Overview:

Main focus of our group is developing and/or applying continuum theory (mechanics and thermodynamics) based models and perform experiments to elucidate the role of cell membrane and its mechanical properties in various cell-biological processes. Membranes in a cell are primarily made of lipid bilayer. Understanding the role of lipid bilayer in the functionality of animal cells is key towards the knowhow of fundamental cell biological processes. It is believed that the membrane actively controls its curvature and composition to influence cellular processes such as signaling between proteins, sorting of proteins and lipids, adhesion. One of the key questions in biology is how the complex shapes in organelle such as Golgi network and endoplasmic reticulum are generated and maintained, and how they relate to cell function? Several membrane bound proteins are known to actively participate in generating, regulating and sensing membrane curvature. We have developed mechanics-thermodynamics based models for such curvature sorting of proteins in a biophysical system consisting of a cylindrical membrane tube connected to a giant lipid bilayer vesicle.

Mechanical properties of a membrane play key role in processes such as adhesion and motion of microdomains in lipid bilayer. An important question in mechanics is how adhesion influences the physical behavior of thin structures like vesicles and cells. We will be developing a paradigm for modeling adhesion of soft structures (not just limited to biological membrane) that can deform and rotate by large amounts. Our study will find use in many other areas such as contact of polymers, thin optical fibers, design of novel adhesives.

In recent years, we have started investigate the interaction of a class of macromolecules, synthesized in labratory (of a collaborator), with the lipid bilayer membrane of a giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV). These macromolecules have the significant anitmicrobial activity as well as selectivity. In collaboration with Mintu Porel group at IIT Palakkad, a library of such macromolecules have been synthesized and best candidates for antimicrobial activity are being identified. These macromolecules have potential to replace the natural peptide based antimicrobial drug. However, their interaction with membrane has not been systematically investigated. Our preliminary investigations reveal that these molecules form- pores and/or disrupt- the membrane of a GUV.

ME3070, Design of Machine Elements, IIT Palakkad, 2023

ID1100, Computer Programming (tutor), 2023, 2024

ME1020, Engineering Thermodynamics, IIT Palakkad, 2022

ME5615, Solid Mechanics, IIT Palakkad, 2020, 2022

ME3060, Machine Design Practice, IIT Palakkad, 2020

ME5011, Mathematics for Engineers, IIT Palakkad, 2019, 2020, 2021

ME1130, Engineering Drawing, IIT Palakkad, 2019, 2022

CE1020, Engineering Mechanics, IIT Palakkad, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024

ME10001, Mechanics, IIT Kharagpur, 2017, 2018

ME352, Theory of Mechanisms and Machines, IIT Kanpur 2016.

ESO209, Dynamics, IIT Kanpur 2016.

ME622, Introduction to Continuum Mechanics, IIT Kanpur, 2016.

ME721, Theory of Plasticity, IIT Kanpur, 2015.

ME 724, Mechanics of Biological Membranes, IIT Kanpur, 2011 & 2014.

ME30602, Design of Machine Elements, IIT Kharagpur, 2017, 2018 

ME351, Design of Machine Elements, IIT Kanpur, 2014, 2016

ME 781, Approximate Methods in Engineering Mathematics, IIT Kanpur, 2013.

ME471, Mechanical Engineering Lab (Solid Mechanics), IIT Kanpur, 2013.

BSE 314, Biomechanics, IIT Kanpur, 2012 & 2013.

ME 622, Theory of Elasticity, IIT Kanpur, 2011.

ME 621, Introduction to Solid Mechanics, IIT Kanpur, 2010.

ME 652, Principles of Dynamics, IIT Kanpur, 2010.

MATH 220, Linear Algebra, Penn State University, 2007 & 2008.

MATH 140, Calculus, Penn State University, 2007.

MATH 191, Calculus, Cornell University, 2006.

Current Students:

Mudassir Ul Islam (Ph. D. Candidate at IIT Palakkad)

Sivadas P (Ph. D. Candidate at IIT Palakkad)

Ananta Kumar Nayak (Ph. D. Candidate at CNRS, Grenoble, France) - Supervisor Prof. Chaouqi Misbah

Postdoctoral Scholar:

Krishnan S (PhD, IIT Kanpur, 2022)

Former Members:

Chandra Has (PhD, IIT Bombay): Assistant Professor, GSFC University

Suhail Rizvi (Ph. D., 2016, IIT Kanpur): Assistant Professor, IIT Hyderabad,

Subhradeep Roy (M. Tech., 2012, IIT Kanpur): Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, USA

Pranav Vyas (M. Tech, 2017, IIT Kanpur): Joined PhD Program in Bioengineering, Stanford University

Pankaj Singh (M. Tech, 2012, IIT Kanpur): Founding member of Start-up company OrthoFit after finishing PhD from Cornell University in 2017.

Anish Kumar (Ph. D., 2017, IIT Kanpur); Postdoctoral Scholar, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel,

Paritosh Mahata (Ph. D., 2016, IIT Kanpur): Assistant Professor, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra

Laxminarsimha Rao (Ph. D., 2016, IIT Kanpur): Postdoctoral Scholar, JNCASR, Bangalore

Aishwarya M Kasarla (MS by Research, 2022, IIT Palakkad): Joined PhD Program in Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay

Hemant Singh (M. Tech, 2017, IIT Kanpur): Ogden Consultancy, Gurugram

Harshit Gangwar (M. Tech, 2016, IIT Kanpur): Launched a start-up Company

Soumyadipta Das (M. Tech., 2013, IIT Kanpur): Working in Maruti Suzuki Ltd, Gurugram.

Debapriya Pinaki Mohanty (M. Tech., 2012, IIT Kanpur): Joined PhD program in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University.

Tanmay Mandal (M. Tech., 2012, IIT Kanpur): Working in Tata Motors, Jamshedpur.

Vishal Sharma (M. Tech., 2011, IIT Kanpur): Working in Mercedes Benz, Bangalore.