Paulomi Ghosh

Assistant Professor

Work experience:

Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Sciences, Presidency University, (2022-till date)

INSPIRE Faculty Fellow, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, (2017-22)

Postdoctoral Research, Cincinnati Children`s Hospital Medical Center, USA, (2015-17)

Education: 

Ph.D., School of Medical Science & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, (2010-15)

MSc Botany, University of Delhi, (2009)

BSc Botany (HONS), University of Delhi, (2007)

Awards: 

1. Appreciated by Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award in Rashtrapati Bhavan (Indian President House) in 2015.

2. Winner and gold medalist of Department of Science and Technology (DST)-Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Program.

I am a researcher with strong desire for translational work. With this aim, I joined PhD in School of Medical Sciences and Technology, IIT Kharagpur under guidance of Dr. Santanu Dhara in 2010. During my doctoral days, I developed radiopaque (x-ray opaque) polymer based derivatives such as sutures, microspheres, sponges for non invasive real time imaging applications – the product was encouraged for entreprenuership at various national levels.

I also developed variously crosslinked chitosan fibers for tissue engineering applications. The fibers were tested for cyto-compatibility and their ability to induce osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation using bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Thereafter, I joined Cincinnati Childrens` Hospital Medical Center as postdoctral research fellow under guidance of Dr. Patrick Whitlock in 2015. During my postdoctoral period, I fabricated three dimensional bioactive construct using 3D printing for the treatment of large osteochondral defects. 

After coming back to India in 2017, I initiated establishment of a Biomedical Materials Research laboratory in CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology as DST INSPIRE Faculty. 

Presently my group is involved in extraction and purification of keratin protein from different sources such as human hair, chicken feather and yak wool via conventional approaches as well as green chemistry which is subsequently used to fabricate different biomaterials. The biomaterials developed will be further used for production of antibacterial medical textile and as hemostats (blood clotting bandages) – both of which have high potential for commercialization.

I work on the fabrication of biomaterials such as hydrogels, sponges, micro/nanofibers, and 3D-printed scaffolds for tissue regeneration in trauma injuries. I have expertise in the following areas:

Tissue engineering – Tissue engineering is the application of engineering methods to create environments and/or materials that promote cell or tissue growth and function, in vitro and in vivo. I have demonstrated using fibers, hydrogels and 3D printed scaffolds for various osseous and osteochondral tissue engineering applications.

Radiopaque polymer – I have developed a platform technology for generating radiopaque (X-ray opaque) polymer-based derivatives via in situ iodination-cross-linking reactions for real time non-invasive imaging. I have demonstrated time-dependent movement of radiopaque microspheres through gastrointestinal tract in a rat model via delayed CT imaging. The opacity of the radiopaque derivatives was comparable to aluminum of equivalent thickness and commercially available radiopaque tape.

Extramural Projects:

1. Development of nanofiber-reinforced composites and profiling of their oral microbiome for dental applications. Principal Investigator. ICMR (2024-ongoing)

2. Fabrication of sustainable nanofiber from human hair waste for tissue engineering. Principal Investigator. SERB State University Research Excellence (SURE). (2023-ongoing)

3. Local delivery of microspheres containing decellularized extracellular matrix for neo-cartilage formation. Principal Investigator. DST INSPIRE Faculty 2017-2022 (completed).

