Joint R & D Centers Convergence and Synergy · Joint R & D Centers Convergence and Synergy Indo-US...

Joint R & D Centers

Convergence and Synergy

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum


The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) established under an agreement between the Governments of India and the United States of America in March 2000, is an automomous, not-for-profit-society that promotes science, technology, engineering and biomedical research through substantive interaction among government, media and industry.

Joint R & D Centers

Convergence and Synergy



Indo-US Science & Technology Forum Joint R & D Centers | Convergence and Synergy

ContentsPreface 5

Biomaterials for Healthcare 6

Magnetic Resonance Technologies in Brain Cancer Imaging 10

Integrated Study of Correlated Electrons in Organic and Inorganic Materials 14

Climate Change and its Impact on the Ecosystem of the Arabian Sea 17

Environmental Lung Diseases 22

Highway and Airport Pavement Engineering 25

Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies 30

Development of Metal-Ceramic Composites through Microwave Processing 33

Nanomaterials for Energy 38

Nanoparticle Aerosol Science and Technology 42

Silk Protein Matrix for Cell Based Tissue Engineering 46

Cell Targeted Diagnostics and Therapeutics Using Nanomaterials 50

Preface To enable Indian and American scientists, researchers and students from academia, laboratories (both public and non-governmental) and industry to carry out joint research activities by leveraging already existing infrastructure and funding available with the partners at both sides, the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum supports linkages established through virtual networked joint centres.

The Indo-US Knowledge R & D Networked Centers and Public-Private Networked Centers aim to encourage joint project implementation on focal areas of thematic and applied research based on synergy of activities and harnessing complementary strengths of performing groups from the two countries. Knowledge R & D Networked Centers may also provide opportunities for integrating research with education, through both student and faculty exchanges. Public-Private Networked Centers, on the other hand, enables to foster academia-industry partnerships by promoting pre-commercial R & D activities having potential towards applied research and product development. These Centers are aimed to capitalize on the scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship in translating ideas from the bench to the market place. More information on the Networked Centers can be accessed at www.indousstf.org.

We at IUSSTF are pleased to provide a flvour of work done by some of such Networked Centers supported by IUSSTF over the years in the past across various thematic areas.

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Indo-US Joint R & D Centers

Joint R & D Centers | Convergence and Synergy

Nodal Host Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India

Project Duration 2008 - 2011 Resources ` 75,97,600

Biomaterials for Healthcare

Indo-US Joint R & D Center on

Objectives

• To conduct research on the development of engineered Nano-biomaterials for bone tissue replacement applications.

• To develop and conduct clinical trials on Polymer based scaffold materials for cartilage tissue engineering application.

• To formulate strategies based on injection molding as well as CAD/CAM based manufacturing route to fabricate complex shaped implant materials.

• To have a focused discussion: How can Biomaterials education in India and USA be strengthened

• Feasibility study for commercialization of successful biomaterial products with the help of private industry

• To train next generation of scientists in an international interdisciplinary collaborative arena

Lead PartnersIndia USA

Bikramjit Basu, S.P. Malhotra, Dhirendra S. Katti & Ashok KumarDept. of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering, IIT Kanpur, [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Thomas J WebsterDivision of Engineering & Dept. of Orthopedics, Brown Univ., Providence, [email protected]

Rinti BanerjeeSchool of Biosciences and Bioengineering & Centre for Nanoscience and Tech., IIT Bombay, [email protected]

C. Mauli AgrawalInst. For Bioengineering & Translational Research, Univ. of Texas at San Antonio, [email protected]

Krishnamurty BalasubramanianNFTDC, [email protected]

Rajendra K. BordiaDept. of Material Science & Engg.Univ. of Washington, [email protected]

Arvind SahaEII, [email protected]

Animesh BosePresident, Shaping Concepts, [email protected]

Work plan/MethodologyFocus Area – I Focus Area –II

Hard Tissue Replacement Soft Tissue ReplacementIIT Kanpur and UTSA•Fabrication and in vitro properties of Polymeric scaffolds for

bone tissue engineering (IIT, Kanpur)• In-vitro and In-vivo studies of polymeric scaffolds (USTA)IIT Kanpur and UoW•Functionally graded porous Ti (UoW) • In vitro studies of functionally graded porous Ti (IIT Kanpur)NFTDC and Brown Univ.•CAD/CAM based designing of Ti based scaffolds (NFTDC) •CNT coated anodized Ti (Brown University)IIT Kanpur and Shaping Concepts, LLC•HAp/Mullite, Glass Ceramic processing and in-vitro studies (IIT-K)• Injection molding of polymer/ceramics based complex

shaped implants (Shaping Concepts, LLC).

IIT K, IITB, NML, UTSA and Brown Univ.•Scaffolds for cartilage tissue

engineering(a) Cryogel (IIT Kanpur)(b) In-situ gelling (IIT Bombay)

•Designing bio-mimetic polymeric nano composites (NML)

NML and Brown Univ.•Designing bio-mimetic polymeric nano

composites (NML) •Biological evaluation of bio-mimetic

nanocomposites (Brown)

Accomplishments / OutcomesIn particular, the Center oversaw the joint development of HA-based electro-conductive composites for bone replacement applications. IIT Kanpur created the composites using the spark plasma sintering route, and the research group of Amar Bhalla and Ruyan Guo at UTSA evaluated their functional properties. Using fluorescent-activated cell sorting and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques, researchers at Brown University investigated the cellular apoptosis at genome level of -HA-based nanoceramic composites fabricated using the SPS route at IIT Kanpur.

IIT Kanpur researchers used electro-spinning techniques to develop poly (vinyl alcohol)–carbon nano fibers and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)–CNF hybrid bio-composites, while cardio myocyte cell-fate processes are studied at Brown University in the context of their potential applications as synthetic patches to treat heart diseases. NML (Jamshedpur) has developed PVA based transparent hydrogels for corneal tissue engineering applications followed by Brown University’s in-vitro study of such materials. Also, IIT Bombay synthesized hydrogel scaffolds for minimally invasive cartilage tissue engineering applications. Brown researchers then investigated the cell adhesion and differentiation of chondrocyte cells in an external electric field.


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Milestones achieved• Cell culture techniques, media requirement for

culturing human dermal fibroblasts and lens epithelial cells were learnt.

• Hydrogels developed at NML Jamshedpur could be successfully studied at Brown University for cell adhesion to two different cell lines: human dermal fibroblasts and human lens epithelial cells.

• Also fibroblasts adhered on PVA hydrogels were checked for their collagen and alkaline phosphatase activity.

NML-Brown collaboration : Outcomes• Freeze-thawing can generate transparent

hydrogels which are stable in aqueous medium without invoking any additional chemical agent.

• Cells respond to topographical features of the hydrogels generated as a function of composition.

• The hydrogel surfaces are more favorable for the attachment of dermal fibroblasts as compared to the lens epithelia cells.

• The secretion of proteins by the cells indicates their normal growth and proliferation within the PVA matrix.

• Addition of RGD does enhance the cell attachment density and hence the alkaline phosphate and collagen activity of the cells.

Center activities in the area of bone-tissue engineering applications

Exchange Visits Name Affiliation Institution Visited

IndIaDhirendra Katti IIT Kanpur Univ. of Texas, San Antonio & Brown Univ.Bikramjit Basu IIT Kanpur UTSA, Shaping Concepts, LLC & Brown Univ.Suprabha Nayar National Metallurgical Laboratory Brown Univ.C. Mauli Agarwal IIT Kanpur & IIT Bombay Univ. of Texas, San AntonioDeepti Dyondi IIT Bombay Brown Univ.Ashutosh Dubey IIT Kanpur Univ. of Texas, San AntonioSushma Kalmodia IIT Kanpur Brown Univ.Bikramjit Basu IIT Kanpur UTSA, Shaping Concepts LLC & Brown Univ.Dhirendra Katti IIT Kanpur UTSA & Brown Univ.Deepti Dyondi IIT Bombay Brown Univ.Sarika Misra NFTDC Hyderabad Univ. of Washington, SeattleA. Rajyalakshmi NFTDC Hyderabad Brown Univ.Siddhi Gupta NML Jamshedpur Brown Univ.A.K. Dubey IIT Kanpur Univ. of Texas, San AntonioAlok Kumar IIT Kanpur Brown Univ.Shilpee Jain IIT Kanpur Brown Univ.

USaRajendra Bordia Univ. of Washington, Seattle IIT, Kanpur, IndiaJustin Seil Brown Univ., USA IIT Kanpur, IndiaTeja Guda Univ. of Texas, San Antonio IIT Kanpur, IndiaNhiem Tran Brown Univ., USA NML JamshedpurErik Taylor Brown Univ., USA IIT BombayAlexander Turner Univ. of Washington, Seattle IIT Kanpur, IndiaNik Hrabe Univ. of Washington, Seattle IIT Kanpur, IndiaDavid a. Stout Brown Univ., USA IIT Kanpur, IndiaDavid Stout Brown University IIT Kanpur, India

Publications1. Shekhar Nath, B. Basu, K. Biswas, K.Wangand R.K. Bordia; J.Am.Cer.Soc., Sintereing, Phase Stability, and

Properties of Calcium Phosphate-Mullite Composites; 2010.2. Nhiem Tran, Aparna Mir, Dhriti Mallik, Arvind Sinha, Suprabha Nayarand Thomas

J. Webster; International Journal of Nanomedicine, in Press, 2010.3. S.A.David, Basu Bikram, Webster Thomas; Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid):Carbon nanofibers composites for

myocardial tissue engineering applications; Sci. direct-Acta Biomaterialia (May 3, 2011).4. Gupta Siddhi, Webster J. Thomas; Evolution of PVA gels prepared without crosslinking agents as a cell

adhesive surface; Springer Science+Business Meia, LLC 2011 (June 4, 2011).5. T. Nhiem, M. Aparna, M. Dhriti, S.Arvind, N.Suprabha & W.J.Thomas; Bacterial effect of iron oxide nanoparticles

on Staphylococcus aureus; Intl. Journal of Nanaomedicine 2010:5 277-2836. V. Rajesh, M.Gopinath, Agrawal. C. Mauli & Katti S. Dhirendra; Surface hydrophilization of electrospun PLGA

micro-/nano-fibers by blending with Pluronic® F-108; Sciendirect-R. Vasitaet al. Polymer 51 (2010) 3706-3714.


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Nodal Host Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

Project Duration 01/11/09 - 31/07/12 Resources ` 21, 71, 000


Objectives

• Implement volumetric MRSI acquisition and reconstruction, MR-diffusion, and MRI-perfusion imaging, on MRI instruments at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

• Evaluate combined advanced MRI methods for diagnostic studies of brain cancer, with emphasis on untreated glioma.

• Develop a database of imaging markers for characterization of different brain lesions.

• Develop computational methods for multiparametric image-based tissue classification, for characterization of multiple tissue types associated with brain cancer, including brain edema, infiltrative tissue, cancer, and abscess.

• Develop new collaborative research and educational programs in the area of brain imaging.

Magnetic Resonance Technologies in Brain Cancer Imaging


Rakesh GuptaSanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India [email protected]

Andrew MaudsleyMiller School of Medicine University of Miami, FL [email protected]

R.K.S. RathoreDepartment of Mathematics and Statistics, Indian Institute of technology, Kanpur, India. [email protected]

Dan SpielmanRadiological Sciences Laboratory, Lucas Center Stanford, [email protected]

Work Plan/Methodology The specific activities undertaken in the project period was as follows:Date Tasks

Oct. 2009 Project ApprovalFinalized development and evaluation of the volumetric MRSI sequence on 3T GE MRI (Spielman). Finalized licensing issues for installing this sequence in the GE MRI in Lucknow.Final specification of clinical research plan, and completion of human research approvals (Gupta).Exchange of ideas and information to design image analysis methods (all PIs).

Feb 2010 to Sept 2010

Installation and testing of MRSI acquisition and processing software at SGPGIMS. Visits of Dr. Maudsley and Mr. Sheriff to Lucknow, India, for software installation and testing, and training. The MRSI and MRI methods were evaluated using studies in phantom objects and normal volunteer subjects. Final definition of multiparametric image analysis methods and instruction on incorporation into the MIDAS software environment (Maudsley, Spielman, and Rathore).

Nov. 2010 Initiation of MR studies in patients referred with evaluation of brain tumor (Gupta). The MRSI sequence was added to the routine brain tumor imaging protocol. Development of image analysis methods for diffusion and perfusion (Rathore).Ongoing support and software development for data processing and image display in the MIDAS package (Maudsley).

Feb. 2011 Gupta visit to Miami for the purpose of reviewing the existing data, performing an initial data analysis, planning of additional development projects and publications.

July 2011 Ms. Roy visit to Miami and Stanford for the purpose of completing integration of data processed in Lucknow into the MIDAS database, and for planning of additional processing and analysis software.

