DR. SANKARPRASAD BHUNIYA

Professor, Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, JISIASR

MSc (IIT Kharagpur),
PhD (IIT Kharagpur),
Post-Doc (POSTECH, S. Korea; Illinois Institute of Technology, USA)

Email: spbhuniya@jisiasr.org

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DSeQLMsAAAAJ&hl=en

Postdoctoral Fellow (2003-2006): Pohang University of Science & Technology, Rep. of Korea, and Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA

PhD (1995-2000): Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, WB, India

M.Sc. (1993-1995): Department of Chemistry, IIT Kharagpur

Professional Engagements:

2014-2020: Research Professor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore India

2013-2014: Research Professor, Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Republic of Korea

2009-2013: Research Professor, Korea University, Seoul, Rep. of Korea,

2007-2009: Senior Scientist, GVK Biosciences Pvt Ltd

2001-2003: Senior Scientist, ATIRA, Ahmedabad, India

2000-2001: Senior Chemist, Universal Agrochem Industries Ltd., Kolkata India

Research Topic:
MRI (T1- Weighted) Activated Theranostic

The advances in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics have directed the development of a new type of healthcare system to reduce drug abuse, safety, and precise treatment. In search of an innovative product for health care, the term, “theranostic” gained interest in clinical science.  It is an appealing formulation in a combination of diagnosis and therapy to improve the biodistribution and systematic administration of therapeutic in the target place. Importantly, it could be provided clear-cut solution for long-time pending diseases, namely, genetic diseases and oncogenic diseases. The present needs motivate the organic, inorganic chemists, physicians, biotechnologist, nanotechnologist, and pharmacologist work together to develop “theranostic” as future of personalized healthcare. In this context, by judicious selection of suitable chemical architectures that can interact with overexpressed endogenous reductase enzymes in hypoxic tumors and consequently disintegrate the nanodevices for the release of the chemotherapeutic. The sequential ‘turn-on’ visual and T1- MR modalities of the nano-delivery system will provide information on the real-time drug release and its activation. At the same time, at variable magnetic field hyperthermia will show synergism with chemotherapy. Finally, by providing real-time feedback on the efficacy of targeted therapeutic interventions by multi-modal readouts such as optical and MR (T1/T2) signals, the theranostic nanomedicines can be used to facilitate (pre-) clinical analysis, and approach toward personalized medicine.

Fluorescent Probes

Understanding the chemical transformation at the molecular level in the cellular milieus is challenging.  It motivates the chemist to search for new ways to learn the biological system. Thus bio-inspired emerging strategy for fluorescent-based bio-imaging is to sort and identify the species of interest within this complex microenvironment by exploiting differences in molecular reactivity. Currently, we are interested to develop fluorescent probes to detect pH of cell organelles, cell senescence, Alzheimer’s disease, information on cell cycle, etc.

Journal Publications: 69 (published/accepted) (Citation 2939); h-index: 26)

