Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) has identified thrust areas of research around which several research projects and studies are designed, cutting across traditional subject boundaries.
The research activities of faculty and students at SSSIHL envision exploration and promotion of socially relevant, rural-friendly, translational research encompassing three domains – Health, Environment and Energy, as elucidated below.
Understanding Disease States
Biomarkers & Therapeutic Targets
The focus here is on biological mechanisms that eventually lead to manifestation of different diseases. Multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted approaches — which include analysis of clinical data; biophysical, biochemical, molecular biology; imaging; cell culture models; metabolomics; genomics; proteomics; computational and animal models (Yeast and Mice) — are being used to answer crucial questions for understanding disease biology. Active research is being pursued to unravel the causes for Bone diseases (Avascular necrosis of femoral head; Rheumatoid arthritis; brittle bone disease; Cerebral palsy); Eye diseases (Different types of glaucoma); Cardiovascular disease (Atherosclerosis); Neurological diseases (Demyelinating disease: Multiple sclerosis, Tumefective demyelinating leshion; Amyloid diseases: Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease and Amylotopic Lateral Sclerosis).
Antibiotic Resistance
Another area of research focus of the faculty of Biosciences is Molecular epidemiology of clinically isolated multidrug resistant gram negative bacteria. They are actively involved in whole genome sequencing and analyses of clinically isolated pathogenic bacteria; bacterial outbreak analysis; molecular epidemiology; and prediction modelling of antibiotic resistance.
Detection and Healing
Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery
There is a pool of ‘drug-like’ compounds, of which a few million have been explored. This has staggering implications in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
The area of research interest involves the synthesis of azole-based flavonones, targeting cytochrome CYP51 enzyme and the study of SAR for biological activity. Our work also involves extraction of gallic acid and arjunolic acid present in the plants, their purification and isolation; and the synthesis of their derivatives. The synthesised and derived bioactive molecules will also be studied by molecular docking.
Computational studies on adsorption interaction of various ions, with naturally occurring molecules, are being carried out.
Pharmaceutical derivatives
Semi-synthetic organic compounds from natural resources are being explored towards anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal activities.
Bio-medical Sensors
The development of bio-medical sensors is another promising area of research; it is expected to lead to the design and fabrication of indigenous, low-cost, mobile-Health sensors. Their research is directed towards exploitation of plasmonic nano-thin films as smart sensor chips in point-of-care diagnostic devices for real-time quantification of biomarkers of different disease states that include: perinatal depression, heart ailments, thyroid dysfunction, hyperbilirubinemia and vector borne diseases, such as dengue.
Alternative Therapy
The faculty at the Department of Chemistry are also exploring the effect of alternative medicines on clinical depression. Their research involves the use of vibrionics medication, targeted muscle relaxation therapies and sound therapy towards prevention and treatment of perinatal depression in patients.
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
The faculty at the Department of Biosciences work on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, where they repair and regenerate the human knee cartilage. They have established an Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) technique at SSSIHL. In this procedure, chondrocytes are extracted from a knee cartilage biopsy and cultured ex vivo in autologous serum.
Medically Active Natural Products
Plants and fungi are a good source of active compounds, with potent pharmaceutical value, and are needed to be identified, quantified and evaluated. Therefore, research in the Department is focused on herb, Trachyspermum ammi L. (Ajwain) and on wild edible mushrooms from the Anantapur Campus. The highlights of the work include identification of phytochemicals, and testing for bio-activities such as anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects in Ajwain; determination of nutritional, nutraceutical components; a fortification study and evaluation of medicinal properties of selected mushrooms.
Medical Imaging
Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Nuclear Imaging modality supplements and complements the existing radiological imaging techniques such as X-Ray, CT, MRI, and PET. The Gamma Camera Imaging system developed by the faculty at the Department of Physics can be used for diagnosing the abnormalities in Heart, Kidneys, Thyroid, Bone hot spots, using novel Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) technology.
Optical Coherence Tomography
The faculty at the Department of Physics are working on the optical frequency comb spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography-based devices for middle-ear (Otitis Media) diagnosis.