Mar. 2012 Maudsley visit to Lucknow. A final review and analysis of all data was carried out for evaluating the efficacy of the multiparametric imaging methods was initiated. A manuscript describing this work was drafted.

July 2012 Alperin visit to Lucknow. Additional MRI methods were implemented for the purpose of measuring intra-cranial pressure in patients with brain cancer.

Accomplishments / OutcomesCompletion of MR studies of 94 subjects, including 7 of normal controls. Of these 56 studies were selected for analysis as confirmed glioma and being of adequate quality in all imaging studies for analysis. The image data was incorporated into the database used for data processing and analysis at the University of Miami site. Several software developments were implemented to deal with specific requirements of the acquired data.

The following figure illustrates the primary image parameter maps that were obtained. Data was

obtained from a subject with histology-proven glioblastoma (GBM).

Scientific Outcomes: The ROC analysis indicated that DCE-MRI derived relative CBV is most efficient for the aim of glioma grading, and that a combination of parameters from DCE-MRI, DTI, and whole brain MRSI enables classification of gliomas into high and low grade with accuracy near to the classification based on histopathology.

The finding supports the use of a multiparametric MR protocol for tumor diagnosis. Additional findings support the use of the volumetric whole-


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brain MRSI method for improved sampling of brain tumors relative to standard MRS methods provided by the MR instrument manufacturers.

The study demonstrated the value of multiparametric MR data acquisitions and comprehensive data processing approaches enabling combination of

MRS and multiple MRI features, benefit for aiding visual clinical diagnosis.

Bilateral Cooperation and Interactions: Exchange of information, imaging technology, and a unique set of data obtained for an important clinical group of patients.

Exchange VisitsName Affiliation Institute visited/proposed

India

R.K. Gupta SGPGIMS, Lucknow University of Miami

Bhaswati Roy SGPGIMS, Lucknow University of Miami

USA

Professor A. Maudsley University of Miami SGPGIMS, Lucknow

Sulaiman Sheriff University of Miami SGPGIMS, Lucknow

A. Maudsley University of Miami SGPGIMS, Lucknow

N. Alperin University of Miami SGPGIMS, Lucknow

Publications1. A report entitled “Utility of Multiparametric 3T MRI for Glioma Characterization” has been submitted

for publication. 2. A report on MRS findings in the normal-appearing regions of the brain in tumor patients is in

preparation.3. Software is being developed to measure temperature from the MRSI data. This will be applied to

the data acquired under this project and if there are significant new findings this will be developed into a report.

4. An additional finding of the MRSI measurement was detection of increased glycine in a subset of patients. The potential diagnostic value of this finding is unclear, and therefore an analysis will be carried out to test for any association of glycine with the other imaging measures.

5. The data acquired under this project has been made available to Dr. R. Stoyanova (Miami University) who is comparing the extents of tumor volume measurement derived from MRI and the volumetric MRSI. This measurement has potential impact for planning of radiation treatment.

Cross-sectional images at six slices through the brain out of the full volume image data for different MRI maps: a) T2 MRI; b) T1-post contrast MRI; c) NAA; d) Creatine; e) Choline; f) Lactate; g) apparent diffusion (ADC); h) Fractional Anisotropy; and i)

cerebral blood volume (CBV).

Software Generated 1. Import image data for the parameter maps derived from perfusion imaging into the image database

system developed at the University of Miami. This data was provided in a custom data format developed at the IIT Kanpur site.

2. Transfer of data to image display programs for manual image segmentation of brain lesions. This functionality was needed to modify brain tissue segmentation maps to add an additional image feature corresponding to the unidentified (i.e. tumor, edema, and necrosis) tissue and was needed to correct errors in a brain mask caused by the presence of a lesion, and to improve the metabolite signal normalization in the presence of a lesion.

3. Incorporation of an additional tissue type, namely that describing the brain tumor, into three processing and analysis programs of the MIDAS package.

4. Apply spatial transformations to T1 and perfusion maps, which were acquired in a different image orientation.

5. Apply additional preprocessing to the raw MRSI data to account for differences in the data order obtained from the GE scanner at SGPGIMS.

6. Some modifications to existing programs has taken place to incorporate differences in the data and analysis methods for this project, including changes to the MRS analysis to include lactate, and glycine.

Visit of Dr. Maudsley to Lucknow in April 2012


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Nodal Host S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, JD Block, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700098

Project Duration 2007 - 2010 Resources ` 18, 40, 380


Objectives

• To develop a theory to understand the common features between correlated electron oxides and other compounds of transition metals and organic charge-transfer solids (CTS).

• Superconducting CTS have nominally quarter-filled bands and aside from the common band fillings these inorganic systems share two other common features with the organic CTS : strong electron-electron interactions, and (ii) lattice frustration.

• Thus superconducting CTS in all cases have lattice structures that are anisotropic triangular. The inorganic systems that we identified, such as LiTi2O4, MgTi2O4, CuIr2S4 and CuRh2S4 are spinels and the present research activity of this joint center had been focused on spinels.

Integrated Study of Correlated Electrons in Organic and Inorganic Materials

Lead Partners India USA

Tanusri Saha-Dasgupta S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, JD Block, Sector III, Salt [email protected]

Sumitendra MazumdarDept. of Physics University of Arizona Tucson, AZ85721, [email protected]

Dipankar Das Sharma MLS Chair Professor of Physics & Chairman, Centre for Advanced Materials, Indian Association for the Cultivation of SciencesKolkata-700032[ Presently at IISc, Bangalore][email protected]

R. Torsten Clay Dept. of Physics & astronomyMississippi State UniversityPO Drawer 5167, USAMississippi State, MS [email protected]

Students InvolvedIndia USA

Soumyajit Sarkar S.N.Bose National Centre, Kolkata

Hongtao Li University of Arizona, Tucson

Work Plan/MethodologyIn order to incorporate orbital degeneracy, frustration, and the possibility of Peierls order in

multiple directions the following Hamiltonian had been considered for a checkerboard lattice with doubly degenerate metal orbitals at each lattice site.

The Hamiltonian consists of (i) HSSH that contains the kinetic energy and the inter-ion electron-phonon (e-p) coupling, (ii) an orbital-ordering (OO) term HOO and (iii) electron-electron interaction Hee that includes short-range e-e interactions within

each site.

Treating OO and e-p interactions using a standard self-consistent approach derived from the equations:

The self-consistency equations were used iteratively given an initial starting distortion. In the infinite system the OO or the bond distortion would occur for infinitesimally small coupling constants g and a. In finite-size clusters, however, due to the finite-size gaps between successive energy

levels, nonzero coupling constants are required before the symmetry-broken state appears. We, therefore, consider g and a close to the minimum values needed for the broken-symmetry state to occur. We performed calculations for lattices up to 16 x 16 (256 atoms with 512 orbitals).

Integrated Study of Correlated Electrons in Organic and Inorganic Materials

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Indo-US Science & Technology Forum

Exchange VisitsName Affiliation Institute visited

India

Tanusri Saha-Dasgupta S.N.Bose Centre University of Arizona

Soumyajit Sarkar S.N.Bose Centre University of Arizona

D.D. Sharma Cultivation of Sciences University of Arizona

T. Saha-Dasgupta S.N.Bose Centre University of Arizona

USA

Sumit Mazumdar University of Arizona, Tucson S.N.Bose Centre

Sumit Mazumdar University of Arizona, Tucson S.N.Bose Centre

R. Torsten Clay Mississippi State University S.N.Bose Centre

Publications 1. Cooperative orbital ordering and Peierls instability in the checkerboard lattice with doubly degenerate

orbitals R. T. Clay, H. Li, S. Sarkar, S. Mazumdar, and T.Saha-Dasgupta Phys. Rev. B 82, 035108 (2010)

2. Paired electron crystal: Order from frustration in the quarter-filled band S. Dayal, R. T. Clay, H. Li, and S. Mazumdar Phys. Rev. B 83, 245106 (2011)

3. Proposed Orbital Ordering in MnV2O4 from First-Principles Calculations S. Sarkar, T. Maitra, Roser Valentí, and T. Saha-Dasgupta Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 216405 (2009)

4. Density-functional study of the electronic and optical properties of the spinel compound CuIr2S4 Soumyajit Sarkar, Molly De Raychaudhury, and T. Saha-Dasgupta Phys. Rev. B 79, 113104 (2009)

Software generated:Software had been generated to solve the model Hamiltonian incorporating orbital degeneracy, frustration, and the possibility of Peierls order in multiple directions.

Nodal Host National Institute of Oceanography, Goa- 403 004, India



Objectives

• Strengthen and enhance INDO-US collaboration and cooperation in oceanographic research and long-term monitoring.

• Encourage and promote interdisciplinary research and excellence in oceanographic and climate change sciences of the Arabian Sea through optimal use of expertise, resources and technology.

• Create an environment that will encourage scientific curiosity about the oceans and cross-cultural exchange of ideas especially among students and young scientists.

• Inspire and develop a new generation of researchers to investigate climate change issues of relevance to the Indian Ocean and human populations around them.

Climate Change and its Impact on the Ecosystem of the Arabian Sea

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Lead Partners India US

S. G. Prabhu Matondkar Scientist F, Leader Decision Unit PI Joint Centre National Institute of Oceanography Dona Paula, Goa [email protected]

J. I. Goes Senior Scientist Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences 180 McKown Point, W. Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575, USA [email protected]

Work Plan/MethodologyTraining of students/exchanges Pre-cruise meetings:

Year I One student got trained in USA. The training was useful in isolation of harmful algae and bio-optical characteristics of this various harmful algae.

Two US scientists taken part in pre-cruise meeting of planning of the Noctiluca studies in the field.

Year II Two students were trained in grazing and ocean color remote sensing to apply Noctiluca detection from space.

• Two Indian scientists taken part in the pre-cruise planning in the USA and processing of the data in USA.

• Three USA Scientists has taken part in the pre-cruise meetings in India.

Science plan during cruise: Study of reference area and bloom areaBloom area is marked by ocean color images and reference studies are occupied in the bloom free area. The main transects were fixed in the bloom area covering entire bloom area.

Physical ParametersData on wind speed, wind direction, air pressure and air temperature for all stations were recorded on board Sagar Sampada and Sagar Kanya (Figs.). Temperature and salinity was recorded by CTD (Seabird Electronics Inc., USA) system.

Cruise track during study period

Noctiluca miliaris bloom and non-bloom seen during February and March 2009 in the NE Arabian Sea

Chemical parametersNutrients: Water samples from depths based on water column characteristics were collected from different stations using CTD for the estimation of dissolved oxygen, pH and nutrients (Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate and Silicate).

The other parameters used were Yellow substance (C-DOM), Bio-optical Studies, Bio-optical Profiling (IOP Characterization), Biological studies (Phytoplankton Taxonomy, Pigments by HPLC method, Primary Productivity, Microbial studies; Nutrient cycling, new and regenerated production, Photosynthesis versus light measurements, Remote Sensing (Satellite data processing, Chl a Retrieval from IRS P4 OCM) and Sediment trap and new production.

Accomplishments / OutcomesShipboard and satellite data shows that Noctiluca miliaris blooms are becoming an increasingly important component of phytoplankton communities of the Arabian Sea. Phytoplankton cell density, chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration and pigment data collected during a series of five cruises in the northern Arabian Sea in the Northeast Monsoon (NEM, Nov–Jan) and the Spring Intermonsoon (SIM, Mar–May) since 2003 contradicted the established notion that winter

blooms mainly consist of diatom communities.

Recent data show that following the NEM and well into the SIM, phytoplankton populations are dominated by the dinoflagellate Noctiluca miliaris Suriray (synonym Noctiluca scintillans Macartney). In the SIM they were often in association with the well-known blooms of the diazotroph Trichodesmium sp. Large blooms of N. miliaris have also begun making their appearance annually in the Gulf of Oman and off the coast of Oman.

The study uses NASA’s recently developed product of merged SeaWiFS and Aqua-MODIS chl a data to investigate the temporal evolution and spatial extent of these taxonomically validated blooms.

N.miliaris blooms are becoming an annual and widespread feature in the Arabian Sea proceeded by diatoms-dinoflagellates communities and followed by extensive blooms of Trichodesmium (Paper accepted by Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2010).

High Bacterial abundance and production in N. miliaris Bloom areas compared to non-bloom areas. The wide variations in Total Bacterial


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Counts (> 10 fold) are highly unusual from any open- bacteria (Paper accepted by Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2010).

Primary production is only C source in any open ocean and production rates vary from BLOOM to NON BLOOM areas indicates seasonal fast changing conditions in the NE Arabian Sea as the bloom ages and declines.