Selected publications

1. Maiti, M.; Yoo, S.A.; Cha, Y. Athul, K. K.; Bhuniya, S. Lee, M. H. Cell-specific activation of gemcitabine by endogenous H2S stimulation and tracking via simultaneous fluorescence turn-on, Chemical Communications, 2021 ( DOI: 10.1039/D1CC00118C).
2. Podder, A.; Joseph, M. M.; Biswas, S.; Samanta, )S.; Maiti, K. K.; & Bhuniya, S.  Amphiphilic fluorescent probe self-encored in plasma to detect pH fluctuation in cancer cell membrane, Chemical Communications,2021,57,607-610.
3. Kim, S.Y.; Podder, A.; Lee, H.; Cho, Y.-J.; Han, E. H.; Khatun, S.; Sessler, J.; Hong, K. S.; Bhuniya, S. “Self-assembled amphiphilic fluorescent probe: detecting pH-fluctuations within cancer cells and tumor tissues, Sci., 2020, 11, 9875.
4. Podder, A.; Murali, V.; Deepika, S.; Dhamija, A.; Biswas, S.; Maiti, K.; Bhuniya, S. NADH-Activated dual-channel fluorescent probe for multicolor labeling of live cells and tumor mimic spheroid, Chem. 2020, 92, 12356−12362.
5. Khatun, S.; yang, S.; Zhao, Y. Q.; Podder, A.; Zhou, Y.; Bhuniya, S. Highly Chemoselective Self-Calibrated Fluorescent Probe Monitors Glutathione Dynamics in Nucleolus in Live Cells, Chem. 2020, 92, 10989−10995
6. Podder, A.; Thirumalaivasan, N.; Chao, Y. K.; Kukutla, P.; Wu, S.-P.; & Bhuniya, S. Two-photon active fluorescent indicator for detecting NADH dynamics in live cells and tumor tissue. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2020,324,128637.
7. Koo, S.; Bobba, K. N.; Cho, M. Y.; Park, H. S.;Won, M.; Velusamy, N.; Hong, K. S.; Bhuniya; S. Kim, J. S.; ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2019. 2, 4648
8. Maiti, M.; Murali, V. P.; Depika, S.; Podder, A.; Maiti, K. K.; Bhuniya, S. NADH- Induced “kick-on” fluorescent probe validates crosstalk with redox regulator GSH- Sensor Actuator B: Chemical, 2019, 299, 126968(1-8)
9. Bobba, K. N.; Binoy, A.; Koo, S.; Podder, A.; Mishra, A.; Mishra, N.; Kim, J. S.; Bhuniya, S. Direct readout protonophore induced selective uncoupling and dysfunction of individual mitochondria within the cancer cells, Chemical Communications, 2019, 55, 6429.
10. Bobba, K. N.; Saranya, G.; Sujai, P. T.; Joseph, M. M. Velusamy, N.; Podder, A.; Maiti, K. K.; Bhuniya, S. Endogenous H₂S Assisted Cancer Cell-specific Activation of Theranostic with Emission Readout. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2019, 2, 1322-30
11. Podder, A. Koo, Lee, J.; Mun, S.; Khatun, S.; Kang, H.-G.; Bhuniya, S.; Kim, J. S. Rhodamine based fluorescent probe validates substrate and cellular hypoxia specific NADH expression, Chemical Communications, 2019, 55, 537-540.
12. Kim, E.J., Podder, A.; Maiti, M. Lee, J. M.; Chung, B. G.; Bhuniya, S. Selective monitoring of vascular cell senescence via β-galactosidase detection with a fluorescent chemosensor, Sensor Actuator B: Chemical-A, 2018, 274, 194-200.
13. Zhou, Y.; Maiti, M.; Sharma, A.; Yu, L.; Lv, X. W.; Shin, J.; Won, M.; Han, J.; Podder, A.; Bobba, K. N.; Bhuniya, S.; Kim, J. S., Azo-based small molecular hypoxia responsive theranostic for tumor-specific imaging and therapy, Journal of controlled Release- 2018, 288, 14-22
14. Podder, A.; Senapati, S.; Maiti, P.; Kamalraj, D.; Jaffer, S.; S. Khatun, S.; Bhuniya, S. A ‘turn-on’ fluorescent probe for lysosomal phosphatase: A comparative study for labeling of cancer cells, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2018, 6, 4514.
15. Podder, A.; Won, M.; Kim, S.; Verwilst, P.; Maiti, M; Yang, Z.; Qu, J.; and Bhuniya, S.; Kim, J. S. A two-photon fluorescent probe records the intracellular pH through ‘OR’logic operation via internal calibration, Sensor Actuator B: Chemical, 2018, 268, 195.
16. Bobba, N.; Won, M.; Shim, I.; Valusamy, N.;  Yang, Z.; Qu, j.; Kim, J. S.; Bhuniya, S. BODIPY based Two Photon Fluorescent Probe Validates Tyrosinase Activity in Live Cells, Chemical Communications, 2017, 53, 11213.
17. Velusamy, N.; Binoy, A.; Bobba, K. N.; Nedungadi, D.; Mishra, N.; Bhuniya, A bioorthogonal fluorescent probe for mitochondrial hydrogen sulfide: new strategy for cancer cell labeling, Chemical Communications, 2017, 53, 8802
18. Sunwoo, K; Bobba, K. N.; Lim, J.-Y.; Park, T.; Podder, A.; Heo, J. S.; Lee, S. W.; Bhuniya, S.; Kim, J. S. “A bioorthogonal turn-on fluorescent probe for tracking mitochondrial nitroxyl formation”, Chemical Communications, 2017, 53, 1723-1726
19. Dutta, D.; Alex, S. M. Naidu, K. N.; Maiti, K; Bhuniya, S., “New insight of cancer theranostic Probe: efficient cell specific delivery of SN-38 guided by biotinylated poly(vinyl alcohol)”, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8, 33430-38.
20. Zhou, Y.; Bobba, K. N.; Lv, X. W.; Yang, D.; Velusamy, N.; Zhang, J. F. and Bhuniya, S., “Biotinylated Piperazine-rhodol Derivative: a ‘turn-on’ probe for nitroreductase triggered hypoxia imaging”, Analyst, 2017, 142, 345-350.
21. Kumar, R.; Kim, E.-J.; Han, J.; Lee, H.; Shin, W. S.; Kim, H. M.; Bhuniya, S.; Kim, J. S.; Hong, K. S., “Hypoxia-directed and activated theranostic agent: Imaging and treatment of solid tumor”, Biomaterials, 104, 119-128, 2016.
22. Lee, J. H.; Jang, J. H.; Velusamy, N.; Jung, J. S.; Bhuniya, S.; Kim, J. S. “An intramolecular crossed-benzoin reaction based KCN fluorescent probe in aqueous and biological environments”, Chemical Communications, 51, 7709-7712, 2015.

