Prof. G.S. Sailaja

Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology

Cochin University of Science and Technology

Dr. G. S. Sailaja received her Ph.D. in Biomaterials from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India, in 2008. After completing postdoctoral research at Curtin University, The University of Illinois Chicago, and Tokyo Institute of Technology, she joined the Department of Polymer Science, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), India, as an Associate Professor. She is a full Professor since 2018 and leads research on regenerative biomaterials for bone tissue engineering, combinatorial therapy, magnetic nanomedicine for cancer therapy, radiopaque biomaterials, theranostic nanomaterials, and antibacterial formulations. She has 9 patents (4 Japanese and 5 Indian), 34 Journal and 74 conference publications. Her group has presently 10 Ph.D. students and 3 postdoctoral fellows including the prestigious SERB NPDF. The patents her team produced includes customizable herbal BTE scaffolds X-ray visible sutures, Magnetic nanomedicine etc.

Research Interests


Biomaterials

  • Combinatorial approaches in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

  • Bioinspired Approaches for Bone and Neuronal Tissue Engineering

  • Drug Delivery devices- Therapeutic scaffolds, Microspheres and Natural Products

  • Radiopaque Biomaterials

  • Injectable Biomaterials for regenerative tissue engineering


Nanomedicine & Theranostic Materials

  • Magnetic Drug Delivery Devices with Hyperthermia potential for Cancer Therapy

  • Targeted Gene Therapy with Functional Nanoparticles

  • Quantum dots, MOFs and Fluorescent materials for Cancer Theranostics

  • Mechanism of apoptotic pathways & Cellular uptake mechanism of nanoparticles


Nanotechnology

  • Inorganic hybrids & Nano Metal Assembled Structures for Biological Applications


Antibacterial Formulations & Products

  • Development of antibacterial formulations and biomedical products

Education

Ph.D. Biomaterials (July 2008)

Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology

Thiruvananthapuram, India


M.Tech. Polymer Technology (June 2001)

Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology

Cochin University of Science and Technology

India (First Rank)

B. Tech. Polymer Technology (June 1999)

Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology

Cochin University of Science and Technology

India


BSc. Chemistry (June 1995)

University of Kerala

India


Major Appointments

Professor (2018 Oct 12 - Present)

Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology,

Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin 682022 Kerala, INDIA

Adjunct Professor (2017 - present)

Inter University Centre for Nanomaterials and Devices (IUCND),

Centre for Excellence in Advanced Materials,

Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin-682022, Kerala, India

Associate Professor (2015-2018)

Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology,

Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin 682022 Kerala

Project Scientist (Indo-Japan project) (2014-2015)

Functional Materials Division

National Institute for Inter Disciplinary Science & Technology (NIIST)

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Industrial Estate P.O Trivandrum-695019, India

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2012-2014)

Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Sciences

Institue of Innovative Research

Tokyo Institue of Technology, R1-17,4259 Nagatsuta

Midori-ku, Yokohama 2268503, Japan

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2010-2012)

Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmocology,

University of Illinois College of Medicine,

Peoria, IL, USA

Lecturer (adhoc) (2009-2010)

Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology,

Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682022, India

Researcher (Jan 2008- Nov 2008)

Nanochemistry Research Institute

Department of Applied Chemistry,

Curtin University,

Perth, Australia

Publications

2019-2021

  1. Liz Hannah George, Aswin Arakkal, Prathapan Sreedharan and G. S. Sailaja Injectable polyelectrolyte complex-nascent HAP biodegradable antibiotic delivery system for the treatment of osteomyelitis, Biomedical Materials, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-605X/ac37c5

  2. Praseetha R.Nair, S.Sreeja, and G.S.Sailaja*, Cissus quadrangularis stem derived fiber: a natural osteoinductive substrate for regenerative bone tissue engineering, Cellulose, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-021-04288-6

  3. Praseetha R.Nair, S.Sreeja, and G.S.Sailaja*, Early biomineralizing chitosan–collagen hybrid scaffold with Cissus quadrangularis extract for regenerative bone tissue engineering, New Journal of Chemistry, 2021, DOI: 10.1039/d1nj03687d

  4. K. R, S., P.S, S., & Sailaja, G. S. (2021). Intrinsically radiopaque and antimicrobial cellulose-based surgical sutures from mechanically empowered Agave sisalana plant leaf [10.1039/D1BM01316E]. Biomaterials Science. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1BM01316E

  5. Nair, P., Sreeja, S., & Sailaja, G. S. (2021). Early biomineralizing chitosan-collagen hybrid scaffold with Cissus quadrangularis extract for regenerative bone tissue engineering. New Journal of Chemistry, In Press.

