Metabolomics at CSIR

 

 

The Biopolymer Modification and Advanced Therapeutics (Bio-MAT) group of the CSIR’s Center for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials conducts research into the development of advanced nanotechnology-based health materials for the management of infectious diseases. Nanotechnology-based therapeutics, often referred to as nanomedicines are well-established and in routine clinical use in the treatment of diseases like cancer. Until recently when lipid nanoparticles were used to deliver mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines, the application of nanomedicines in infectious disease treatment has received attention. The Bio-MAT has however been conducting research into the development of nanotechnology-based therapeutics for the treatment of malaria and other parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases. Recently, we extended our basic research into investigating the impact and interaction of nanomedicines on the biochemical and metabolic systems of infected cells and tissues. Initially, our goal was to improve the therapeutic activities of the nanomedicines, but this has expanded to include the investigation of metabolic biomarkers of toxicity and therapeutic outcomes.

The team currently consists of two senior researchers, a postdoctoral fellow, and a doctoral student. To support the development and growth of this new research field, we are currently collaborating with the metabolomics team at Northwest University. The team is also in the process of establishing a biofluids laboratory in addition to its current Synthetic Chemistry, Chromatography, and Polymer Therapeutics laboratories.