Functional Materials
Micro-Nano machining
Faculty at the Department of Physics are involved in fabricating micro-nano channels and substrates using the state-of-the-art femto second laser micromachining. The same group utilizes this technology to develop lab-on-chip opto-fluidic device prototypes for fluorescence-based detection and micro-electroporation of cells.
The faculty are also addressing key issues pertaining to the functional materials to be employed for energy harvesting and storage, photonic, piezoelectric, thermoelectric and biomedical applications.
Investigations into the conversion of waste-to-wealth (such as rice husk and ground nut shells to solar grade silicon, bio-waste to bio-compatible machinable ceramics, etc.), functional materials for a variety of applications that include energy harvesting, prosthetics, space, electrical and electronic engineering, strategic and defense, automotive, green building technologies, etc. are being carried out.
Plasmonic Nanomaterials
Faculty at the Department of Chemistry focus on the synthesis of various nanomaterials and composites of colloids for applications in plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy, sensors and drug delivery.
Bio-materials
A group of researchers at the Department of Chemistry is associating with the design and development of multifunctional materials and composites as bone cement and bone glue. Computational techniques for optimizing bone regeneration parameters and properties of Hydroxyapatite composites are being used for this purpose.
Food and Nutritional Sciences
The faculty of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences are focussing on research related to three major areas of micro and macro nutrient malnutrition, and chronic lifestyle diseases. The various approaches of research include:
Food Metabolomics
Metabolite profiling of nutrients and health-promoting compounds in novel and indigenous food crops such as culinary and herbal microgreens; medicinal pigmented rice varieties; spices; mushrooms; seed and legume sprouts, are being carried out to identify foods rich in essential micronutrients, and those beneficial for diseases such as diabetes. The effect of processing on the content of nutrients and nutraceuticals are also being evaluated.
Food Fortification
Formulation and development of ‘Sai Protein’ based RUSF (Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods); Calcium enriched fruit rolls; Soy-based fruit preparations; Mineral-fortified microgreens and sprouts, etc., are being carried out to address protein-energy, and micronutrient malnutrition.
Functional Food Product Development
Another major area of research is the development of functional and therapeutic foods. Millet-based gluten-free cookies, legume-based baked foods and soup mixes, convenience foods for type II diabetes, probiotic- and prebiotic-enriched dairy and fruit products, aloe gel and chitosan incorporated health foods have been formulated.
Minimisation of Post-harvest Loss and Food Waste Utilisation
The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences are working on environment-friendly bio-based edible coatings have been developed to extend shelf life and minimise post-harvest loss of various fruits and vegetables such as papaya and tomatoes. Studies on the utilisation of by-products and waste from fruit industries, as sources of bioactive compounds and bio-colours, is a recent area of research focus.
Defluoridation
The ground water in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh is known to have high-level fluoride content besides the other contaminants. Almost 90% of villages in the three mandals, viz. Kothacheruvu, Bukkapatnam and Puttaparthi contain fluoride content beyond the permissible limit. This results in numerous health problems that include skeletal and dental fluorosis.
The Department of Chemistry aims at formulating highly efficient defluoridating agents for the effective removal of fluoride to alleviate the existing fluoride menace. The biocompatible and biodegradable polymers – metal ion-based cross-linked composites are synthesised by ‘green protocol’ for effective removal of fluoride from water. This study is being extended, by using composites of blends of different polymers to understand the binding of fluoride with polymer metal-composites. The aim is to develop user-friendly, inert, highly effective defluoridating agents. A water filtration technology, which is useful for heavy metal and fluoride removal using robust polymer composite, is being designed and developed. Moreover, graphene-based macroscopic assemblies with the polymer are synthesised to explore its application in the fields of heavy metal adsorption, sensing, oil spill and dye removal.
Water Quality Monitoring
The Department of Chemistry has taken up the task of assessing the water quality of three mandals in Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh — Kothacheruvu, Bukkapatnam and Puttaparthi — covering 75 villages. The focus here is on understanding the quality of water resources through effective water quality assessment tools. Physico-chemical parameters have been profiled, covering the relevant anions and cations along with pH, total hardness, total alkalinity, conductivity and total dissolved salts. The current tools being employed for water quality assessment include: Geospatial Information System based spatio-temporal study; Multivariate statistical tools for water quality determination; and Hill-piper plots to estimate the Geogenic exposure of ground water. These tools are employed for integrated water shed management by identifying aquifers, reservoirs and drains.
