Our research in nanomedicine focuses on the development of biocompatible gold nanoparticles and their surface architecture with tumor receptor specific peptides and tumor avid small molecules. Our overarching approach encompasses tumor cell specific diagnosis and therapy.  The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with metal nanoparticles is presently explored using a wide range of tumor specific gold nanoparticles utilizing various techniques to achieve thermal dissipation of nanoscopic gold under radiofrequency (RF), and X ray irradiation. Early results in tumor bearing mice motivated us to undertake comparative oncology investigations in dogs with spontaneously occurring tumors that mimic human disease—all aimed at clinical translation for treating tumors in humans. Utility of Phytochemical functionalized gold nanoparticles gave us a unique advantage in applying the Physics and Chemistry of gold nanoparticles in transforming Ayurvedic medicine more effective with a strong scientific rationale. This approach has resulted in the discovery of a new medical modality referred to as “Nano Ayurvedic Medicine, which has been recently approved by the United States Patents and Trademarks office. Stellar results from pilot clinical trials in human cancer patients has allowed our corporate licensee to commercialize several products for treating cancers in human patients. Our ongoing research in silver nanomaterials has resulted in antiviral silver nanomaterials with excellent anti COVID-19 characteristics:

Fundamental science of nanoscopic gold highlights the importance of understanding the mechanism or mechanisms of delivering diagnostic and therapeutic payloads selectively to tumor cells/tissue. Undergraduate and graduate students will have opportunities to explore various scientific approaches related to the nature of the nanoparticle(s), the nature of the RF/X ray, beta/gamma radiations of Gold-198/199 or laser radiations that influence diagnosis/therapy, interrelationships of surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) in terms of the chemistry and physics, including the hydrodynamic diameter of the particle, the oxidation state and related magnetic/electronic/photonic properties of various nano cores responsible for producing diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic effects.