Debasis Nayak Editor

Pradipta Ranjan Rauta is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Center for Radiation Oncology Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. He earned his PhD in Life Science from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India; MSc. in Microbiology from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; BSc in Zoology from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. He had also worked as PhD mobility fellow at Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisboa, Portugal during his PhD through Erasmus Mundus fellowship program. Dr. Rauta has more than 10 year research experience in various fields i.e. microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, nanotechnology and cell biology. He has published 23 peer-reviewed journal articles, 2 popular articles, and has presented at many international conferences. He has expertise on nano biomedical research in the following areas: nanotechnology, cell biology, proteomics, molecular biology, immunology, in vivo study and bio techniques (instrumentation) etc. His research areas are mainly involved in developing smart delivery systems for anticancer drugs targeting cancer. Specifically, he has developed multifunctional nanoplatforms comprising a biocompatible polymer, an anticancer drug and cancer-specific ligands that specifically and efficiently target only cancer cells, thereby significantly reducing systemic toxicity in response to chemotherapy. This involves, but is not limited to, fabrication of polymeric nanoparticles, effective drug encapsulation, controlled drug release, functionalization with cancer cell specific ligands for specific targeting and to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy of drugs without systemic toxicity. His current research is focused on designing novel multifunctional gold-based nanotheranostics for advanced cancer. Dr. Rauta has actively contributed to all phases of the research project like concept development and design, wet-lab experiments, data analysis and manuscript (and, grant) preparation. He is associated with many scientific societies as a fellow member such as Indian Science Congress Association, American Society for Microbiology etc. He has reviewed many research articles for international journals from Elsevier, Springer etc. He is also serving as review editor for international journals such as frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology and frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.

Yugal Kishore Mohanta is working as Research Scientist at Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, North Orissa University, Baripada, India. He has received his PhD in Life Sciences from North Orissa University, Baripada, India. He has also successfully completed the BCIL industrial training programme on Plant Tissue Culture sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Among other academic/research achievements, he was awarded as visiting research scholar at Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Belgium sponsored by KU Leuven. Dr. Mohanta has more than 9 years of post-M.Sc. research experience on natural products chemistry, nanotechnology, microbiology and plant biotechnology. He has published 21 research articles, 8 book chapters, 5 popular science articles, and has presented in many national and international conferences. He is currently working on the application of nanotechnology on different aspects such as food safety, biomedical and conservation of natural resources. Besides such scientific activities, Dr. Mohanta is passionately involved in Wildlife Photography and Nature Conservation. Currently he is working as volunteer in the moments like “WeR4River” and “Youth4River” for conservation of Rivers and Water Resources. He is also serving as reviewer in many international journals from Elsevier, Springer etc.

Debasis Nayak is an Assistant Professor and Head in the Department of Zoology, Seemanta Mahavidyalaya, Jharpokharia, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India. Dr. Nayak has earned his PhD in Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, India. M.Sc. in Life Science from Nation Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, India and B.Sc. with Zoology (Honors) from Govt. (Autonomous) College, Rourkela, Odisha, India. Dr. Nayak has research experience of 7 years in nanotechnology, microbiology, immunology and molecular biology. He has published 15 research articles in peer reviewed international journals and has attended and presented in many international conferences. Dr. Nayak has expertise in synthesis of metallic nanoparticles through green synthesis route, preparation of novel drug delivery carriers using gelatin, carrageenan, chitosan and various natural and synthetic polymers for oral, transdermal and parenteral drug delivery. He has wide expertise on handling high end instruments such as scanning electron microscope, Atomic force microscope, XRD, FTIR, flow cytometer and fluorescence microscope. His research is mainly focused on development of cost effective and novel therapeutics using indigenous materials as anticancer agents by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage inside the specific cancer cell without affecting the neighboring normal cells devoid of any additional side effects. Dr. Nayak has reviewed many research articles for international journals and his current research interest are on developing topical gels and ointments containing novel indigenous phytochemicals and organic and inorganic nanoparticles against various forms of cutaneous and malignant skin carcinomas.