AREA OF RESEARCH - DR. BRIJESH SUKUMARAN

Areas of Specialization

Microbiology, Cell Biology, Immunology, Pharmacology 

Areas of Research

1. Currently, his work involves developing nano-drug delivery systems such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), niosomes, nano-structures lipid carries (NLC) and nanoemulsions for delivery of combination of drugs used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The focus, on one hand, has been on synthesising SLNs and encapsulation of anti-rheumatic drugs using a Quality by Design (QbD) approach for oral delivery. On the other hand, niosomes, NLCs and nanomulsions are being explored for their potential for topical delivery of anti-rheumatic and anti-psoriatic drugs
2. Previously, his work also involved evaluation of the mechanism of action of medicinal plants with anxiolytic and anti-depressant activities using animal models and identifying the molecule for observed activities using molecular docking studies. 

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT SDSOS

• Research Projects: NMIMS Seed Grants
  • November 2022: Evaluation of dermal toxicity and anti-psoriatic activity of topical NLC formulation co-encapsulated with cyclosporine A and quercetin.
  • February 2021: In vivo investigation to determine toxicity and efficacy of a combination of anti-rheumatic drugs
  • August 2018: In vitro and in vivo assessment of anti-anxiety mechanism of action of Tabernaemontana divaricata
  • July 2016: Study of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Ananas comosus fruit peel extract on pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β
• D. Research Guidance
  • Completed: Six
• Student Name: Yashika Mirchandani

Thesis Title: Solid lipid nanoparticles as carrier for anti-rheumatic drugs (Viva Date: 12^th December 2022)

• Student Name: Jeanette Martins

Thesis Title: Anti-depressant activities of medicinal plants as adjuncts for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Viva Date: 22^nd April 2021)

• Student Name: Swati Sahoo

Thesis Title: Anxiolytic activity of medicinal plants and associated changes in brain (Viva Date: 17^th March 2021)

• Student Name: Miloni Thakkar

Thesis Title: Studies on efficacy of niosomes for combinatorial drug delivery of antimalarial drugs (Viva Date: 12^th October 2018)

• Student Name: Samira Kargutkar

Thesis Title: Studies on in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of polyphenols from Ananas comosus (Viva Date: 12^th October 2018)

• Student Name: Ritu Mishra

Thesis Title: Anti-hyperlipidemic effects of various medicinal plants extracts on high fat diet induced obese rat models (Viva Date: 16^th October 2015)

• Ongoing: Three
• Student Name: Namrata Britto

Thesis Title: Screening and identification of phytochemicals for management of arthritis

• Student Name: Ruchita Joshi

Thesis Title: Nanocarriers for combinatorial drug delivery in Imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model

• Student Name: Amruta Parmar

Thesis Title: Nanocarriers for topical delivery of methotrexate and leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis rat model

• Sc. Research Guidance
  • Completed: Two
• Student Name: Gayatri Mehta

Thesis Title: Removal of nitrogen from synthetic wastewater by immobilized Spirulina platensis (2012–13)

• Student Name: Leena Rodrigues

Thesis Title: Production, purification and characterization of thermostable alkaline protease from soil microorganisms (2011–12) 

Membership / Fellowship of Professional Societies

Life member of Mumbai Immunology Group

Life member of Indian Science Congress Association 

Publications at SDSOS:

1. Sahoo S, Brijesh S. Pharmaceutical applications of coriander in neurodegenerative disorders. In: Ramadan MF (Ed.) Handbook of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum): Chemistry, Functionality, and Applications. 1^st CRC Press: Boca Raton. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003204626. eISBN: 9781003204626
2. Mirchandani Y, Patravale V, Brijesh S. Hyaluronic acid-coated solid lipid nanoparticles enhance antirheumatic activity and reduce toxicity of methotrexate. Nanomedicine. 2022. 17(16): 1099-1114. (Impact Factor: 6.096)
3. Mirchandani Y, Patravale VB, Brijesh S. Solid lipid nanoparticles for hydrophilic drugs. Journal of Controlled Release. 2021. 335: 457-464 (Impact Factor: 11.467)
4. Sahoo S, Kharkar PS, Sahu NU, Brijesh S. Anxiolytic activity of Psidium guajava in mice subjected to chronic restraint stress and effect on neurotransmitters in brain. Phytotherapy Research. 2020. 35(3): 1399-1415. (Impact Factor: 6.388)
5. Sahoo S, Brijesh S. Anxiolytic activity of Coriandrum sativum seeds aqueous extract on chronic restraint stressed mice and effect on brain neurotransmitters. Journal of Functional Foods. 2020. 68: 103884. (Impact Factor: 5.233)
6. Martins J, Brijesh S. Anti-depressant activity of Erythrina variegata bark extract and regulation of monoamine oxidase activities in mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2019. 248: 112280. (Impact Factor: 5.195)
7. Sahoo S, Brijesh S. Pharmacogenomic assessment of herbal drugs in affective disorders. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. 2019. 109: 1148–1162. (Impact Factor: 7.419)
8. Parmar A, Brijesh S. Niosomes as transdermal drug delivery system. Biomedical Research Journal. 2018. 5(2): 54–63.
9. Martins J, Brijesh S. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of anti-depressant medicinal plants: A review. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2018. 104: 343–365. (Impact Factor: 7.419)
10. Thakkar M, Brijesh S. Stability-indicating HPLC method for primaquine diphosphate: An application to niosomal formulation. Biomedical Research Journal. 2018. 5(1), 39–51
11. Thakkar M, Brijesh S. Physicochemical investigation and in vivo activity of anti-malarial drugs co-loaded in Tween 80 niosomes. Journal of Liposome Research. 2018. 28(4): 315–321. (Impact Factor: 5.586)
12. Kargutkar S, Brijesh S. Anti-inflammatory evaluation and characterization of leaf extract of Ananas comosus. Inflammopharmacology. 2017. 26(2): 469–477. (Impact Factor: 5.093)
13. Thakkar M, Brijesh S. Opportunities and challenges for niosomes as drug delivery systems. Current Drug Delivery. 2016. 13(8): 1275–1289. (Impact Factor: 3.758)
14. Kargutkar S, Brijesh S. Anti-rheumatic activity of Ananas comosus fruit peel extract in a complete Freund’s adjuvant rat model. Pharmaceutical Biology 2016. 54 (11), 2616–2622. (Impact Factor: 3.889)
15. Thakkar M, Brijesh S. Combating malaria with nanotechnology-based targeted and combinatorial drug delivery strategies. Drug Delivery and Translational Research. 2016. 6 (4): 414–425. (Impact Factor: 5.671)
16. Mishra R, Pandit K, Bhagwat AM, Brijesh S. Antihyperlipidemic activity of alcoholic extracts of Trichosanthes anguina in Triton WR 1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 2014. 5(10): 4269–4274.
17. Pandit K, Mishra R, Brijesh S, Bhagwat A, Bhatt P. Lipid lowering activity of Feronia limonia leaf in Triton WR-1339 (Tyloxapol) induced hyperlipidemic rats. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2014. 6(8): 156–158. 

Complete List of Publications at:

• Google Scholar ID: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=A4NdzqQAAAAJ&hl=en
• Total Publications: 30
• Total Citations: 1100+
• Cumulative impact factor:461
• h-index: 17
• i10-index: 22