  6. Sneha K.R and G.S. Sailaja, Intrinsically radiopaque biomaterial assortments: A short review on the physical principles, X-ray imageability and state-of-the-art developments, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 13 September 2021,https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TB01513C

  7. Praseetha R.Nair, S.Sreeja, and G.S.Sailaja, In vitro Biomineralization and Osteogenesis of Cissus quadrangularis Stem Extracts: An Osteogenic Regulator for Bone Tissue engineering, Journal of Biosciences, volume 46 (88) 2021, DOI:10.1007/s12038-021-00206-x.

  8. N. S. Sumitha, S. Sreeja, P. J. George Varghese, G. S. Sailaja, A dual functional superparamagnetic system with pH-dependent drug release and hyperthermia potential for chemotherapeutic applications, Materials Chemistry and Physics

  9. N. S. Sumitha, Prabha Prakash, Balagopal N. Nair, G. S. Sailaja, Degradation-Dependent Controlled Delivery of Doxorubicin by Glyoxal Cross-Linked Magnetic and Porous Chitosan Microspheres, ACS Omega, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c02303

  10. Irthasa Aazem, Prasanth Rathinam, Saju Pillai, Gopinathan Honey, Ajith Vengellur, Sarita G. Bhat, G. S. Sailaja, Active Bayerite Underpinned Ag2O/Ag: An Efficient Antibacterial Nanohybrid Combating Microbial Contamination, Metallomics, 2021 ( in press)

  11. P. Sirajunnisa, Liz Hannah George, N. Manoj, S. Prathapan and G. S. Sailaja, Lawsone Derived Zn (II) and Fe (III) Metal-Organic Frameworks with pH-Dependent Emission for Controlled Drug Delivery, New Journal of Chemistry, 2021, DOI: 10.1039/D1NJ01913A

  12. K.R. Sneha, S.Sreeja, G.S. Sailaja*, Radiopacity endowed magnetic nanocomposite with hyperthermia and in vitro mineralization potential: a combinatorial therapeutic system for osteosarcoma, Biomedical Materials, 2021 ( print)

  13. K.R. Sneha, K. R. Sneha, Neenu Benny, Balagopal N. Nair, and G. S. Sailaja*, Natural Rubber Latex Assisted Shape-Attuned Synthesis of Intrinsically Radiopaque and Magnetic Bioceramic Nanocomposite with Hyperthermia Potential for Cancer Therapeutics, 2021, DOI: 10.1039/D1NJ01262B, New Journal of Chemistry, 2021

  14. S. Sreeja, P. Ramesh, P. R. Harikrishna Varma, G.S. Sailaja*, Hierarchically porous osteoinductive Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) scaffold with sustained Doxorubicin delivery for consolidated osteosarcoma treatment and bone defect repair", ACS Biomaterials science and engineering, 2021, 7, 2, 701–717

  15. Aswin A., Irthasa Aazem, Honey G. Ajith Vengellur, Sarita G.Bhat, and G.S. Sailaja*, Antibacterial Polyelectrolytic chitosan derivatives conjugated natural rubber latex films with minimized bacterial adhesion, J Appl Polym Sci, July 2020

  16. K. Shijina, R. Ilathuvalappil, S. Nisa, G.S. Sailaja*, P. Mohamed, B.N.Nair, G.M.Anilkumar, K.Sreekumar, T.Yamaguchi and U.S.Hareesh, Fe3+ stabilized 3D cross-linked glycine-melamine formaldehyde networks as a precursor for highly efficient oxygen reduction catalyst in alkaline media, Materials Letters, Volume 264, April 2020, 127365

  17. Praseetha R. Nair; G.S. Sailaja *. Biomimetic Bone grafts for Bone Tissue Engineering – From Concept to Design. Teresian International Journal of Chemical Science, 2020

  18. Ananjana K, Swetha S, Prabha Prakash, Nishad T, Manoj Komath, B.N.Nair and G.S. Sailaja *., Amino acid inspired tunable superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPION) nanostructures with high magnetic hyperthermia potential for biofunctional applications, New Journal of Chemistry,2020, DOI: 10.1039/C9NJ05343C

  19. S.Sreeja, C.V. Muraleedharan, P.R.H.K.Varma, G.S. Sailaja *, Surface transformed osteoinductive polyethylene terephthalate scaffold as a dual system for bone tissue regeneration, Materials Science and Engineering C, 109, 2020



2015-2018

  1. S. Sasidharan, W, Naoto, G. M. Anilkumar, B. N. Balagopal, G. S. Sailaja, T. Takanori; T. Yamaguchi, Electro-oxidation competency of palladium nanocatalysts over ceria–carbon composite supports during alkaline ethylene glycol oxidation, Catalysis Science & Technology, 2018, 493-501

