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Precision Nano Systems and Advanced Therapy
Nanoscale improvements to traditional vaccines
Conventional vaccine strategy is based on attenuated / altered microorganisms. Can the expanding nano toolbox overcome some of the roadblocks in vaccine development?
The potential legacy of cancer nanotechnology
Nanotechnology-based approaches offer a promising alternative for cancer therapy, with the possibility of targeting cells early, during their transformation into cancer cells.
Our work
The Patra Lab group combines and applies tools from chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and engineering to construct materials and to engineer their physical and chemical properties for biomedical applications. Our work addresses active needs in biomedical science and biotechnology.
We develop precise molecular strategies at the nanoscale that help us conceal drugs during transportation and develop tools to deliver them to the tertiary level (organelle). We are developing nano-toolboxes for disease-specific requirements that can develop with theranostic capacity (combining diagnosis and therapy). Our current research interests include:
Our facilities
- Ultra-small nanoparticle synthesis system
- Nanoparticle Tracking - ZetaView® Twin
- High resolution digital optical microscope (20x-7000x magnification range)
- Primary cell culture
- Laser cutting
- Rheometer and mechanical (tensile) testing
Patra Lab members
We are a group of enthusiastic researchers from diverse cross-disciplinary background united together to enjoy the fun in understanding nanoscience and exploring through dedicated scientific research.
Prof. Hirak Patra (Group Lead)
Professor of Nanomedicine & Regenerative Medicine
Dr Alexandru Chivu PhD
Research Fellow
Dr Elena Zattera PhD
Research Fellow
Mr Alexander B C Gray MSc
PhD student
Mr Thomas Lester MRes
PhD student / Research technician
Mr Minwei Liu BSc, BEng
PhD student
Funding / Partnerships
- Medical Research Council
- UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
- Medical Inflammation and Infection Center (MIIC), Linköping University, Sweden
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Select publications
- Azharuddin, M., Zhu, G.H., Sengupta, A., Hinkula, J., Slater, N.K.H., Patra, H.K. (2022). Nano toolbox in immune modulation and nanovaccines. Trends in Biotechnology.
- Islam, M.M., Chivu, A., AbuSamra, D.B., Saha, A., Patra, H.K. et al. (2022). Crosslinker-free collagen gelation for corneal regeneration. Scientific Reports, 12 (1), 9108.
- Zhu, G.H., Azharuddin, M., Islam, R., Rahmoune, H., Patra, H.K., et al. (2021). Innate Immune Invisible Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles-Framework for Synthesis and Evaluation. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
- Chivu, A., Chindera, K., Mendes, G., An, A., Davidson, B., Good, L., Song, W. (2021). Cellular gene delivery via poly(hexamethylene biguanide)/pDNA self-assembled nanoparticles. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics.
- Sharifi, S., Islam, M.M., Sharifi, H., Islam, R., Huq, T.N., Patra, H.K., et al. (2021). Electron Beam Sterilization of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) - Physicochemical and Biological Aspects. Macromolecular Bioscience, 21 (4), 2000379.
- Mahin, J., Franck, C.O., Fanslau, L., Patra, H.K., Mantle, M.D., Fruk, L., Torrente-Murciano, L. (2021). Green, scalable, low cost and reproducible flow synthesis of biocompatible PEG-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles. React. Chem. Eng., 6, 1961-1973.
- Patra, H.K., Azharuddin, M., Islam, M.M., Papapavlou, G., Deb, S., et al. (2019). Rational Nanotoolbox with Theranostic Potential for Medicated Pro-Regenerative Corneal Implants. Advanced Functional Materials, 29 (38), ARTN 1903760.
- Li, L., Xiao, B., Mu, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, C., Cao, H., Patra, H.K., et al. (2019). A MnO2 Nanoparticle-Dotted Hydrogel Promotes Spinal Cord Repair via Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species Microenvironment and Synergizing with Mesenchymal Stem Cells. ACS NANO, 13 (12), 14283-14293.
- Patra, H. K. (2018). Sensible label-free bio-sensing: Towards in situ biopsy. 2018 IEEE SENSORS, 1721-1724.
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