Water Remediation
Nanotechnology has revolutionised the scientific and technological fields. Environmental safety is no exception. One of the most promising and well-developed environmental applications of nanotechnology has been in water remediation and treatment. The presence of contaminants in water is hazardous both to the environment and human health. These need to be removed before it is usable for various needs. Hence, the research concentrates on using nanomaterials for environmental remediation and meeting WHO standards of water.
The main objectives are:
Removal of Toxic pollutants
Heavy metal ions and drugs/pesticides pollute the drinking water in many parts of India. The Departments of Chemistry and Biosciences jointly work on the purification of water from such pollutants. They use specially engineered materials with high adsorption capabilities towards these pollutants. So far they have engineered high-surface nanomaterials for purification of water. They also employ microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment and metal recovery by bio-electrocatalysis.
India is currently the sixth largest consumer of energy in the world and its energy demand is growing at an alarming rate. This necessitates a concerted effort to broaden our energy resources and at the same time a reduction in our energy consumption.
Fuel Cells
Faculty at the Department of Biosciences pursue research on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to harness electrons from bacterial oxidation of substrates. This technique has the potential to address two of the major sustainability issues that confront the globe, viz. wastewater treatment and production of clean energy. Their attempts have been successful in developing novel multi-chambered MFCs and use of carbon dots to enhance its performance.
Thermo-Electric Materials
Half-Heusler thermoelectric materials have attracted extensive research interest over the last two decades owing to their thermal stability, mechanical strength, and moderate efficiency. Three new compounds (HfRhBi, ZrIrBi and ZrRhBi) have been recently found to be stable and have narrow to moderate band gaps. The faculty at the Department of Physics aim at synthesizing these compounds both in the form of nano-powders and thin-films and study them for their thermoelectric applications.
Perovskite Solar Cells
The development of low-cost Perovskite solar cells is being attempted at the Department of Physics. These cells are highly efficient and stable with low processing cost. The focus here has been to improve this technology with innovative flexible, transparent or all-perovskite tandem cell modules by overcoming the limitations of lead toxicity and increased durability.
Super Capacitors
For the development of next generation supercapacitors, Faculty at the Department of Chemistry aim at the synthesis of high surface-area activated carbons from mushrooms, spent mushroom substrates and nano-metal oxide decorated carbon composites.
Piezo-electric Materials for Energy Harvesting
The faculty at the Department of Physics are into the development of energy harvesting devices for ubiquitously harvesting mechanical energies that are dissipated both by men and machines. They are involved in fabricating hybrid piezoelectric and triboelectric devices that could be used to power minor electronic portable devices. The materials for piezoelectric based sensors and actuators are being developed for strategic, space and automotive applications.
Green Building Technologies
Energy efficient materials associated with low thermal conductivities are being synthesized for civil engineering applications. The researchers at both the Physics and Chemistry departments are in the process of developing functional materials for infrared (IR) reflectance coating applications. These coatings on glass panes and roof tops are expected to reflect IR part of the electromagnetic spectrum which in turn provide thermal comfort within the building by maintaining a temperature that would be 5-100C less than that of the ambient temperature.
Magnetic Materials for Energy storage and memory applications
Magnetic nanoparticles exhibit interesting properties including anti-ferromagnetism, super-para-magnetism, and other functional properties due to their quantum size effects. Nanospinel ferrites are not only of great interest in fundamental science, but also have a wide variety of applications.
Thus, the research aims at:
Solar cells
Solar energy is an abundant and perennial source of energy which needs to be tapped as a solution to the increasing energy crisis. Hence, the research aims to develop novel materials that include:
Phase pure pyrite nanomaterials as absorber in solar cell applications
Synthesis of ferroelectric materials for solar energy applications
The faculty of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences are focusing on energy-related research for food processing.
Low energy intensive food processing
Processing of foods using osmotic dehydration and solar drying methods are being explored as avenues for technology transfer to rural women entrepreneurs.