Noctiluca miliaris, a conspicuously large heterotrophic dinoflagellate containing green symbionts of the prasinophyte Pedimonas noctilucae, has only been observed in the northern Arabian Sea. Since that time expansive blooms have been observed during the winter monsoons. Community composition predicted by the model compares well with coincident microscopic observations (Paper communicated to Geophysical Research Letter, 2010).

Other accomplishmentsDr. S. G. Prabhu Matondkar and Dr. J. I. Goes attended workshop at IIT Kanpur during 7th to 9th December 2008 and made presentation on Joint Centre activities and scientific programme.

Arranged workshop for training on bio-optics in NIO, Goa during 15th to 19th December 2008

inaugurated by Dr. A. Mitra, Executive Director, INDO-US Science and Technology Forum, New Delhi which was attended by other participating institutions.

Planned and executed cruise on Sagar Kanya (SK-256) during 9/02/2009 to 23/02/2009 period as the first phase of the active bloom.

Planned and arranged Sagar Sampada cruise (SS-263) during 26/02/2009 to 13/03/2009 period as the second phase of the bloom study which was attended by participating organizations.

Arranged post cruise meeting at Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad for discussions of results in between US and Indian collaborators.

Planned and arranged third bloom phase cruise SK-258 (18th to 30th April 2009) where all the Indian collaborators has participated.

Planned/ arranged cruise on Sagar Sampada (SS-273) during 5th to 13th March 2010 for study of fourth phase of bloom.

One day workshop at Ahmedabad on 20th January 2010 for discussions and presentations by participating organizations.


India

Suraksha Pednekar Ph.D. Student, NIO, Goa Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Marine Institute n Port Aransas Texas, University of Maine

Sushma G. Parab Post-Doc Fellow, NIO, Goa Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Horn Point Laboratory, Bowdoin University

S. G. Prabhu Matondkar

Scientist FPI Joint Centre, NIO, Goa Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences,

University of Southern CaliforniaR. M. Dwivedi Scientist , Co-PI, SAC, Ahmedabad

USA

J. I. Goes

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science

National Institute of Oceanography, Goa; Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad, India

H. R. do Rosario GomesCollin RoeslerCollin Roesler**J. I. Goes*H. R. do Rosario Gomes*Jeremy Werdell Ph.D. Student, NASAJena Campbell* Ph.D. Student, Texas UniversityPat Glibert* Scientist, Horn Point Laboratory,

Cambridge* Traveled on other projects; ** Traveled by CSIR funding

Publications1. Gomes, H.do.R., Goes, J. I., Matondkar S. G. P., Parab, S. G., Al-Azri, A. R. N., Thoppil, P. G.,

2008. Blooms of Noctiluca miliaris in the Arabian Sea-An in situ and satellite study. Deep- Sea Research I, doi:10.1016/j.dsr. 2008.03.003.

2. Dwivedi, R. M., Raman, M., Babu, K. N., Singh, S. K., Vyas, N. K., Prabhu Matondkar, S. G., 2008. Formation of algal bloom in the northern Arabian Sea deep waters during January-March: a study using pooled in situ and satellite data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 29, 4537-4551.

3. Gomes, H. do R., J. I. Goes, S. G. P. Matondkar, Parab, S. G., A. Al-Azri, P. G. Thoppil, 2009. Unusual Blooms of the Green Noctiluca Miliaris (Dinophyceae) in the Arabian Sea during the Winter Monsoon. In: Indian Ocean: Biogeochemical Processes and Ecological Variability. (Eds), D.Wiggert, R.R. Hood, S.W.A. Naqvi, S.L. Smith, and K.H. Brink (ed.), AGU Book Series.

4. Prabhu Matondkar, S. G., Parab, S. G., Pednekar, S. M., Dwivedi, R. M., Gomes, H., Goes, I., 2010. Composition of phytoplankton assemblages in NE Arabian Sea during bloom of Noctiluca miliaris during 2003-2009 periods – chemotaxonomic and microscopic studies. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology.

5. Basu, S., Prabhu Matondkar, S. G., Furtado, I., 2010. Microbial aspects of the Noctiluca miliaris bloom in the North eastern Arabian Sea. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology.

6. Goes, I., Gomes, H., Prabhu Matondkar, S. G., Thoppil, P., Fasullo, J. T., Al-Azri, A., Dwivedi, R., M., 2010. The response of the Arabian Sea ecosystem to recent climatic trends. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology.

7. Al-Azri, A. R., Piontkovski, S., Al-Hashmi, A., Goes I., Gomes, H., 2010. Chlorophyll a as a measure of seasonal coupling between phytoplankton and the monsoon periods in the Gulf of Oman. Aquatic Ecology.

8. Al-Azri, A., Goes, J. I., Gomes, H., Hashmi, K., 2010. Expansion of harmful algal blooms in the coastal water of Oman, Possible cause. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology.

9. Suresh, T., Prabhu Matondkar, S. G., 2010. Comparison of Measured and Satellite Derived Spectral Diffuse Attenuation Coefficients For the Arabian Sea. International Journal of Remote Sensing (In Press).


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Nodal Host Indian PI’s: CSIR Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, [email protected]

U.S. PI’s: Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, [email protected]



Objectives

• Research in the area of biomass related COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and other lung diseases in non-smokers by utilizing the cohort set up in rural Pune, India, to decrease the burden and mortality of environmental lung diseases.

• Improve the understanding of COPD in non-smokers and help develop novel prevention and therapeutic strategies directed to the affected population in future.

Environmental Lung Diseases


Anurag AgrawalCentre of Excellence for Asthma & Lung DiseasesInstitute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, DU Campus, Mall road, New [email protected]

Shyam BiswalDept. of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health; Johns Hopkins University, MD [email protected]

Bill Brashier | Sneha Limaye Chest Research Institute (CRF), [email protected] | [email protected] Juvekar KEMS Hospital Research Centre, Pune [email protected] Ghosh | Rajesh Gokhale Mitali Mukerji | Shantanu ChowdhuryInstitute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, New [email protected] | [email protected]@igib.res.in | [email protected]

Patrick BreyseCentre for Childhood Asthma in Urban Environment, [email protected]

Greg DietteJHU NIEHS-EPA Children’s Environmental Health & Diseases Prevention Research Centre, School of [email protected]

Robert Wise JHU-NHLBI Specialized Centre for Clinically Oriented Research on [email protected]

Stephanie London | Jane A. Hoppin National Institute of Environment Health [email protected] | [email protected]

Ana Navas-Acien | Rajesh Thimmulappa Anju Singh | Thomas Sussan Bloomberg School of Public Health, [email protected] | [email protected]@jhsph.edu | [email protected]

Work Plan/Methodology• Organize a joint meeting between the US and

Indian partners, with the objectives of: meeting each other, identifying the key priority research questions, understanding the research expertise of the collective group, designing appropriate study methodology and planning the research studies to be undertaken.

• Collecting particulate matter samples from indoor homes in India that use biomass fuel for in vivo animal exposure studies and in vitro cell culture studies to generate pilot data to help and understand the potential biological mechanisms of how biomass fuel smoke particle mediate biological responses.

• Breysse and Diette visit to India and assist in building up a system (particulate cyclone collector) to help collecting particulate matter samples from homes using biomass fuel for cooking. The collected particles to be shipped to IGIB and Johns Hopkins for characterization and mice model studies to study the effect on innate immune response, lung function and carcinogenicity. (Time duration: 6-12 months.)

• Designing of epidemiological and basic research studies to develop the research in the area of biomass related COPD and other lung diseases in non-smokers by utilizing the cohort set up in rural Pune, India to decrease the burden and mortality of environmental lung diseases.

• Submission of research proposal to

appropriate funding agencies in USA, India and other places interested to fund such an initiative. Potential funders aimed to target were: The Welcome Trust, The Bill Gates Melinda Foundation, The Bloomberg Foundation, WHO and NIH. Grant applications to be submitted to different agencies.

Accomplishments / OutcomesObjective 1: met by meetings and brainstorming.Objective 2: The principal finding is Indoor air particulate matter collected from rural Indian homes that use biomass as cooking fuel causes potent neutrophilic inflammation that is mediated through Toll-like receptor signaling.

Objective 3: Work is in progress. Ammeting was held in Feb 2012Objective 4: The Indian and US groups have already leveraged the Indo-US center to successfully apply for a Fogarty basic biomedical grant from the NIH, USA. There also plans for grants with WHO, Gates Foundation, and Wellcome Trust.

Conclusions• Both samples induce inflammation and airway

restriction.• Cow dung PM elicits a greater pulmonary

response than wood PM. • Study would have substantial public health

Environmental Lung Diseases

23


implications for establishing guidelines that could improve the health of billions of

individuals who are exposed daily to biomass smoke.


India

Anurag Agrawal IGIB Johns HopkinsRajesh Pandey IGIB Johns HopkinsAnurag Agrawal IGIB Joint meeting at ATSSundeep Salvi CRF Joint meeting at ATSVeena Muralidharan VRHC Johns HopkinsSneha Limaye CRF Johns HopkinsUSA

Jesse Negherbon Johns Hopkins CRFShyam Biswal Johns Hopkins CRF, IGIBShyam Biswal Johns Hopkins CRF, IGIBShyam Biswal Johns Hopkins CRF, IGIBPatrick Breysse Johns Hopkins CRF

Publications1. Sussan TE, Ingole V, Negherbon J, Fallica J, Wills-Karp M, Horton MR, Breysse PN, Agrawal A,

Juvekar S, Salvi S, Biswal S. Source of biomass cooking fuel is a key determinant of the pulmonary response to indoor air particulate matter. Submitted AJRCCM.

2. S Biswal, S Salvi, PJ Barnes. Indoor Air Pollution: A Global Threat to Lung Health. Submitted PLoS Medicine

Sampling instrument at rural houses, India Sample collection from Households

Nodal Host Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur – 721302

Project Duration 10 Oct. 2008 - 31 Mar. 2010 Resources ` 30,82,400


Objectives

• Research for development of practical guidelines for road and airport pavement construction.

Highway and Airport Pavement Engineering

24




M. Amaranatha ReddyIIT, Kharagpur [email protected]

Rajib Mallick Worcester Polytechnic Institute, [email protected]

Work Plan/Methodology• Identify two typical modified asphalts (IIT-

KGP, IIT-M) based on their availability and demonstrated potential including one crumb rubber modified binder.

• Conduct tests for characterization of these asphalts (IIT-KGP, IIT-M).

• Prepare samples and test samples with different amounts and types of asphalts, including one with unmodified (control) asphalt (IIT-KGP, IIT-M) needed for mix designs to determine the optimum asphalt content.

• Conduct additional testing (IIT-KGP, IIT-M WPI, UTEP) needed to validate the performance of the designed mixes.

• Using test data to simulate pavements with pavement design software to predict cracking and rutting (WPI, UTEP).

• Recommend appropriate amount and type of modified asphalt (IIT-KGP, IIT-M WPI, UTEP)

• Prepare samples using aggregates and asphalts (UTEP, WPI)

• Conduct state of the art testing (such as dynamic modulus, creep compliance and indirect tensile strength of three commonly used dense graded mixes and accelerated testing on mixes to relate test parameters with performance) (WPI, UTEP).

• Generate master curves for mixes (UTEP, WPI).

• Analysis of data and usage in flexible pavement design procedures to simulate appropriate conditions (IIT-M, IIT-KGP)

• Evaluation of the effect of mix properties on thickness (IIT-M, IIT-KGP).

• Recommend appropriate thickness and design procedures (Develop models relating rutting, fatigue and thermal cracking test parameters to the corresponding performances) (IIT-M, IIT-KGP, UTEP, WPI).

Evaluation of Modifier A Evaluation of Modifier B

Control Mix with Aggregate 1, no modifier

Test Mix with Aggregate 1 and modifier

Control Mix with Aggregate 2, no modifier

Test Mix with Aggregate 2

a b c d e f g h

Note: Aggregates 1 and 2 may or may not be the same; a through h represents the different concentrations (percentage of mix or asphalt binder) of the modifier.

