captured By The Chloroplast Antenna Pigments. Our Lab Is Studying The Effect Of These Optically Active Nanomaterials On Enhancement Of Photosynthesis.
Transformation Of Peanut And Chickpea Pollens Using Magnetic Nano-Particle Dna Conjugates: A Method For Developing Transgenics Bypassing Tissue Culture Transgenic Plants Are Key To Basic Scientific Research, As Well As Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture. Plant Tissue Culture Is The Biggest Roadblock For Plant Transgenic Technology. Time And Skill Required For Plant Regeneration Via Tissue Culture, And Genotype And Species-Specific Recalcitrance To Regeneration Are The Two Rate Limiting Factors In Plant Tissue Culture. If A Transgene Can Be Inserted Into Pollens, A Transgenic Plant Can Be Generated Rapidly By Traditional Crossing Methods Bypassing Tissue Culture-Based Regeneration. Recent Success In Transformation Of Pollens Of Large Flowers (Pumpkin And Cotton) By Magnetic Nanoparticle-Dna Conjugates Has Led Us To Propose Similar Efforts In This Project. We Are Trying Pollen Magnetofection In Smaller Dicot Species Important In Indian Context, I.E., Chickpea And Peanut. Both Legumes Are Difficult To Work With When It Comes To Making Transgenics. Albeit Pollen Magnetofection Recently Being Shown To Be Ineffective In Monocots, This Method Has Potential To Generate Rapid, Genotype-Independent Transgenic Plants In Dicots. The Efficiency Of The Proposed Nano-Bio Composite Should Be Better Than That Of The Bacteria Or Nano Matrix Alone.
As A Teacher I Am Extremely Oriented Towards Learning Objectives And Outcome-Based Teaching. I Engage My Students In Various Hands-On Training On Their Course Area And Regular Journal Club Presentations. As Part Of My Teaching Strategy, I Prepare The Learning Modules Prior To The Class And Share It With The Students. Then I Teach The Topic Through Lectures And Visual Aids With Different Followed By Discussion, Quiz, Assignments, And Students’ Oral Presentations. I Like Teaching Immunology, Enzymology.
Extramural Research Grants:
1. DST Nano Mission Research Grant For The Project Entitled, “A Nanobionic Approach For Enhancement For Plant Photosynthesis And Growth By Augmenting Chloroplast Mediated Photon Absorption” (2019-2022)
2. DST Serb Research Grant For The Project Entitled, “Transformation Of Peanut And Chickpea Pollens Using Magnetic Nano-Particle DNA Conjugates: A Method For Developing Transgenics Bypassing Tissue Culture” (Serb File No. CRG/2022/002730) For The Period Of 2024-2027.
Faculty of Science Engineering And Technology
Amity University Gurgaon, Panchgaon, Manesar, Gurgaon 122413