Administrative Experience

1. Convener of Departmental Bio-entrepreneurship Committee:

2. Member of the Departmental Academic Committee

3. Member of the Departmental Chemical Safety Committee

4. Member of the Departmental Instrument Committee

Presidency University  (2022 onwards)

MSc

Biochemistry and metabolism

Tissue Engineering

Nanobiotechnology

PhD

Cell culture techniques

CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (2018-22)  

Cell and Tissue Engineering 

PhD students

1. Ashmita Mukherjee (Thesis Title: Extraction of Keratin from Human Hair & Fabrication of Keratin-based Biomaterials for Haemorrhage Control) (2021-till date)

2. Shivangi Parhi (Thesis Title: Fabrication, Characterization, and Tissue Engineering Applications of keratin-Polycaprolactone composite nanofibers) (2021-till date)

3. Amrita Das (2023-till date)

Alumni

Master thesis

Sreelekha Dhali, MSc Biotechnology, Presidency University, Thesis title: Assessing macrophage response to nanofibers of varying diameter: Unveiling pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effect: Assessing macrophage response to nanofibers of varying diameter: Unveiling pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effect (2024).

Riya Halder, MSc Biotechnology, Presidency University, Thesis title: Transforming human hair into sustainable keratin nanofiber using deep eutectic solvent: green chemistry approach (2024).         

Ms. Sreyasi Pal (MTech Biotechnology)

Mr. Yogesh Kabutare (MS Pharm)

Ms Ashmita Mukherjee (MS Pharm)

Patents:

1. Inventors: Paulomi Ghosh, Chia-Ying James Lin, Stacey Gruber, Patrick W. Whitlock. Title of invention: Microspheres containing decellularized cartilage induce chondrogenesis in vitro and remain functional after incorporation within a poly(caprolactone) filament useful for fabricating a 3D scaffold. US Patent, serial number: 62/578,037, Date of filing: 27/10/2017.

2. Inventors: Paulomi Ghosh, Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Santanu Dhara. Title of invention: Fiber-cell construct/tissue analogues comprising cell laden unit and process for manufacturing the same thereof. Application number: 278/KOL/2015, Date of Filing: 14/03/2015, Publication date: 1/12/2017.

3. Inventors: Harpreet Singh, Nimmy Francis, Paulomi Ghosh, Santanu Dhara. Title of invention: In situ iodination crosslinking of polymer formulations containing amine functionality for radioopacity, antimicrobial property obtained thereof. Application number: 1342/KOL/2014, Date of filing: 22/12/2014, Publication date: 26/08/2016

4. Inventors: Paulomi Ghosh, Manisit Das, Santanu Dhara. Title of invention: Chitosan based biodegradable materials for biomedical applications. Application number: 566/KOL/2013, Date of filing: 18/05/2013, Publication date: 21/11/2014.

Peer reviewed publications

1. Ashmita Mukherjee, Sreyasi Pal, Shivangi Parhi, Sachin Karki, Pravin G Ingole, Paulomi Ghosh*. One-Pot Extraction of Bioresources from Human Hair via a Zero-Waste Green Route. ACS Omega 2023, 8, 15759-15768. (*Corresponding author).

2. Sreyasi Pal, Ashmita Mukherjee, Paulomi Ghosh*. Imidazolium-based ionic liquid assisted processing of natural biopolymers containing amine/amide functionalities for sustainable fiber production. Materials Today Sustainability 2021, 14, 100082. (*Corresponding author).

3. Shivangi Parhi, Sreyasi Pal, Sujoy K Das, Paulomi Ghosh*. Strategies towards development of antimicrobial biomaterials for dental healthcare applications. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 2021, 118, 4590– 4622. (*Corresponding author).

4. Kamakshi Bankoti, Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Sayanti Datta, Piyali Goswami, Madhurima Roy, Dipankar Das, Sudip Kumar Ghosh, Amit Kumar Das, Analava Mitra, Sagar Pal, Dhrubajyoti Maulik, Bo Su, Paulomi Ghosh, Bikramajit Basu, Santanu Dhara. Dual functionalized injectable hybrid extracellular matrix hydrogel for burn wounds. Biomacromolecules  2021, 22, 2, 514–533. 

5. Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Kamakshi Bankoti, Sayanti Datta, Elavarasan Subramani, Anupam Apoorva, Paulomi Ghosh, Subhodeep Jana, Padmavati Manchikanti, Sabyasachi Roy, Koel Chaudhury, Santanu Dhara. Bioinspired 3D porous human placental derived extracellular matrix/silk fibroin sponges for accelerated bone regeneration. Materials Science and Engineering: C 2020, 113, 110990. 