MEPDG Study : Preliminary Test PlanSelect twO mODIfIeRS

Select Aggregates and Asphalt

Mix Modifier A with Asphalt at four different contents

Mix Modifier B with Asphalt at four different contents

Select Aggregates and Asphalt

Prepare eight sets of mixes, two with each of

four asphalt contents (no modifier)

Test 4 samples, each for one modifier content, with

Dynamic Shear Rheometer

Test 4 samples, each for one modifier content, with

Dynamic Shear Rheometer

Prepare eight sets of mixes, two with each of

four asphalt contents (no modifier)

Determine air voids and other required volumetric

properties; select optimum asphalt content

Select one modifier content; Prepare eight sets of mixes, two with each of

four asphalt contents

Select one modifier content; Prepare eight sets of mixes, two with each of

four asphalt contents







Compact 9 samples at optimum asphalt content

and subject them to tests that are needed to

specifically evaluate effect of modifier A Compact 9 samples at

optimum asphalt content and subject them to

tests that are needed to specifically evaluate the

effect of modifier A


and subject them to tests that are needed to specifically evaluate the

effect of modifier A


and subject them to tests that are needed to

specifically evaluate effect of modifier A

Compare performance of mixes with and without

Modifier A

Compare performance of mixes with and without

Modifier A

Use the test data to determine effects on appropriate mode of failure, such as

rutting, fatigue and thermal cracking

Select tHRee mIxeS wItH aggRegateS, gRaDatIONS aND aSPHaltS SImIlaR tO tHRee cOmmONly uSeD DeNSe gRaDeD mIxeS

For Mix A, conduct mix design with 8 samples and select optimum

asphalt content

For Mix B, conduct mix design with 8 samples and select optimum asphalt content

For Mix C, conduct mix design with 8 samples and select optimum

asphalt content




Conduct dynamic modulus test, creep compliance test and Indirect tensile Strength test, each with 3 samples, at selected temperature

and frequencies

Conduct dynamic modulus test, creep compliance test and Indirect tensile Strength

test, each with 3 samples, at selected temperature and frequencies

Conduct dynamic modulus test, creep compliance test and Indirect tensile Strength test, each with 3 samples, at selected temperature

and frequencies

Conduct performance testing, such as accelerated testing, on appropriate number

of samples

Conduct performance testing, such as accelerated testing, on appropriate number of samples

Conduct performance testing, such as accelerated testing, on appropriate number of samples

Relate performance to mix properties


26 27



Accomplishments / OutcomesOn Binders• Enhanced pavement service life (resistance to

rutting) twice when compared to unmodified asphalt binder by use of polymer modified asphalt binder.

• Higher viscosity values of unaged (Styrene butadiene styrene-Polymer Modified Bitumen) PMB-40, PMB-70 and (crumb rubber modified bitumen) CRMB-55.

• Higher bitumen content is needed in case modified binders compared to unmodified binder.

• Varied Rheological characteristics of bitumen binders collected from different sources.

• Alternative method to simulate short term and long term aging by RTFO and PAV of some modified binders was developed with normal oven

• Evaluation of the impact of polymer modified binder on the structural performance of asphalt pavements.

• The MEPDG has been utilized to determine the effect of polymer modified binders on the life of asphalt pavements.

• Evaluation of life cycle cost of mixes with and without modified binders.

On Bituminous Mixes• Significantly higher Rutting resistance of

asphalt concrete mixes with unmodified asphalt binder.

• Approx. 4.8 times resistance of Styrene butadiene styrene polymer modified asphalt binder mix of that offered by an unmodified binder mix during laboratory rutting studies.

• Utilization of waste plastic and other modified asphalt reduced the life cycle cost of pavement when compared to unmodified asphalt binder. However pavement with SBS polymer modified asphalt binder resulted in lowest life cycle cost among the alternatives considered in this study.

• Reduction in air voids below (3%) resulted in higher rutting compared to higher air voids (more than 7%) irrespective of type pf binder used in the bituminous mix. However modified binders have shown higher resistance to rutting compared to normal binders.

• Comparable performance characteristics of VG-40 binder mix.

• Higher fatigue life of the dense bituminous mixes with small increment in binder content above optimum binder content.

• Evaluation of Dynamic Modulus (E*) for BC (Bituminous Concrete) which increases with increase in frequency and vice-versa.

Research outcomeIIT Kharagpur : M.Tech Thesis: 06 | Ph D Thesis: 01(partly) | B.Tech Thesis- 01 IIT Madras : M.Tech Thesis: 02 | Ph D Thesis: 02 (Ongoing) , UTEP: Number of M.S. Thesis 1State of the art report on modified binder.


India

M. Amaranatha Reddy IIT Kharagpur

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, USAThe University of Texas ElPaso

B.B.Pandey IIT Kharagpur

Ajit Krishna Singh M.Tech Student, IIT Kharagpur

A. Veeraragavan IIT Madras

S. Anjan Kumar Ph D Student, Madras

USA

Rajib Mallick Worcester Poly Institute (WPI)

IIT Madras, ChennaiIIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur

Carelli Jonathan James MS Student (WPI)

O’ Sullivan Karen Anne MS Student (WPI)

Vivek Tandon University of Texas ElPasoS. Nazarian University of Texas ElPaso IIT Madras, Chennai

Vamsi KrishnaMS StudentUniversity of Texas ElPaso

IIT Madras, Chennai

*- Additional student – for consideration

Workshops/Training ProgramsIndo-US Workshop on Recent Advances in Highway and Airport Pavement Engineering, August 7-8, 2009 IIT Madras

Indo-US Workshop on Highway and Airport Pavement Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities, July 30-31, 2010, IIT Kharagpur.

Publications1. Sasidhar Rao and Amaranatha Reddy M. Rheological Parameters of Crumb Rubber Modified Binders collected

from Different Sources, International Conference on Materials, Mechanics and Management – IMMM 2010, College of Engineering Trivandrum, 13-16 January, 2010.

2. Siddagangaiah, Anjan Kumar (PhD student), Veeraragavan, A (IIT-Madras), Laboratory Investigations on Rutting Resistance of Bituminous Concrete Mixes with Modified Binders, World Conference on Recent Trends in Flexible Pavements, New Delhi, 05 February 2010.

3. Siddagangaiah, Anjan Kumar (PhD student), Veeraragavan, A (IIT-Madras), Saravanan, U and Murali Krishnan, J, Rheological Characterisation of Modified Binders at Mixing and Compaction Temperatures, World Conference on Recent Trends in Flexible Pavements, New Delhi, 05 February 2010.

4. Siddagangaiah, Anjan Kumar (PhD student), Veeraragavan, A (IIT-Madras), and Mallick, Rajib B (WPI). Permanent Deformation Behaviour of Modified Asphalt Mixes - Use Of Polymer And Recycled Waste Materials In India., 11th International Conference on Asphalt Pavements, organized by the International Society of Asphalt Pavements in Nagoya, Japan, August 2010:

5. Anjan Kumar S., (PhD student, IIT-Madras), Hazera Tahseen (M-tech student IIT-Madras), Mallick, Rajib B (WPI) and Veeraragavan, A (IIT-Madras). Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Flexible Pavements with Modified Asphalt Mixes – Indian Experience., 11th International Conference on Asphalt Pavements, organized by the International Society of Asphalt Pavements in Nagoya, Japan, August 2010:

6. Anjan Kumar, S., (PhD student, IIT-Madras) and A. Veeraragavan. Needed Characterisation of Modified Binders in India. Proceedings, New Building Materials and Construction World, India, Volume 14, Issue-3, pp 242-255, 2008

7. Anjan Kumar, S., (PhD student, IIT-Madras) J. Murali Krishnan., (IIT-Madras) and A. Veeraragavan (IIT-Madras). Steady Shear Properties of a Class of Aged Bitumens, 4th International Gulf Conference on Roads (IGCR), Doha, Qatar, 2008

8. Vijay Kakade, Amaranatha Reddy M. Effect of Binder quality and quantity on Rutting Characteristics of Bituminous Mixes, Communicated to Journal of IRC

9. Ajit Krishna Singh, Amaranatha Reddy M. Sudhakar Reddy K. An Alternate to Superpave Aging Methodology for Bitumen Binders Communicated to Journal on IRC.

10. Vamsi K. Pinnamaneni, and Vivek Tandon. Evaluation of Mechanistic –Empirical Pavement Design Guide for the state of Texas. Abstract submitted to TDI congress 2011 meeting.

Book : Road Design, Construction and Management: Challenges and Solution : Even though the principles of pavement engineering are well established, quite often the adoption of even the best principles result in roads that do not survive widely differing soil and environmental conditions and unpredictable traffic conditions.Problems can be more complicated when concepts of sustainability and green engineering are taken into account. A book writing proposal (by the participants of the IUSSTF project) has been accepted for consideration for publication by Springer. The book considers critical problems faced by the pavement engineers, especially in developing countries, and suggests optimal solutions to those problems. Given low labor costs in developing countries the questions is How can one use the existing conditions to the best of their potential and design, construct and manage pavements? The book answers this question and will be useful to in understanding the challenges in pavement engineering and meeting those challenges. It presents in-depth analysis of design, construction and management practices, with a focus on practicality.


28 29



Nodal Host Dept. of civil engineering, IIt madras, chennai, India

Project Duration 2011-13 Resources ` 66, 45, 726


Objectives

• Public and private partnership to develop sustainable programs in research and education

• Evaluation of automated traffic data collection techniques (sensors, loops, video, cell phones, etc.) that will work for traffic conditions with heterogeneity and lack of lane discipline, data monitoring and archiving and traffic modeling using these data for various ITS applications.

• Development of state-of-the-art ITS based traffic monitoring centers at each of these institutions.

• Increase the number of students and faculty involved in the undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs of the IUJC-ITST consortium members.

• Increase the quality and quantity of the transportation workforce by providing international educational opportunities.

• Disseminate JC research results to Indian/ US transportation agencies.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies

Lead PartnersIndia US

Lelitha Devi VanajakshiDepartment of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai [email protected]

Laurence R. Rilett Nebraska Transportation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln [email protected]

Tom V. MathewDept. of Civil engg, IIT, Bombay. [email protected] Gitakrishnan RamaduraiDept. of Civil Engg. [email protected]

Shankar RamDept. of Engg. Design, IIT [email protected]

Boby GeorgeDept. of Electrical Engg., IIT Madras; [email protected]

Darcy BullockProf, School of Civil Engg., Purdue [email protected]

Drs. Elizabeth “Libby” G.Jones [email protected]

Aemal Khattak Dept. of Civil Engg, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln [email protected]

Srinivas PeetaNEXTRANS Center, Purdue Univ., [email protected]

Anuj SharmaDept. of Civil Engg., Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln [email protected]

Work Plan/Methodology The overarching theme of the center is related to ITS data, including monitoring, collection and archiving, and the ways in which this data can be used to solve transportation problems. The JC will leverage the existing ITS test sites (concentrating on urban arterials) and ITS modeling capabilities at the participating universities. Following are the research areas which the collaboration will focus on: • Evaluation of automated traffic data collection

techniques (sensors, loops, video, cell phones etc.)

• Data monitoring and archiving techniques; • Modeling of transportation system with ITS

data

activities planned ITS is, by definition, a multidisciplinary activity which requires researchers from a variety of fields to work collaboratively including transportation engineering, electrical engineering, communications, signal processing, image processing, software and hardware engineering etc. India has a deficit of experienced professionals so the experience of the US investigators will be of great benefit as their knowledge will be helpful during the ITS implementation stage in US.

Conversely, traffic in many cities of USA is becoming more heterogeneous due to relatively large increases in freight-related traffic. Consequently, the current ITS systems need to be made more robust in order to accommodate the wide variety of vehicles on the roads. This challenge is analogous to the one faced by Indian transportation professionals who manage

a transportation system with a wide variety of vehicle types with widely varying operating capacities. Therefore, the experience of Indian researchers in this area will be invaluable to their US counterparts.

Automated data collection is a basic need for any successful ITS implementation. As is widely known, none of the existing data collection technologies are developed for the heterogeneous and less lane disciplined traffic such as the one existing in India. A collaborative research project will be undertaken whereby promising technologies such as inductive, Radar, Infrared, and Video will be analysed for monitoring heterogeneous traffic. Based on the preliminary study, two test beds - one in India and one in the uS - will be identified.

The performance of various data collection technologies will be evaluated. Modification/Development of data collection techniques that can work under heterogeneous conditions will be explored. The significant R&D initiatives in developing detectors that can work under mixed traffic conditions, both intrusive such as loop detectors and non-intrusive including video and radar detections.

The algorithms and models will be developed by the Indian researchers to characterize the heterogeneous traffic conditions that will be extremely useful for US researchers who are only now experiencing significant heterogeneity in their traffic streams. Because these models will better account for the variability and complexity of traffic, the prediction models developed will be more accurate.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies

31


The above activities will involve a significant amount of faculty and student exchange. Specific activities for collaboration include:

• Test bed identification and selection of data collection technologies

• Evaluation of data collection technologies • Data quality control and archiving • Traffic modeling for ITS applications • System integration • Evaluation of ITS systems • Dissemination of findings

Accomplishments / OutcomesIITM–UNL: A test bed is set up in the Rajiv Gandhi Salai in Chennai, India, with various traffic detectors that are sending data in real time to the ITS laboratory. Real time data monitoring is established using wireless and GPRS communication and data archiving is under development. The following off the shelf products are being evaluated and calibrated for Indian conditions: Radar Detector – Smartsensor, Infrared Detector - TIRTL, Video Sensor – Collect-R, and Image processing –Trazer. The following new sensors are being developed: an inductive loop detector (ILD) specifically suited for the less lane-disciplined and heterogeneous traffic conditions, a bluetooth sensor unit and video image processing solutions.