Co-author publication (selected)

1. Kim, E. J. ^†, Bhuniya, S. ^†; Lee, H.; Kim, H. M.; Cho, J.-H.; Shin, W-S.; Kim, J. S. and Hong, K.-S., “In vivo tracking of phagocytic immune cells using a dual imaging probe with gadolinium-enhanced MRI and near-infrared fluorescence”, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 8,10266-10273, 2016. (^†Co-first Author)
2. Kim, E. J.; Bhuniya, S.; Lee, H.; Kim, H. M.; Cheon, C; Maiti, S; Hong, K.-S.; Kim, J. S., “An activatable prodrug for the treatment of metastatic tumors”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136, 13888-13894, 2014.
3. Bhuniya, S.; Maiti, S.; Kim, E. J.; Lee, H.; Sessler, J. L.; Hong, K.-S.; Kim, J. S., “An activatable targeted theranostic for cancer therapy and imaging”, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 53(17), 4469-4474, 2014.
4. Jang, J. H.; Bhuniya, S.; Kang, J. Yeom, A.; Hong, K.-S.; Kim, J. S., “Cu²⁺ induced bimodal (optical/MRI) contrast agent for cellular imaging”, Organic Letters, 15(18), 4702-4705, 2013.
5. Bhuniya, S.; Lee, M.H.; Jeon, H. M.; Han, J. H., Lee, J. H.; Park, N.; Maiti, S.; Kang, C.; Kim, J. S., “Fluorescence off-on reporter for real time monitoring of gemcitabine delivery to the cancer cells”, Chemical Communications, 49, 7141-7143,
6. Maiti, S.; Park, N.; han, J. H.; Jeon, H. M.; Lee, J. H.; Bhuniya, S.; Kang, C.; Kim, J. S., “Gemcitabine-coumarin-biotin conjugates: A target specific theranostic anti-cancer prodrug.” Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135 (11), 4567-4572, 2013.
7. Lee, M. H.; Kim, J.Y.; Han, J. H.; Bhuniya, Sessler, J. L.; Kang, C.; Kim, J. S. “Direct fluorescence monitoring of the delivery and cellular uptake of a cancer-targeted RGD peptide-appended naphthalimide theragnostic prodrug”, Journal of the American Chemical Society,134 ,12668-12674, 2012.
8. Park^†, J.; Bhuniya^†, S.; Lee, H.; Noh, Y.-W.; Lim, Y. T.; Jung, J. H.; Hong, K. S.; Kim, J. S., “DTTA-ligated uridine-quantum dot (QD) conjugate as a bimodal contrast agent for cellular imaging”, Chemical Communications, 48, 3218-3220, 2012. (^†Co-first Author)
9. Lee, M. H.; Han, J. H.; Kwon, P.-S.; Bhuniya, S.; Kim, J. Y.; Sessler, J.; Kang, C.; Kim, J. S., “A hepatocyte targeting single galactose-appended naphthalimide: A tool for intracellular thiol imaging in vivo”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134 (2), 1316-1322, 2012.
10. Bhuniya, S.; Moon, H; Lee, H.; Hong, K.-S.; Lee, S.; Yu, D.-Y.; Kim, J. S., “Uridine-based paramagnetic supramolecular nanoaggregate with high relaxivity capable of detecting primitive liver tumor lesions”, Biomaterials, 32 (27), 6533-6540, 2011.
11. Zhang, J. F.; Lim, C. S.; Bhuniya, S.; Cho, B. R.; Kim, J. S. “A highly selective colorimetric and ratiometric two-photon fluorescent probe for fluoride ion detection”, Organic Letters, 13(18), 4702-4705, 2011.
12. Kim, H. J.; Bhuniya, S.; Mahajan, R. K.; Puri, R.; Liu, H.; Ko, K. C.; Lee, J. Y.; Kim, J. S., “Fluorescence turn-on sensors for HSO4-”, Chemical Communications, 46, 7128-7130, 2009.
13. Seo, Y. J.; Bhuniya, S.; Kim, B. H., “Reversible sol-gel signaling system with epMB for the study of enzyme-and pH triggered oligonucleotide release from a biotin hydrogel”, Chemical Communications, (18), 1804-1806, 2007.
14. Bhuniya, B.; Kim, B. H., “An insulin sensing sugar based fluorescent hydrogel”, Chemical Communications, (17), 1842-1844, 2006.
15. Bhuniya, S.; Park, S. M.; Kim, B. H., “Biotin-Amino acid conjugates: an approach toward self-assembled hydrogelation”, Organic letters, 7(9), 1741-1744, 2005.
16. Bhuniya, S.; Rahman, S.; Satyananda, A. J.; Gharia, M. M.; Dave, A. M.; “A novel route to synthesize allyl starch and synthesis of biodegradable hydrogel by co-polymerizing allyl modified starch with methacrylic Acid and acrylamide”, Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 41(11) 1650-1658, 2003.