6. Ashmita Mukherjee, Yogesh H. Kabutare, Paulomi Ghosh*. Dual crosslinked keratin-alginate fibers formed via ionic complexation of amide networks with improved toughness for assembling into braids. Polymer Testing 2020, 81, 106286. (*Corresponding author) 

7. Stacey MS Gruber, Paulomi Ghosh, Karl Wilhelm Mueller, Patrick W Whitlock, Chia-Ying Lin. Novel Process for 3D Printing Decellularized Matrices. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2019, 143, e58720. 

8. Paulomi Ghosh, Stacey M S Gruber, Chia-Ying Lin and Patrick W Whitlock. Microspheres containing decellularized cartilage induce chondrogenesis in vitro and remain functional after incorporation within a poly(caprolactone) filament useful for fabricating a 3D scaffold. Biofabrication 2018, 10, 025007. 

9. Paulomi Ghosh*, Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Dipankar Das, Bhuvaneshwaran Subramanian, Sintu Kumar Samanta, Sabyasachi Roy, Sagar Pal, Sudip Kumar Ghosh and Santanu Dhara. Single-pot biofabrication of living fibers for tissue engineering applications. Journal of Materials Research 2018, 33, 2019-2028. (Focus Issue: 3D printing of Biomaterials, invited article) (*Co-Corresponding author) 

10. Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Kamakshi Bankoti, Sayanti Datta, Elavarasan Subramani, Anupam Apoorva, Paulomi Ghosh, Priti Prasanna Maity, Padmavati Manchikanti, Koel Chaudhury, and Santanu Dhara. Silk sponges ornamented with a placenta-derived extracellular matrix augment full-thickness cutaneous wound healing by stimulating neovascularization and cellular migration. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2018, 10, 16977–16991. 

11. Dipankar  Das,  Arun  Prabhu  Rameshbabu, Paulomi Ghosh, Priyapratim Patra, Santanu Dhara,  and Sagar Pal. Biocompatible nanogel derived from functionalized dextrin  for targeted  delivery  of  doxorubicin  hydrochloride to MG 63 cancer cells. Carbohydrate Polymers 2017, 171, 27–38. 

12. Dipankar Das, Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Priyapratim Patra, Paulomi Ghosh, Santanu Dhara, and Sagar Pal. Biocompatible amphiphilic microgel derived from dextrin and poly(methyl methacrylate) for dual drugs carrier. Polymer 2016, 107, 282–291. 

13. Nimmy K Francis, Harpreet Singh Pawar, Paulomi Ghosh, and Santanu Dhara. In situ iodination cross-linking of silk for radio-opaque antimicrobial surgical sutures. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering 2016, 2, 188–196. 

14. Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Paulomi Ghosh, Elavarasan Subramani, Kamakshi Bankoti, Kausik   Kapat, Sayanti Datta, Priti  Prasana Maity, Bhuvaneshwaran Subramanian, Sabyasachi Roy, Koel Chaudhury, and Santanu Dhara. Investigating the potential of human placenta-derived extracellular matrix sponges coupled with amniotic membrane-derived stem cells for osteochondral tissue engineering, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2016, 4, 613–625. 

15. Dipankar  Das, Priyapratim  Patra, Paulomi Ghosh, Arun  Prabhu  Rameshbabu,  Santanu Dhara,  and  Sagar  Pal.  Dextrin  and  poly  (lactide)-based  biocompatible  and  biodegradable nanogel  for  cancer  targeted  delivery  of  doxorubicin  hydrochloride. Polymer Chemistry 2016, 7, 2965–2975. 