Using these data, traffic models are being developed. The models will be used in the development of methods and technologies to

regulate the movement of road vehicles.

IITB–Purdue: An area of common interest was explored and finalized with Prof. Srinivas Peeta at Purdue University. Mr. Caleb Ronald. Munigety, Research Scholar at IIT Bombay has shown interest in the above study. The broad objective of the study would be to bring out a robust simulation model catering to the needs of mixed traffic conditions which can be thought to be vehicle type dependant. Specifically, the focus would be on the critical analysis of the lateral movements by vehicle type and to bring out the influential variables. Later, the lateral movement decision and execution models would be developed which will form a critical component in the development of the simulation model.

IITM–Purdue: Dynamic origin-destination estimation aims at estimating the time-dependent O-D trips such that the deviations between observed and estimated traffic flow parameters such as link flows or link densities are minimized.

In the case of a general urban network, the challenge is to identify the route choices and departure time based on the time at which the vehicles have been observed at the counting stations. In the case of such large and complicated urban networks, the trip-based information for at least a sample of the vehicle population obtained from license plate studies or Bluetooth surveys could aid in increasing the observability of O-D pair flows. A proper methodology to integrate the different data sources to be developed to increase the reliability of estimation.

Exchange VisitsName of the

Scientist/StudentAffiliation Institute Visited

IndiaLelitha Devi Vanajakshi Assistant Professor Dept. of Civil Engg. IIT Madras, Chennai Univ. of Nebraska Lincoln Gitakrishnan Ramadurai Assistant Professor Dept. of Civil Engg. IIT Madras, Chennai Purdue University Tom Mathew Professor Dept. of Civil Engg. IIT Bombay Mumbai Purdue University Caleb Munigutty Doctoral Student Dept. of Civil Engg. IIT Bombay, Mumbai Purdue University Karthika P.S. Doctoral Student Dept. of Civil Engg., IIT Madras, Chennai Purdue University Bhargava Ram Kanda Dual Degree Student Dept. of Civil Engg., IIT Madras, Univ. of Nebraska LincolnUSASrinivas Peeta Professor Dept. of Civil Engg. Purdue University IIT Madras Laurence R. Rilett Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln IIT- Madras/ IIT- BombayScott Sorensam Graduate Student University of Nebraska-Lincoln IIT-Madras

Nodal Host IIt, Kanpur

Project Duration Year 2008-10 (01/07/08 To 31/03/2010) Resources ` 30, 82, 400.00


Development of Metal-Ceramic Composites through Microwave Processing

Objectives

• To promote exchange of researchers between the participating institutes.

• To establish a proof-of-concept of microwave processing of materials specifically metal powders/ metal-ceramic composites.

• To understand phenomenology of particulate consolidation through the microwave heating and investigate and develop unique microstructural formulations exploiting unique advantages of microwave heating.

• To characterize the properties of microwave sintered composites vis a vis their conventionally sintered counterparts.

• To enhance the properties of microwave sintered composites through alloy design and tailoring the compositions.

•Education and training in microwave processing of materials. • To render assistance to industry and research institutes in microwave

sintering and operational details of equipment design and set-up.

32




Anish UpadhyayaDept. of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering IIT Kanpur [email protected]

Jiann Yang (Jim)Michigan Technological [email protected]

Pradeep GoyalPradeep Metals Ltd., Industrial Microwave Research Center (IMRC), Navi [email protected]

Dinesh AgrawalMicrowave Engineering & Processing CenterMaterials Research InstituteThe Pennsylvania State University [email protected]

Work Plan/Methodology • Fabrication of fine micro structured various

metal-ceramic composites through microwave sintering and powder metallurgy.

• Investigation and development of unique microstructural formulations exploiting unique advantages of microwave heating.

• Characterization of the properties (microstructural; mechanical; tribological) of microwave sintered composites vis a vis their conventionally sintered counterparts.

• Further enhancement of the properties of microwave sintered composites through alloy design and tailoring the compositions.

• Education and training of students affiliated with the participating Institutes.

• Executing exchange of researchers between the participating institutes for conducting experiments and technological/scientific discussions

Summary Collaborative Activities done at IIT Kanpur:• Liquid Phase Sintering of 2712, 6711 and

7775 Aluminum Alloys and their Properties (IIT/K + PSU)

• Microwave Heating of Stainless Steels (IIT/K+PSU)

• Modeling of Microwave Heating of Particulate Metals and Its Application in Sintering of Tungsten-Based Alloys (IIT/K + PSU)

• Microwave Sintering of Bronze (IIT/K + PSU)• Microwave Sintering of W-Ni-Fe Alloy (IIT/K +

PSU)Activities at Industrial Microwave Research Center, Mumbai• Kick-off meeting of the Center: Held on 18

July, 2008 and the primary objective was to apprise to and interact with Indian industries and other R&D centers about the objectives of the IMRC and educate them about the microwave materials processing.

• Sintering of Stainless Steel: Held in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and MPEC, USA.

• Workshop on Microwave Steel making: Held on February 27, 2009.

• Microwave Steel making (IMRC + MTU)• Bulk Metal Heating & Heat Treatments (IMRC)• Visits to MPEC and Michgan Tech. University:

By Dr. Shivanand Borkar from 20th October to 17th Nov. 2008.

• Metal Ore pretreatment in Microwave (MTU+IMRC + IIT/K)

• Upgrade of Microwave Facility at IIT/K and IMRC/Mumbai

MW Sintering Furnace_IITK Continous MW Furance_IMRC

Accomplishments / OutcomesThe research focus has been towards investigating the sintering aspects of ferrous and non-ferrous materials and major findings are summarized as follows:• Microwave Heating of Stainless Steels• Microwave Sintering of Bronze• Microwave Sintering of W-Ni-Fe Alloy

Both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys can be successfully processed through microwave sintering. As compared to conventional heating, microwave sintering results in significant reduction in the processing time ranging from 70-90%. Therefore microwave sintering offers a potentially viable means to consolidate particulate metals, alloys and composites for high performance applications.

SEM image the silicate flux formed during heating in air to 970 C EDS analysis performed on the mid-portion of the silicate flux.

Conclusions• Microwave heating can effectively produce

cracks in the silicate matrix of the high grade metal sulphide ore.

• Heating to temperatures of 400 0C in air/argon reported no mass loss of the sample, important for processing conditions, if microwave pretreatment of the ore was employed to produce cracks, as the mass loss results in gas production mainly in the form of SOx.

• By heating to temperatures in excess of 800 0C in air/argon mass loss is reported from

the formation of voids in the metallic bearing phases of the ore.

• Localized melting occurs within the silicate matrix forming a flux containing all elements found in that region of the sample. As metallic phases heat to high temperatures, the heat is transferred to the neighboring silicate causing it to melt engulfing the metallic bearing within it. This is not good from a mineral processing standpoint as the thermal runaway occurring within the ore causes the economically valuable minerals to be further trapped by the silicate matrix.

Exchange VisitsName Place

IndiaShivanand A. Borkar (Co-PI) Penn State / Michigan Tech

Avijit Mondal (Student) Penn State

Anish Upadhyaya (PI) Penn State / Michigan TechUSDinesh Agrawal (PI) Mumbai

Jiann Y. Hwang (Co-PI) Mumbai / Kanpur

Matthew Andriese (Student) Mumbai / Kanpur


34 35



Publications1. A. Mondal, D. Agrawal and A. Upadhyaya, “Microwave Heating of Pure Copper Powder with Varying Particle

Size and Porosity,” Journal of Microwave Power & Electromagnetic Energy, vol 43, No. 1, pp. 43-1-5 – 10 (2009)

2. A. Mondal, A. Upadhyaya, D. Agrawal, “Microwave Sintering of W-18Cu and W-7Ni3Cu Alloys,” Journal of Microwave Power & Electromagnetic Energy, vol 43, No. 1, pp. 43-1-11 – 16 (2009).

3. C. Padmavathi, A. Upadhyayaa, and D. Agrawal, “Corrosion behavior of microwave-sintered austenitic stainless steel composites “, Scripta Materialia, 57(7), 651-654 (2007).

4. C. Padmavathi, S.S. Panda, D. Agrawal, A. Upadhyaya, “Effect of Microstructural Characteristics on Corrosion Behaviour of Microwave Sintered Stainless Steel Composites,” Innovative Processing and Synthesis of Ceramics, Glasses and Composites: Processing. Proceeding of MS&T 2006, Cincinnati, OH. pp 517-528.

5. Padmavathi Chandran, Dinesh Agrawal, Anish Upadhyaya, “Microwave Sintering of Aluminum Alloys”, in Proc. Ist Global Cong MW Ener Appl August 2008, Japan, pg 153-158 (2008)

6. Avijit Mondal, Anish Upadhyaya, Dinesh Agrawal, “Sintering Advances in Consolidating W Based Alloys”, in Proc. Ist Global Cong MW Ener Appl August 2008, Japan, pg 301-304 (2008)

7. Avijit Mondal, Dinesh Agrawal, Anish Upadhyaya, “Microwave Heating of Pure Copper Powder with Different Particle Size and Porosity”, in Proc. Ist Global Cong MW Ener Appl August 2008, Japan, pg 517-520 (2008)

8. Avijit Mondal, D. Agrawal and A. Upadhyaya, “ Efect of Microwave and Conventional Heating on Sintering Behavior of Tungsten Coated-Copper Powder,” Proc. 2008 Intl Conf on W, Refract & Hardmetals VII, Publ MPIF, pg 3-134 – 3-140 (2008)

9. Avijit Mondal, D. Agrawal and A. Upadhyaya, “ Microwave Sintering of Tunsten Based Alloys,” Proc. 2008 Intl Conf on W, Refract & Hardmetals VII, Publ MPIF, pg 3-122 – 3-132 (2008)

10. C. Padmavathi, G. Joshi, A. Upadhyaya and D. Agrawal, “Effect of Sintering Temperature, Heating Mode and Graphite Addition on the Corrosion response of Austenitic and Ferritic Stainless Steels”, Trans Indian Inst. Mat, 61(2-3), 239-243) 2008)

11. A. Mondal, Anish Upadhyaya, and D. Agrawal, “Microwave and Conventional Sintering of Premixed and Prealloyed Tungsten Heavy Alloys,” MS&T 2008 Proc. pg 2502-2515, (2008)

12. A. Mondal, D. Agrawal, A. Upadhyaya (2010), “Microwave Sintering of Refractory Metals: W, Mo, Re, W-Cu, W-Ni-Cu and W-Ni-Fe Alloys” Journal of Microwave Power & Electromagnetic Energy, In-press.

Under Review:1. A. Mondal, A. Shukla, A. Upadhyaya, D. Agrawal, “Effect of Porosity and Particle Size on Microwave Heating

of Copper,” Science of Sintering. 2. A. Upadhyaya, A. Mondal and D. Agrawal, “Effect of Heating Mode and Copper Content on the Densification

of W-Cu Alloys,” International Journal of Refractory and Hard Materials. 3. A. Mondal, A. Upadhyaya, and D. Agrawal, “Effect of Heating Mode on Sintering of Tungsten,” International

Journal of Refractory and Hard Materials. 4. A. Mondal, A. Upadhyaya, and D. Agrawal, “Effect of Heating Mode and Sintering Temperature on the

Consolidation of 90W-7Ni-3Fe Alloys,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds.

Conference Presentations: (International and National)1. S. Borkar, K. Yelamkar, P. Goyal, A. Mondal, , A. Upadhyaya, D. Agrawal (2009 ), “Effect of Atmosphere

on Microwave Sintering of Stainless Steel” International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technology, 28th June to 3rd July, Singapore. (Presentation).