Patents

1. Kim, J. S.; Bhuniya, S.; Lee, S.; Hong, K.-S.; Lee, H and Moon, H., Uridine-based gadolinium complex, method for manufacturing the same, and MRI contrast agent comprising the complex. Patent No KR 2012107541.
2. Kim, J. S.; Bhuniya, S.; Lee, S.; Hong, K.-S.; Lee, H and Moon, H., Preparation of uridine-based gadolinium complexes as MRI contrasts agents, US Pat. 9,290,535 B2, March 22, 2016.
3. Bhuniya, S. Mishra, S.; Velusamy, N.; Bobba, KN; Anupama, B. Divya, N., Mitochondrial fluorescent probe as cancer cells marker, Indian Pat file: 201741013739.
4. Bhuniya, S. Mishra, S.; Velusamy, N.; Bobba, KN; Anupama, B. Divya, N. Fluorescent exomarker probes for hydrogen sulfide detection, US Pat 10, 502, 742 B2 19^th 2019.

Research Grants Awarded

1. SERB-Early career research grant (2016-2019), Funded 36.4 lakhs, Principal Investigator
2. DST-RFBR Funded INR 31.00 Lakhs for research project (2020-2022)), Principal Investigator
3. CSIR -Extramural Research grant (2019-2022), Funded 24 lakhs, Principal investigator.
4. SERB-Core research grant (2020-2023), Funded 53.3 lakhs, Principal Investigator

Awards & Achievements:

• Selected as Brain Pool fellow by National Research Foundation – Republic of Korea in the year of 2018
• GATE 99.51 percentile (1995, 10th rank in India)
• CSIR qualified (JRF, 1994)

Ph.D.  Supervision

 Awarded: 04

1. i) Kondapa Naidu Bobba; Title of the thesis: Development of fluorescent Probes for reactive species and their application in theranostic.

(ii)  Nithya Velusamy, Title of the thesis: Development of Fluorescent Probes for Hydrogen sulfide and Their Application for Bioimaging

 (iii)  Arup Podder: Title of the Thesis: Development of   Fluorescent Probes for Phosphatase    and pH and their application in Bioimaging 

1. iv) Sabina Khatun, Title of the Thesis: Development of Fluorescent Probes for Tracking Bio-Analytes (GSH, ALP and Fe²⁺) in Live Cells.

Current Ph.D. students: 05

1. Sanjib samanta
2. Shayeri Biswas
3. Prasanna Kukutla
4. K K Athul
5. Harishkumar P

1. Tech. thesis supervision as co-advisor: 2
2. Yamini Yasoda (2015-2016): A glutathione-activable GO-based theranostic agent for cancer treatment
3. Shilpa R. (2016-2017): Ferrite/graphene QDs for targeted drug delivery, fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging

1. Tech. thesis supervision: 2 (2017-2018)