16. Dipankar Das, Paulomi Ghosh, Animesh Ghosh, Chanchal Haldar, Santanu Dhara, Asit Baran Panda, and Sagar Pal. Stimulus-responsive, biodegradable, biocompatible, covalently cross-linked hydrogel based on dextrin and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) for in vitro/in vivo controlled  drug release, ACS Applied  Materials & Interfaces 2015, 7, 14338–14351. 

17. Paulomi  Ghosh,  Arun  Prabhu  Rameshbabu,  Dipankar  Das,  Nimmy  K  Francis,  Harpreet Singh Pawar, Bhuvaneshwaran Subramanian, Sagar Pal, and Santanu Dhara. Covalent cross-links  in  polyampholytic  chitosan  fibers  enhances  bone  regeneration  in  a  rabbit  model, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 2015, 125, 160–169. 

18. Dipankar Das, Paulomi Ghosh, Santanu Dhara, Asit Baran Panda, and Sagar Pal. Dextrin and   poly(acrylic   Acid)   based   biodegradable,   non-cytotoxic,   chemically   crosslinked hydrogel for sustained release of ornidazole and ciprofloxacin. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2015, 7, 4791–4803. 

19. Raghunath Das, Dipankar Das, Paulomi Ghosh, Santanu Dhara, Asit  Baran  Panda,  and Sagar  Pal.  Development  and  application  of  a  nanocomposite  derived  from  crosslinked HPMC  and  Au  nanoparticles  for  colon targeted  drug delivery. RSC Advances, 2015, 5, 27481–27490. 

20. Paulomi Ghosh, Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Nantu Dogra, and Santanu Dhara. 2,5- Dimethoxy 2,5-dihydrofuran cross-linked chitosan fibers enhances bone regeneration in rabbit femur defects. RSC Advances, 2014, 4, 19516–19524. 

21. Paulomi Ghosh,  Manisit  Das, Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, Dipankar Das, Sayanti Datta, Sagar  Pal, Asit Baran Panda, and Santanu  Dhara. Chitosan derivatives cross-linked with iodinated 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran for non-invasive imaging. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014, 6, 17926–17936. 

22. Paulomi Ghosh, Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu, and Santanu Dhara. Citrate cross-linked gels with strain reversibility and viscoelastic behavior accelerate healing of osteochondral defects in a rabbit model. Langmuir, 2014, 30, 8442–8451. 

23. Arun  Prabhu  Rameshbabu,  Saralasrita  Mohanty,  Kamakshi  Bankoti,  Paulomi  Ghosh,  and Santanu Dhara. Effect  of  alumina,  silk  and  ceria  short  fibers  in  reinforcement  of  Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resin, Composites Part B: Engineering, 2015, 70, 238–246. 

24. Raghunath Das, Dipankar Das, Paulomi Ghosh, Animesh Ghosh, and Santanu Dhara, Asit Baran  Panda,  Sagar  Pal. Novel pH responsive graft copolymer based on HPMC and poly (acrylamide) synthesised by microwave irradiation: application in controlled release of ornidazole. Cellulose, 2015, 22, 313–327. 

25. Dipankar  Das,  Raghunath  Das,  Paulomi  Ghosh,  Santanu  Dhara,  Asit  Baran  Panda,  and Sagar  Pal. Dextrin  Cross-linked  with  Poly  (HEMA):  A  novel  hydrogel  for  colon  specific delivery of  ornidazole. RSC Advances, 2013, 3, 25340–25350. 

26. Pallab Datta, Paulomi  Ghosh, Kuntal Ghosh, Pritiprasanna Maity, Sintu Kumar Samanta, Sudip  Kumar Ghosh, Pradeep Kumar Das Mohapatra, Jyotirmoy Chatterjee, and  Santanu Dhara. In vitro ALP and osteocalcin gene expression analysis and in vivo biocompatibility of  N-Methylene phosphonic chitosan nanofibers for bone regeneration. Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, 2013, 9, 870–879.