2. A. Mondal, A. Upadhyaya and D. Agarwal (2009), “Microwave Sintering of W-Cu, W-Ni-Cu and W-Ni-Fe Alloys,” 17th International Plansee Seminar, 25 to 29th May, Reutte, Austria. ( Poster)

3. A. Mondal, A. Upadhyaya and D. Agarwal (2009), “Sintering Advances in Consolidating W and its Alloys,” TMS 2009 Annual Meeting and Exhibition, February 15-19, San Francisco, California. ( Poster)

4. A. Mondal, A. Shukla, A. Upadhyaya and D. Agrawal (2009), “Systematic Study and Modeling of Microwave Absorption and Heating of Porous Copper Powder Compacts as a Function of Particle Size and Initial Porosity,” PM-09 Conference organized by Powder Metallurgical Association of India, Goa, February 16-18.( Presentation)

5. A. Mondal, A. Upadhyaya, and D. Agrawal (2009), “Microwave sintering of W-Cu, W-Ni-Cu alloys,” PM-09 Conference organized by Powder Metallurgical Association of India, Goa, February 16-18. ( Presentation)

6. A. Mondal, D. Agrawal and A. Upadhyaya (2008), “Microwave Heating of Pure Copper Powder with Different Particle Size and Porosity,” Global Congress on Microwave Energy Application, Japan, pp. 517-520.( Paper)

7. A. Mondal, D. Agrawal, and A. Upadhyaya (2008), “Effect of Microwave and Conventional Heating on Sintering Behavior of Tungsten Coated Copper Powder,” Proc. 2008 Intl Conf on W, Refract & Hardmetals VII, Publ MPIF, pp. 3-134 – 3-140. ( Paper)

8. A. Mondal, D. Agrawal, and A. Upadhyaya (2008), “Sintering Advances in Consolidating W Based Alloys,” Global Congress on Microwave Energy Application, Japan, pp. 301-304. ( Paper)

9. A. Mondal, D. Agrawal, and A. Upadhyaya (2008), “Microwave Sintering of Tungsten Based Alloys,” Proc. 2008 Intl Conf on W, Refract & Hardmetals VII, Publ MPIF, pp. 3-122 – 3-132. ( Paper)

10. A. Mondal, D. Agrawal and A. Upadhyaya (2008), “Microwave and Conventional Sintering of Premixed and Prealloyed Tungsten Heavy Alloys,” Materials Science and Technology, Oct 5-9, Pittsburgh, pp. 2502-2515.( Paper).

11. Avijit Mondal, D. Agrawal, A. Upadhyaya, “Microwave and conventional sintering of premixed and pre-alloyed W heavy alloys,” MS&T2008 Intl Conf, Oct. 5-9, 2008, Pittsburgh, PA (Paper)

12. Padma Chandran, D. Agrawal and Anish Upadhyaya, “Mechanical proeprties and corrosion behavior of MW-vacuum sintered Al-alloys,” MS&T2008 Intl Conf, Oct. 5-9, 2008, Pittsburgh, PA (Paper).


36 37



Nodal Host IIt, Kanpur

Project Duration Year 2009-11 Resources ` 78, 90, 220


Nanomaterials for Energy

Objectives

• A new cohort of globally engaged researchers in nanotechnology and energy with appreciation for diverse professional and international cultures.

• Creation of joint research programs of both academic-academic and industry-academic types leading to new discoveries at the interface between nanotechnology and energy.

• Enhancement of collaborative use of cyber infrastructure research and educational resources such as nanoHUB.org and thermalHUB.org.

• Organization and hosting of summer schools and related tutorial materials offered annually to attract strong participation from industrial and academic participants.

• Strengthening of links between academics and global technology companies with R&D centers in the US and India.


G. U. KulkarniChemistry and Physics of Material Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Scientific Research Bangalore [email protected]

Timothy S. FisherMechanical Engg. Dept., Birck Nanotechnology Centre, Purdue University [email protected]

Umesh WaghmareAssociate Prof., Theoretical Sciences Unit, JNCASR, Bangalore [email protected]

Timothy D. SandsDirector, Birck Nanotechnology Centre, Purdue [email protected]

Sunil MurthyGE India Technology Centre, [email protected]

Pankaj SharmaDiscovery Park, Purdue [email protected]

Work Plan/Methodology • Information to be made available on the web

and also through personal interactions to all possible applicants from JNC/ICMS, Purdue and GE.

• Based on the discussions among the PIs and the Co-PIs involving colleagues from both sides, the suitability of a prospective visitor is evaluated and the concerned is invited.

• After scrutinizing the work proposal and obtaining concurrence from the host, a bilateral or a trilateral exchange visit is formally approved by the PIs.

• The joint Centre members also assist in logistics related to visa, travel and stay. Usually, the exchanges produce publication(s) based on the joint work carried out. This serves as a report of the visit.

Accomplishments / Outcomes Metal-semiconductor superlattice thermoelectricsTo understand the microscopic aspects of ScN, ZrN, and HfN relevant to the thermoelectric properties of nitride metal/semiconductor superlattices, the electronic structure was determined, vibrational spectra and thermal properties using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory with a generalized gradient approximation of the exchange correlation energy. There had been found a large energy gap in the phonon dispersions of metallic ZrN and HfN, but a gapless phonon spectrum for ScN spanning the same energy range, this suggests that a reduced thermal conductivity, suitable for thermoelectric applications, should arise in superlattices made with ScN and ZrN or ScN and HfN. To obtain an electronic energy band gap of ScN comparable to experiment, a Hubbard correction with a parameter U (=3.5 eV) was used.

Exfoliated graphite/graphene materials for enhanced interfacial transport

There is a catalyst-free synthesis of cantilevered carbon nanosheet extensions, or petals, from graphite fibers by microwave plasma CVD. Results reveal that the petals grow from the fiber surface layers while preserving graphitic continuity from fiber to the petals. Subtraction of Raman signatures from pristine and decorated fibers reveals a convolution of two underlying peaks at 2687 and 2727 cm-1 that are consistent with profiles of multilayer graphene flakes between 5 and 25 layers. Such structures offer the possibility of minimizing interfacial losses in transport applications, improved interactions with surrounding matrix materials in composites, and a route toward substrate independence for device applications.

Liquid nanosolder for electrical contacts and thermal interfacesAn easy and elegant method of CNT nanocircuit fabrication using a metal organic precursor of Pd, namely, Pd hexadecanethiolate, is presented. This precursor directs the self-assembly of individual CNTs spanning a gap between Au electrodes. This is achieved by first, patterning the precursor along the edges or the gap electrodes, as it enables direct patterning by e beam. Further, thermal activation of the precursor at 250 degrees C leads to metallization and the ohmic electrical contact between the CNTs and the electrodes beneath. A resistive fuse action of the soldered CNTs is observed as well.

Integration of carbon nanotubes for solar, thermal and lighting applicationsInteraction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with electron-donor and -acceptor molecules causes significant changes in the electronic and Raman spectra. Electron-donating molecules such as tetrathiafulvalene and aniline cause


39


changes opposite to those caused by electron-withdrawing molecules such as nitrobenzene and tetracyanoethylene. Thus, a proportion of the semiconducting SWNTs become metallic on electron donation through molecular charge transfer. Electrical resistivity measurements reveal a systematic variation with electron-donating or -withdrawing power of the interacting molecules.

Solid-state hydrogen storageCyclic strain caused by addition and depletion of hydrogen in metal hydride beds results in brittle fracture and subsequent formation of micron-sized, faceted particles which inhibits hydride formation because of poor inter-particle heat conduction that increases the bed’s temperature during exothermic hydriding reactions. This work involves the development of a model for generating loose configurations of metal hydride powder and for assessing the commensurate quasi-static loading characteristics. Triaxial strain is applied to simulate evolution of the solid fraction, coordination number, force network connectivity, and internal

pressure as consolidation occurs in the absence of interparticle friction. These modeling elements form the mechanical basis of a model that will ultimately predict the thermo-mechanical behavior of metal hydride powders and compacts. Behavior of Attolitre water droplets

Working with a biased atomic force microscope (AFM) tip in the tapping mode under ambient atmosphere, attoliter (10-18 L) water droplet patterns have been generated on a patterned carbonaceous surface.

Au Nanoparticle-PDMS CompositesA simple, green synthesis technique for preparing Au nanoparticle-PDMS composites is described. The solid solution nature of the PDMS combined with the surface properties of the nanoparticles imparts unique properties to this composite. We demonstrate the utility of this material for water purification and for chemically-triggered storage and release of compounds toward-drug delivery applications.


IndiaT. Bhuvana JNCASR Purdue UniversityG.U. Kulkarni JNCASR Purdue UniversityU. Waghmare JNCASR Purdue UniversityN.S. Vidhyadhiraja JNCASR Purdue UniversityNarendra Kurra JNCASR Purdue UniversityUSAKyle Smith Purdue University JNCASRTimothy Fisher Purdue University JNCASRKevin McMullen Purdue University JNCASR/GETimothy Fisher Purdue University JNCASRAdina Scott Purdue University JNCASR

Publications1. Contiguous Petal-like Carbon Nanosheet Outgrowths from Graphite Fibers by Plasma CVD, T. Bhuvana, A.

Kumar, A. Sood, R. H. Gerzeski, J. Hu, S. Bhadram, C. Narayana, and T. S. Fisher, ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, 2, 3, 644-648, 2010

2. Self-assembled CNT circuits with ohmic contacts using Pd hexadecanethiolate as in situ solder, Bhuvana T, Smith KC, Fisher TS, Kulkarni GU, NANOSCALE, 1, 2, 271-275, 2009

3. Electronic structure, phonons, and thermal properties of ScN, ZrN, and HfN: A first-principles study, Saha B, Acharya J, Sands TD, Waghmare UV, JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 107, 3, 033715, 2010

4. Thermodynamics of hydrogen vacancies in MgH2 from first-principles calculations and grand-canonical statistical mechanics, Grau-Crespo R, Smith KC, Fisher TS, de Leeuw NH, Waghmare UV, PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 80, 17, 174117, 2009

5. Extraordinary sensitivity of the electronic structure and properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes to molecular charge-transfer, Voggu R, Rout CS, Franklin AD, Fisher TS, Rao CNR, JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C, 112, 34, 13053-13056, 2008

6. N. Kurra, A. Scott and G.U. Kulkarni, Electrocondensation and evaporation of attoliter water droplets: Direct visualization using AFM, NANO RESEARCH, 3, 307 - 316 (2010).

7. A. Scott, R. Gupta and G.U. Kulkarni, A simple water-based Synthesis of Au Nanoparticle-PDMS Composites for Water Purification and targeted Drug-Release, MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY & PHYSICS, (2010) DOI: 10.1002/macp.201000079

8. K. C. Smith, T. S. Fisher, and M. Alam, “Quasi-static Compaction of Metal Hydride Powder,” in Powders and Grains 2009, American Institute of Physics, Vol. 1145, pp. 90-93, Boulder, CO, 2009.

9. Any other outcome emanated: online course “Heat Transport: From Atoms to Continuum” by K.R. Sreenivas and Tim Fisher, with material developed and made available at https://thermalhub.org/groups/jnc_atomstocontinuum.


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Nodal Host Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Project Duration Year 2007-10

Resources ` 22, 63, 560


Objectives

• Nanoparticle synthesis through aerosol routes to support inorganic nanomaterial powder manufacturing and nano-biotechnology applications in the pharmaceutical industry; and

• Computational simulations of atmospheric aerosols and nanoparticles on multiple spatial scales toward understanding their climate and health effects.

Nanoparticle Aerosol Science and Technology

Lead Partners India USA

Chandra VenkataramanDepartment of Chemical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, [email protected]

Pratim Biswas Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis [email protected]

Jayesh Bellare, A.Q. Contractor, Anurag Mehra, Virendra Sethi, A.K.SureshDepartment of Chemical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology

A. KaginalkarCentre for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune

R. Axelbaum Da-Ren ChenWashington University in St. Louis

G.R. CarmichaelThe University of Iowa, USA

S.H. Ehrman University of Maryland, USA

Accomplishments / OutcomesAerosols routes for production of nano-sized controlled-release drug particles.• Development of a mathematical model

from first principles approach to study lung deposition of aerosolized drugs (at IIT Bombay).

• Design nano-sized drug carriers of appropriate sizes to be delivered into deep lung for systemic use (at IIT Bombay and WUStL).

• Validation of model predictions by available experimental data. (at WUStL and IIT Bombay).

Rational design of pulmonary delivery systems for biocompatible nanoparticles.• Synthesis of nano-sized liposome for

maximum drug encapsulation and in-situ characterization of liposome morphology and stability (at IIT Bombay).

• Aerodynamic size of droplets and structural damage to liposomes measured by drug leakage (at IIT Bombay).

• Experimental system design and training on electrospray for aerosolization of liposome suspensions (at WUStL).

• Development of electrospray based aerosolization system for liposome suspension and measurement of aerosol properties of droplets and drug leakage (at IIT Bombay).

• Successful establishment of flame and furnace aerosol reactors for inorganic nanomaterial synthesis at IIT Bombay in collaboration with Washington University.

• Development of a mathematical model from first principles approach to study lung deposition of aerosolized drugs.

• Aerosol synthesis of drug-loaded biodegradable nanoparticle aerosol matrices with controlled particle properties.

• Techniques for the study of aerosol delivery

of nanometer-size liposomal drug-matrices developed in collaboration with U Maryland.

• An exchange with Washington University in St. Louis lead to capacity building in electrospray technology for mono-disperse aerosol generation from liposomal suspensions through ongoing work of doctoral student.

Rational design of pulmonary delivery systems for biocompatible Nanoparticles.Nanometer size liposome production and air jet aerosolization at IIT Bombay

High-temperature aerosol routes for nanoparticle synthesis: Preparation, characterization and applications• Development of high temperature aerosol

reactors (FLAR, FUAR) for gas phase Nanoparticle synthesis.