  2. K. Shijina, R. Illathvalappil, N. S. Sumitha, G.S. Sailaja *, . Kurungot, B. N. Nair, A. P. Mohamed, G. M. Anilkumar, T. Yamaguchi, U. S. Hareesh, Melamine Formaldehyde - Metal-Organic Gel Interpenetrating Polymer Network Derived Intrinsic Fe-N- Doped Porous Graphitic Carbon Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction, New Journal of Chemistry, 2018, 18690-18701

  3. K. Shijina, R. Illathvalappil, S. Kurungot, B N. Nair, A. P.Mohamed, T Yamaguchi, G. M. Anilkumar, U. S. Hareesh, G.S. Sailaja *, Chitosan Intercalated Metal-Organic Gel as a Green Precursor of Fe Entrenched and Fe Distributed N-Doped Mesoporous Graphitic Carbon for Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Chemistry Select, 2017, 8762–8770

  4. G.S. Sailaja *, P. Ramesh, Sajith Vellappally, Sukumaran Anil, H. K. Varma, Biomimetic approaches with smart interfaces for Bone regeneration, J Biomed Sci, 2016 Nov 5;23(1):77 (DOI: 10.1186/s12929-016-0284-x)

  5. G. S. Sailaja, S. Miyanishi, T. Yamaguchi, A durable anion-conducting membrane with packed anion-exchange sites and an aromatic backbone for solid-state alkaline fuel cells, Polymer Chemistry, 2015,7964-7973

  6. G. S. Sailaja, P. Zhang, G. M. Anilkumar, T. Yamaguchi, Anisotropically organized LDH on PVDF: A geometrically templated electrospun substrate for advanced anion conducting membranes, ACS Appl. Mater Interfaces, 2015, 7 (12), pp 6397-6401



2011-2014

  1. G. S. Sailaja, Balagopal. N. Nair, Julian D. Gale, and Yamaguchi; Amino acid inspired microscale organization of metallic nanocrystals; J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 100-106

  2. G. S. Sailaja, Praveen Bhoopathi, Bharthi Gorantla, Chandramu Chetty, Venkateswara Rao Gogineni, Kiran Kumar Velpula, Christoper S. Gondi, J. S. Rao, The secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) induces endoplasmic reticulum stress leading to autophagy-mediated apoptosis in neuroblastoma, Int Journal of Oncology, 42(1), 2013,188-196

  3. B.Gorantla, P. Bhoopathi, C. S. Gondi, G. S. Sailaja, J. S. RAO, Notch signaling regulates tumor-induced angiogenesis in SPARC - overexpressed neuroblastoma, Angiogenesis, 16(1), 2013, 85

  4. G. S. Sailaja, P. Ramesh and H. K. Varma, Effect of surface functionalization on the physicomechanical properties of a novel biofunctional copolymer, J. Applied polymer science, 121(6), 2011, 3509-3511



2007-2010

  1. G. S. Sailaja, P. Ramesh and H. K. Varma, Ultrastructural evaluation of in vitro in mineralized calcium phosphate phase on surface phosphorylated poly (hydroxyethyl meth acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate), Journal of Material science: Materials in Medicine, 21(4); 2010, 1183-1193.

  2. G. S. Sailaja, M. Mohanty, P. V. Mohanan, T. V. Kumary, P. Ramesh, and H. K. Varma, Surface phosphorylated copolymer promotes direct bone bonding, Tissue Engineering Part A, 15(10); 2009, 3061-3069

  3. G. S. Sailaja, K.Sreenivasan, Y.Yokogawa, T.V. Kumary, H K Varma, Bioinspired mineralization and cell adhesion on surface functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) films, Acta Biomaterialia, 5(5) 2009, 1647-1655

  4. G. S. Sailaja, P. Ramesh, H. K.Varma, Hydroxyapatite mouldable formulations using natural rubber latex as a binder, J Biomed Mater Res Part B, Appl Biomater, 82B, 2007, 231-238




2003-2006

  1. G. S. Sailaja, P.Ramesh, T. V. Kumary, H. K. Varma, Human osteosarcoma cell adhesion behavior on hydroxyapatite integrated chitosan-poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complexes, Acta Biomaterialia, 2, 2006, 651-657(listed in top 25 hottest articles-2006)

  2. G. S. Sailaja, T. V. Kumary, H. K. Varma, Biomimetically modified poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) microspheres for bone augmentation, Trends Biomater. Artif. Organs, 20, 2006, 3-6

  3. G. S. Sailaja, T. V. Kumary, H. K. Varma, In vitro mineralization and cell adhesion on surface-modified poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate), Key Eng Mater, 309, 2006, 493-496

  4. G. S. Sailaja, P. Ramesh, H. K. Varma, Swelling behavior of hydroxyapatite filled chitosan-poly(acrylic polyelectrolyte complexes, J. Applied Polym Sci., 100, 2006, 4716-4722

  5. G. S. Sailaja, S. Velayudhan, M. C. Sunny, K. Sreenivasan, H. K. Varma, P. Ramesh, Hydroxyapatite chitosan-poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complexes, J. Mater. Sci., 38, 2003


Patents

Patents - 9

  1. Porous Biodegradable Scaffolds for Regenerative Bone Tissue Engineering (G.S. Sailaja, Praseetha R.Nair, and S. Sreeja; Indian patent; 202141026897; Filed 2021)

  2. A radiopaque surgical suture and method of preparation thereof. ( G.S. Sailaja and K.R. Sneha; Indian Patent: 202141026896; Filed 2021)

  3. Natural Rubber Latex Compound With Layered Double Hydroxide Nano Gel Non-Black Reinforcing Filler ( G.S. Sailaja, Ananjana K., Irthasa azem Indian Patent; 202141030341; Filed 2021)

  4. In situ exfoliated magnetic Layered double hydroxide (LDH) with enhanced magnetic hyperthermia potential for biomedical applications. (G.S. Sailaja, Ananjana K. Manoj Raama Varma; Indian Patent; 202041024102; Filed 2020)

  5. Long-Lived Photoluminescent PMMA Silver Terephthalate Polymer Composite Films with antibacterial activity ( G.S.Sailaja; Liz Hannah George; Indian Patent; 202041003122; Filed 2020)

  6. Anion conducting membrane from LDH ( G.M. Anilkumar, G.S.Sailaja, P.Zhang, T.Yamaguchi; Japanese Patent; 6243312; Granted 2017)

  7. Silver nanoparticles and method of processing the same (Balagopal N. Nair and G.S. Sailaja; Japanese Patent; 5190420; Granted 2013)

  8. Platinum nanoparticles and method of processing the same (Balagopal N. Nair and G.S. Sailaja; Japanese Patent; 5197518; Granted 2013)

  9. Metallic nano-materials made from metallic nanoparticles and method of processing the same (Balagopal N. Nair and G.S. Sailaja; Japanese Patent; 5325037; Granted 2013)



Patents submitted For filing - 1


Awards and Honours

  • SPSI Gold Medal (Society of Polymer Science, India), 2009

  • Listed in top 25 hottest articles, Sciverse Science Direct (G.S.Sailaja, P. Ramesh T V Kumary, H K Varma, Human osteosarcoma cell adhesion behaviour on hydroxy apatitate integrated chitosan- poly(acrylic acid) poly electrolyte complexes, acta biomaterialia, 2, 2006,651-657

  • Best paper award; Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India 2005

  • Young Scientist Award, Govt of Kerala, 2004

  • Travel Awards from Department of Science and Technology (Govt India) Bioceramics-18, Japan 2005 and from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research( Govt India) 7th World Biomaterial Congress, Sydney, Australia 2004

  • Best Poster Awards in Indo- Australian Conference on Biomaterials: 2005 & 2007

  • Honorary associate membership, Society of Biomaterials and Artifical Organs, India 2005

  • Senior Research Fellowship, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt of India (CSIR) 2002

  • SCTIMST Fellowship, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Govt of India 2002

  • University First, M. Tech. polymer Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, India 2001


Projects (Completed and Ongoing)


1. Principal Investigator, Development of Magnetically modulated therapeutically active layered double hydroxide as a nanomedicine with hyperthermia potential for cancer theranostics, DST SERB, 33 lakhs (completed) 2016-2019

2. Principal Investigator Development of antibacterial formulations for preventing nosocomial infections from therapeutically modulated natural rubber latex formulations, DBT, 48 lakhs (completed) 2017-2021

3. Scientist mentor, Preparation and characterization of Cissus Quandrangularis Linn plant extract incorporated chitosan collagen scaffold for bone regeneration, KSCSTE, 22 lakhs (completed) 2017-2020

4. Chancellors Award Project - CUSAT 2020, 5 Cr (One among the 7 investigators) Ongoing 2020-2023

5. Development of an inherently radiopaque, biodegradable and cost effective TACE system with liver regenration potential for the treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma, RUSA- Component 10, 5425000/- PI- Dr. Sailaja G. S. (Principal Investigator ) in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology (sanctioned)


Membership in Professional Bodies


1. Honorary Associate member, Society of Biomaterials and Artificial Organs, India

2. Life member, Society of Polymer Science, India

3. Life member, Materials Research Society, India

4. Member, ACS Rubber chapter, India


Reviewer

ACS, RSC, IOP, Elsevier, Springer, etc