• Synthesis and characterization of TiO2/CeO2 nanocomposites using FLAR experimental setup for their application in control of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC).

• One step synthesis and characterization of nano-sized crystalline calcium phosphate using FUAR setup for their application as bone substitute material.

• Synthesis, Characterization and Performance Evaluation of In2O3/PANi composite thin film Gas sensors.

Modeling atmospheric transport of aerosols and nanoparticlesThe latest version of STEM model (STEM 2K3, Tracer version) had been ported in parallel mode on a multi-core Linux system at C-DAC, Pune and coupling of WRF model to generate meteorological conditions for driving the chemical transport model.The STEM emission pre-processor module is redeveloped in the study domain over the Indian region.


43


Exchange visitsIndiaActivity 1: Aerosols routes for production of nano-sized controlled-release drug particles

Daren Chen IIT Bombay (29Nov- 2 Dec 2009)

Pratim Biswas IIT Bombay (9-13 Jan. 2010)

Sheryl Ehrman IIT Bombay (Aug10-23, 2008).

Biswas visited IITB (9th -13th January, 2010)

Greg Carmichael visited CDAC, Pune during (December 8-13, 2008)

Greg Carmichael IIT Bombay and CDAC, Pune during (Jan. 4-11, 2010)

USA

Activity 2: Rational design of pulmonary delivery systems for biocompatible nanoparticles

Pratim Biswas made two visits during 2008 (supported with his own funding) to enable interaction on the collaborative work and participated in NAST centre meetingChandra Venkataraman visited Washington University (May 17-22, 2009)Anurag Mehra visited (5th October–12th October, 2009) with Biswas at WUStL and Prof. Ehrman at UMCPSaptarshi visited WUStL (28th June 2009 - 17th Jan 2010)Saptarshi visited UMCP from 17th Jan- 28th Feb 2010

Activity 3 : High-temperature aerosol routes for nanoparticle synthesis:Preparation, characterization and applications

Biswas visited (14-16 June 2008) and meetings at WUStL (Washington University in St. Louis)Biswas visited WUStL (15-18 December 2008) Virendra Sethi visit WUStL (27 September - 17 October 2009)PhD student Ratish Menon visit WUStL (November 2009- February 2010)

Activity 4 : Modeling atmospheric transport of aerosols and nanoparticles

Pankaj Sadavarte visit to U. Iowa (May 10-November 10, 2009)

Mohit Dalvi visit to U. Iowa (May 10-31, 2009)

Chandra Venkataraman visit to U. Iowa (May 10-17, 200

Preshit Dandekar visit to WUStL (6th April- 13th June 2009)

Amol Ashok Pawar visit to WUStL (29th March- 02nd June 2011)

Publications1. Basak, S., V. Tiwari, J. Fan, S. Achilefu, V. Sethi, P. Biswas, “One step bottom-up synthesis of core-shell

type -Fe2O3/ SiO2 nanocomposite and surface functionalize with Cypate-II for biomedical applications”, to be submitted to Journal of Material Research.

2. Chattopadhyay S., L.B.Modesto-Lopez, C.Venkataraman, and P.Biswas (2010). Size distribution and morphology of liposome aerosols generated by two methodologies. Aerosol Sci. Technol. In review.

3. Chattopadhyay S, C. Venkataraman, S. Ehrman, and J. Bellare (2009). Aerosol deliver of nanometer sized liposome suspensions, Poster paper No. 7A.04, Conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research, October 26-30, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

4. Chattopadhyay S, L.B.Modesto-Lopez, C.Venkataraman, and P.Biswas (2009). Aerosolization of nanometer-sized liposome suspension by electrospray, Poster paper No. 7A.05, Conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research, October 26-30, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

5. Chattopadhyay S, C. Venkataraman, and P. Biswas, (2010). Nanoparticle aerosol generation from liposome suspensions. Oral paper No. G04, Conference of the Indian Aerosol Science and Technology Association, March 24-26, 2010, Bose Institute, Darjeeling, India.

6. Chattopadhyay S, C. Venkataraman, S. Ehrman, C.Y.Chiang, L.C. Lai and W.A. Chiou (2010). Influence on Air Jet Nebulization on in-situ properties of nanometer liposome, The 13th Congress of the Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineers (APCChE 2010), October 5-8, Taipei.

7. Carmichael, G., C. Venkataraman, B. Adhikary, and S. Kulkarni (2009). Black Carbon and its Role in Climate, AIChE Annual Meeting, November, Nashville, TN.

8. Dandekar, P., C. Venkataraman, and A. Mehra (2010). Pulmonary targeting of Nanoparticles Drug Matrices. Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery 23, 1-11, DOI: 10.1089/jamp.2009.0784

9. Pawar A.A., Chen D. and Venkataraman C. , “Droplet-phase synthesis of drug loaded nanoparticle aerosol lipid matrices for controlled drug delivery” to be submitted to Journal of Controlled Release.

10. Pawar, A.A., Chen, D. and Venkataraman, C., (2011) Influence of precursor solvent physical properties on drug release rates from biodegradable nanoparticle aerosol matrices; Poster paper No. 734, submitted in, Conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research, October 3-7, Orlando, FL, USA.

11. Sadavarte, P., C. Venkataraman, S. Kulkarni, G. Carmichael, K. Sharma and A. Kaginalkar (2010). Aerosol transport and atmospheric extinction over India using the STEM model, Poster paper No. A06, Conference

of the Indian Aerosol Science and Technology Association. March 24-26, Bose Institute, Darjeeling, India. (Recipient of a Best Poster Award).

12. Tiwari, V., Menon, R., Shah, M. K., Sethi, V., Biswas, P., (2010). Photo-oxidation of organic pollutant using metal oxide nano-composites. International Conference on Environmental Health and Technology, March 15-17, IIT Kanpur.

13. Tiwari, V., J. Jiang, V. Sethi, and P. Biswas (2008). One step synthesis of noble metaltitanium dioxide nanocomposites in a Flame Aerosol Reactor, Applied Catalysis A: General, 345(2), 241-246.


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Nodal Host Indian Institute of technology, Kharagpur

Project Duration 2007-10 (March 01, 2008 to February 28, 2010) Resources ` 50, 33, 700


Objectives

• Measurements of mechanical properties of different types of engineered pure silk and blended for tissue engineering applications constructs.

• Biomechanical, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and structural analysis of the cartilaginous tissue/ construct formed in vitro upon culture of chondrocytes in the fibroin/chitosan 3D scaffolds.

• Optimization of bovine joint chondrocyte cell seeding density on cell viability, morphology and biochemical properties of 3-D engineered cartilage constructs.

• Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow cells on nonmulberry and mulberry silk gland fibroin 3D scaffolds.

• Design of novel hybrid protein by combining specific domains of mulberry fibroin and sericin to be used as new biomaterial.

Silk Protein Matrix for Cell Based Tissue Engineering


S. C. KunduDepartment of BiotechnologyIndian Institute of Technology, [email protected]

Robert SahDepartment of BioengineeringUniversity of California, San [email protected]

Dulal PandaSchool of Biosciences and BioengineeringIndian Institute of Technology, Bombay

David L. KaplanDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringTufts University

Alexey TerskikhBurnham Institute for Medical Research

Work Plan/Methodology Silkworm CollectionThe 5th instar larvae of Indian tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta were collected from local tasar silk farms and Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons from Debra Sericulture farm, West Midnapore, West Bengal, India. The posterior silk glands of fully-grown 5th instar larvae were dissected for extraction of silk protein fibroin using established methods (Mandal and Kundu, 2008, Kundu et al, 2008) i.e. the glands were washed in distilled water to remove the traces of sericin, then squeezed with fine forceps to extrude out the protein. The protein was collected as aliquots and kept in –200 C.

Preparation of silk protein fibroin aqueous solution:• From non-mulberry silkworm A. mylitta silk

glands• From mulberry silkworm B. mori silk cocoons• Scaffolds preparation and treatment• Tissue Culture• Digestion of scaffolds• Biochemical assays• Live dead assay• Collagen assay by hydroxyproline assay• Histology (Alcian blue staining)• Immunohistochemical staining• Biomechanical testing

Accomplishments / OutcomesIn-vitro tissue engineering of cartilage had been studied using chondrocytes and 3 D porous scaffolds. Cartilaginous constructs were formed from SF scaffolds seeded with varying initial cell densities. The biochemical content of native cartilage matrix molecules increased with cell density and concomitantly, biomechanical properties of the engineered tissue also demonstrated enhanced load-bearing properties for the seeded constructs compared to non-seeded

scaffolds. The results indicate the importance of cell seeding density in the development of cartilaginous tissue.

SF protein and chitosan-blended polyelectrolyte complex porous scaffolds are also being studied for cartilage tissue engineering in vitro. The scaffolds seeded with chondrocytes were incubated and analyzed for biochemical, biomechanical and histological properties. Blended scaffolds modulated production and deposition of extracellular matrix molecules, sulfated glycosaminoglycan and type II collagen, and also enhanced compressive properties. These results suggest a possible benefit of tissue engineering with material blends.

Formation of new biomaterials from novel hybrid proteins combining specific domains of mulberry fibroin and sericin has produced recombinant silk-sericin like proteins. Silk sericin gene design and cloning, protein expression in bacteria, recombinant protein purification and macrophage response studies have been conducted to examine the direct activation of the innate immune response by such materials.

• Rat bone marrow stem cells cultured on 3D scaffolds made up of non-mulberry and mulberry silk gland fibroin for 28 days under static conditions in osteogenic and adipogenic media respectively led to induction of differentiation. Proliferation and spreading of fibroblasts and bone marrow cells on silk scaffolds were observed to be dependent on scaffold porosity as revealed through confocal microscopic observations. Histological analysis shows osteogenic differentiation within silk scaffolds resulting in extensive mineralization in the form of deposited nodules as observed through intense Alizarin Red S staining. Similarly, adipogenesis was marked by the presence of lipid droplets within scaffolds on staining with Oil Red O. Real-time


47


PCR studies reveal higher transcript levels for osteopontin (Spp1), osteocalcin (Bglap2) and osteonectin (Sparc) genes under osteogenic conditions. Similarly, upregulated adipogenic gene expression was observed within A. mylitta and B. mori scaffolds under adipogenic conditions for Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and adipocyte binding protein (aP2) genes. The results suggest suitability of silk fibroin protein 3D scaffolds as natural biopolymer for potential bone and adipose tissue engineering applications. The scaffolds are mechanically robust and show homogenous pore distribution with high porosity and interconnected pore walls. Low immunogenicity of fabricated silk scaffolds as estimated through TNF release indicates its potential as future biopolymeric graft material.

• The biomechanical properties of scaffolds are also a regulatory factor for indwelling cells. Thus, the static and dynamic mechanical properties of porous scaffolds fabricated from mulberry and non-mulberry SF proteins have been compared.

• Human Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can generate in vitro a variety of cells including those of neural crest. A suitable culture condition for these stem cells to proliferate and differentiate in non-mulberry SF scaffolds is being developed. Constructs are being examined for morphology, expression of specific proteins, and biomechanical properties. The results will help to define the 3-D microenvironment of scaffolds based on SF appropriate for differentiation of ESCs into specific cell types.

Pictographs of live/dead staining of scaffolds with initial seeding of (A, B) 25 million cells/ml, (C, D) 50 million cells/ml, or (E, F) 100

million cells/ml. Scale bars are 500 mm (A, C, E) and 100 mm (B, D, F).


IndiaS. C. Kundu

IIT Kharagpur UCSD and Tufts University

S. C. KunduMs Nandana BhardwajMs Sarmistha TalukdarMs Sunita NayakS. C. KunduMs Banani Kundu

USA

Robert L. Sah

UCSDIIT Kharagpur

Ms Jacqueline GreenMs Q.T. NguyenRobert L. SahDavid L. Kaplan Tufts University

Publications1. Mandal BB, Kundu Sc. (2009). Calcium alginate beads embedded in silk fibroin as 3D dual drug

releasing scaffolds. Biomaterials 30:5170-5177.IF-7.882. Mandal BB, Kundu Sc. (2009). Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow cells

on non-mulberry and mulberry silk gland fibroin 3D scaffolds Biomaterials 30: 5019-5030. IF-7.88.3. Mandal BB, Mann JK, Kundu Sc (2009) Silk fibroin/gelatin multilayered films as a model system for

controlled drug release. European J Pharmaceutical Sciences 37: 160-171.IF-2.54. Mandal BB, T Das, Kundu Sc (2009) Non-bioengineered silk gland fibroin protein micromolded

matrices to study cell-surface interactions Biomedical Microdevices 11: 467-476.IF-3.35. Mandal BB, Kapoor S and Kundu Sc (2009). Silk fibroin/ polyacrylamide semiinterpenetrating

network hydrogels for controlled drug release. Biomaterials 30: 2826-2836.IF-7.886. Mandal BB and Kundu Sc. Biospinning by silkworms: Bioengineered silk fiber matrices for tissue

engineering applications. Acta Biomaterialia 6: 360-371.IF-4.8.7. Khire T, Kundu J, Kundu S. c., and Yadavalli V. The fractal self-assembly of the silk protein sericin.

Soft Matter 6:2066-2071. IF-4.58. Bhardwaj N, Nguyen QT, Chen AC, Kaplan DL, Sah RL, Kundu Sc. Potential of 3-D tissue

constructs engineered from bovine chondrocyte / silk fibroinchitosan for in vitro cartilage tissue engineering. Biomaterials 2011b; 32: 5773-81.IF-7.88

9. Talukdar S, Nguyen QT, Chen AC, Sah RL, Kundu Sc. Effect of initial cell seeding density on 3D-engineered silk fibroin scaffolds for articular cartilage tissue engineering. Biomaterials. 2011; 32: 8927-37.IF-7.88


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Nodal Host Amrita Centre for Nanosciences & molecular medicine (acNSmm), Kochi, Kerala

Project Duration July 2010 to July 2012 Resources ` 44, 93, 825


Objectives

• Have distinguished scientists from both sides to travel to the other country and provide tutorial lectures and facilitate the joint research by students

• Support the mobilities of PhD students so that they can benefit from the interactions with faculty and resources of the other country

• Create a cadre of trained professionals in this emerging field

• Cell targeted generation of various tissues by simulating the micro-nano environment and delivery of appropriate bio-molecules (chemokines, growth factors, differentiation factors etc).

• Diagnostics and therapeutic targeting of cancer.

Cell Targeted Diagnostics and Therapeutics Using Nanomaterials


Shanti NairAmrita Centre for Nanosciences & Molecular Medicine (ACNSMM), Kochi, [email protected]

Antonios Mikos (Lead PI)Dept. of BioengineeringRice University, Houston [email protected]

Shireen ValiCell Works Research India (p) Ltd., [email protected]

Sarah HeilshornDept. of Materials Science & EngineeringStanford Univ., [email protected]

Lakshmi NairOrthopedic Surgery & Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering Depts.Univ. of [email protected]

Mark WongOral & Maxillofacial surgery, Univ. of Texas Health Sciences Center, [email protected]

Work Plan/Methodology • Use electrospun micro-nano fibers to regenerate

tissues such as bone and cartilage.• Use gel based matrices for cartilage and cardiac tissue

engineering.• Electrospinning scaffolds for sustained release of

drugs for oral cancer.• Systems biology studies to predict the effects of specific

molecules on gene expression (with Cellworks).

Accomplishments / OutcomesGiridharan work at Rice: Development of locally implantable nanoparticle based gel system for interferon delivery (Objective c)- prepared a novel locally implantable gel based interferon delivery system, wherein IFN is better stabilized and released in a sustained manner over a period of ~ 21 days.

Physical characterization of electrospun ELP. SEM of fibers spun from aqueous solutions of (a) 20% and (b) 35% w/w ELP. (c) Histograms and Gaussian fits of nanofiber width and thickness (n>100) from both solutions. (d) An implantable bulk fabric in PBS, and (e) a representative tensile stress-strain curve.

CARS microscopy of rat marrow stromal cells (rMSC) after 24 h in standard conditions on electrospun ELP-RGD

Praveen’s work at Stanford: Microfluidic device assembly & Gradient generation of vascular growth factors (Objective a and b)Microfluidic devices were fabricated to study the following ECM cues:• Concentration of soluble growth factors.• Shear stress induced by fluidic motion.• Interaction with substrate-bound ligands.


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Nitya’swork at UConn Health Centre: Scaffolds for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering (Objective a and b) and Diagnostics of Embryonic Stem Cells using magnetic nHaP contrast agents (Objective c)- two separate scaffolds were combined and adult stem cells were differentiated into two cell types giving rise to a composite osteochondral tissue. The scaffolds were:

For Osteogenic support: Electrospun scaffold PCL with Hydoxyapatite(HAp) (0.36%)

For Chondrocyte support: Alginic acid/hyaluronic acid composite hydrogelPatrick’s (Stanford) work at Amrita: Electrospinning of 3D Engineered Protein Nanomaterials (Objective a and b) - Electrospinning is a known technique that can be used to impose fibrous structure on our material. For this, we need to know what kinds of fibers are produced by electrospinning the elastin-like proteins, and what fiber diameters we can achieve under reasonable conditions.

Experiments Conducted:HFP is frequently used to electrospin collagen, but also used to electrospin elastin. However, it is highly toxic. So, the aim is trying to optimize the conditions with water and, ethanol/PBS.

Increasing flow rate, measured in µL/min, and weight percent in solvent have been shown to increase fiber thickness.

Distinct fiber radius from each condition over a range from 50 to 1000 nm. After a hydration cycle, scanning electron microscopy will be done to confirm fiber size. Then by the use of imaging software to calculate a mean and standard deviation for fiber diameter.

Hydrated gels (2.5%) will be evaluated for mechanical stiffness using compressive rheology. Solvation of the spun gel will be assessed by taking a time course of hydrated mass. We will keep the gel at 37 ºC to prevent dissolution.

Erica’s (Rice) work at Amrita: Micro-Nano Scaffolds for Articular Cartilage Regeneration (Objective a and b)

As part of this study the following scaffolds were generated: 3D PCL microfiber scaffolds, 3D PCL micro and PCL nanofiber composite scaffolds and finally 3D PCL-fibrin Nanofiber scaffolds. The cell attachment and proliferation of MSCs were best on the micro-nano 3D composite scaffolds of PCL-fibrin. The micro-nano PCL-fibrin composite 3D electrospun scaffolds also gave the best results for chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Amrita’s Collaboration with Cellworks: Combination of small molecule inhibitors for cancer therapy (Objective c)

Delivery of multiple small molecules for cancer therapy using nanoparticle delivery systems, the small molecules of interest and Cellworks conducted the computational analysis to understand the concentration and sequence of each of these molecules for efficient cancer therapy. Validation of results with bioinformatics to validate the results of Cellworks.

Heilshorn work with Cellworks: (Objective a and b)Investigating how cells respond to exposure of certain enzymes that may be used as therapeutic triggers. For example, the Heilshorn laboratory has developed a novel biomaterial that degrades on demand in response to the enzyme urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). They have used these biomaterials to create 3-D patterns within tissue engineering scaffolds that deliver multiple biomolecules with distinct spatial and temporal release profiles. The Cellworks team was able to recapitulate these experimental results using their computational simulation of fibroblast cells and to predict several signaling antagonists that may block the secretion of the uPA inhibitor without damaging the cells. The Heilshorn laboratory is now experimentally testing these signaling antagonists to determine if they do indeed enable the uPA enzyme triggering to occur in the presence of cells.

Tony’s work with Cellworks: (Objective a and b)Exploring the effects of a model inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-γ), as well as of known osteogenic growth factors, including bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, BMP-7 and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-γ1), on bone regeneration. The specific objectives of this collaboration are:

To elucidate the effect of increased TNF-γ signaling (e.g., 10-100 fold increase) on osteogenic gene

expression in an osteoblast and in a fibroblast, as well as in the following co-cultures: macrophage-fibroblast, macrophage-osteoblast, osteoblast-fibroblast, and osteoblast-osteoclast. The specific osteogenic genes monitored were: RUNX2, BMP-2, osteocalcin, osterix, type 1 collagen (COL1A2), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

To determine the effect of increased BMP-2 signaling (e.g., increase by 4 fold) on osteogenic gene expression in an osteoblast and in a fibroblast.

To predict potential input signals that would stimulate increased production (i.e., at least a 3 fold increase) of the osteogenic growth factors BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-7, and TGF-γ1, by native bone cells, including: fibroblasts, macrophages, osteoclasts, and osteoblasts.

Other AccomplishmentsRice Seminars by Dr Tony Mikos conducted at Amrita: • A.G. Mikos, “Injectable Cell-Laden Hydrogel

Composites for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering,” Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research

Center, Kochi, India, March 21, 2011.• A.G. Mikos, “Modulation of Chondrogenic and

Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells through Signals in the Extracellular Microenvironment,” Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Kochi, India, March 25, 2011.

Seminars by Dr Sarah Heilshorn at Amrita:• Engineering the Cellular Environment: Microfluidic

Devices• Engineering the Cellular Environment: Protein

Biomaterials

Classroom interactive lectures:• Matrix mechanics and stem cell differentiation• Nanotechnology to enable co-culture tissue

engineering

U Conn Seminars by Dr. Lakshmi at Amrita:• Injectable lactoferrin gel as a novel osteogenic

material• Development of osteo-conductive scaffolds for

bone regeneration

Joint Course in Nano Bioengineering in planning between Partners

Exchange VisitsName Affiliation Institute Visited

IndiaKrishnaprasad Chennazhi Associate Professor StanfordManzoor Professor RiceTony Mikos Professor Amrita and CellworksSarah Heilshorn Asst. Professor Amrita and CellworksLakshmi Nair Asst. Professor Amrita and CellworksCato Laurencin Professor Amrita and CellworksNitya Student UConnGiridharan Student RicePraveen Student StanfordBinulal Sathay Student RicePatrick Benitez Student Amrita and Cellworks

Erica Levorson Student Amrita and Cellworks

Publicationsi. Research Publications generated and / or planned:1) Praveen.G, Hui Xu, Sarah.C.Heilshorn, Shanthikumar.V.Nair and Krishna Prasad Chennazhi.

Optimization of reciprocal growth factor delivery on 3D microfluidic platform and micro matrices to induce in vitro angiogenesis. Submitted to Microfluidics and Nanofluidics.

2) Praveen.G, Hui Xu, Sarah.C.Heilshorn, Shanthikumar. V. Nair and Krishna Prasad Chennazhi. Optimization of growth factor delivery to induce in vitro angiogenesis: An approach based on 3D microfluidic platform and scaffolds containing fibrin nanoparticles. In proceedings of the International Conference of Nanoscience and Technology (ICONSAT), January 2012.

3) Patrick L. Benitez, Jeffrey A. Sweet, Helen Fink, Krishna P. Chennazhi, Shantikumar .V. Nair, Annika Enejder, and Sarah C. Heilshorn. Sequence-specific crosslinking of electrospun elastin-like protein preserves bioactivity and native-like mechanics. Accepted in Advanced Healthcare Materials.


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4) E.J. Levorson, P.R. Sreerekha, K.P. Chennazhi, F.K. Kasper, S.V. Nair, and A.G. Mikos, Fabrication and Characterization of Multiscale Electrospun Scaffolds for Cartilage Regeneration. Biomed. Mat. In press

5) Sowmya Srinivasan, R. Jayakumar, K. P. Chennazhi, Erica J. Levorson, Antonios G. Mikos, S. V. Nair. Multiscale Fibrous Scaffolds in Regenerative Medicine. Advances in Polymer Science 2012; 246: 1-20.

6) Nitya Ganesh, Shantikumar V. Nair, Lakshmi S. Nair. Biomaterials based approach to Osteochondral Tissue Engineering. Functional Tissue Engineering Strategies and Insights.(Freeman Ed) Taylor and Francis, (Accepted) (2012).

7) Nitya Ganesh, Craig Hanna, Shantikumar V. Nair, Lakshmi S. Nair. Enzymatically Cross-linked Alginic-Hyaluronic acid Composite Hydrogels As Cell Delivery Vehicles. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. Submitted (2012).

8) A nano-polymeric gel system for the stable and sustained release of interferon, Giridharan L M, Mikos A, Wang M, Shantikumar Nair and Manzoor K, in preparartion

9) Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha on Osteogenic Gene Expression of Osteoblast Cultures and Co-Cultures, Paschalia M. Mountziaris, F. Kurtis Kasper, Shireen Vali and Antonios G. Mikos, in preparation

ii. Patents in preparartion (to be filed and requires some additional data in process):1. An injectable polymer-interferon nanoparticle gel system, Giridharan L M, Mikos A, Wang M,

Shantikumar Nair and Manzoor K2. A distributed nanostructured scaffold for growth of vascularized tissue, Binulal Sathay,

Shantikumar Nair and Antonios Mikos3. Micro-nano scaffolds for cartilage tissue applications, Erica Levorson, Antonios Mikos,

Krishnaprasad Chennazhi and Shantikumar Nair, in preparation

iii. Any other outcome emanated:1. NanoBio 2012 conference in Feb 2012 was a seminal international conference that highlighted the

accomplishments of the JC.2. Both Stanford and Rice team visited Cellworks and initiated preliminary studies to investigate the

systems biology aspects related to tissue engineering.

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January 2013

Joint R & D Centers Convergence and Synergy · Joint R & D Centers Convergence and Synergy Indo-US...

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