Dr. Mamoni Dash received her PhD degree  from the University of Pisa, Italy. She undertook post-doctoral research firstly in the research group of Professor Emo Chiellini, BIOLab, University of Pisa, Italy, and subsequently at the Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ghent University, Belgium, in the research group of Professor Peter Dubruel. Her research interest lies in the interdisciplinary area of polymers, and currently focuses on the development of polymers as biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. For more details please visit tbtmamonidash.

Academic Qualifications:

Ph.D. from School of Biomolecular Sciences (BIOS), University Pisa, Italy

M.Sc. (Chemistry) from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

B.Sc. (Chemistry) from Government College, Rourkela

Research Experience: 

Ramalingaswami Fellow: Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India, December 2017 – till date

Young Scientist- Start-up Research Grant (DST-SERB) – National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, 2016

Postdoctoral Research Associate: Ghent University, Belgium, 2013

Postdoctoral Fellow: Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Ghent University, Belgium, 2011

Postdoctoral Fellow: BIOLab, University Pisa, Italy, 2010

Research Interest

Biomaterials are intended to interface with biological systems to assist the body to heal, to engineer functional tissues outside of the body for organ replacement; and to deliver drugs safely and efficiently. The field has evidenced a plethora of materials with focus on properties specific to applications. Biomaterials are no longer bioinert but bioactive and can be designed with controlled structure and dynamic functionality to integrate with biological complexity and perform tailored, high-level functions in the body. The research team will focus on developing rationale designs for new biomaterials as delivery vehicles to regulate repair and regeneration. Following will be the broad research areas of focus:

Designing of biomaterials

The focus will be on design, fabrication and characterization of bioactive, biodegradable materials and investigating their interaction with biological entities, both in terms of their fundamental aspects and with specific applications for tissue engineering purposes in mind. The aim is the repair and functional restoration of tissues or organs by means of scaffolds, cells and signals. Some of the research highlights are pictorially shown below.

Targeting polymer therapeutics to bone

Bone related diseases are becoming a major public health problem worldwide and continuous effort in developing therapeutic routes are being investigated to combat these diseases. The first part of the research in this area will be on implantable synthetic bone graft substitutes that are developed as a substitute to overcome the inherent limitations of some standard procedures. Biomaterials in this context are temporary matrices for bone growth and provide a specific environment and architecture for tissue development.  Research in this area will focus on developing material bearing both osteoinductive and antibacterial properties. Appropriate surface modification for biocompatibility and a broad bactericidal spectrum will be the goal of the research team.

The second part of the research will deal with targeted drug delivery to the bone. Delivering drugs specifically to bone tissue is very challenging owing to its structure, which is one of the most complex hierarchical micro and nano-structure in the human body. This complex architecture and structure of bone tissue requires proper selection of drug carriers that can target specific diseased parts of the bone. The research team will invest effort on (1) identifying, understanding bone targeting moieties (2) development of controlled drug delivery systems by incorporating a targeting moiety, understanding the drug release profile, drug selection, and (3) understanding drug interactions and overall optimization of the polymer carrier in order to develop bone targeted synergistic drug delivery systems.

Interface tissue engineering

Interface tissue engineering aims to regenerate functional tissues in order to repair or to regenerate diseased or damaged zones between different tissue types. The interfacial tissue reconstruction between soft and hard tissues is a challenge.  Conventional scaffolds made up of monophasic biomaterials may not serve the purpose in regenerating complex structures, instead biomimetic scaffolds with graded properties might provide a solution The research focus of the team will be in designing strategies that can better mimic this transition with gradient-based designs that will include biomaterials with gradients in material composition, mechanical properties as well as release signals.

Publications:

1. M Dash*, S. K. Samal, A. Morelli, C. Bartoli, H. A. Declercq, T. E. L. Douglas, P. Dubruel, and F. Chiellini, Ulvan-Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes as Matrices for Enzyme Induced Biomimetic Mineralization, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2018, 182, 254-264 * corresponding author
2. M. G. Tardajos, G. Cama, M. Dash, L. Misseeuw, T. Gheysens, C. Gorzelanny, T. Coenye, P. Dubruel, Chitosan functionalized poly-ε-caprolactone electrospun fibers and 3D printed scaffolds as antibacterial materials for tissue engineering applications, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2018,191, 127-135
3. D. Devlaminck, MM. Rahman, M. Dash, SK. Samal , J. Watté, S. Van Vlierberghe, P. Dubruel, Oil-in-water emulsion impregnated electrospun poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber mat as a novel tool for optical fiber cleaning, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2018,520, 64- 69
4. O. Christiaens, M. G. Tardajos, Z. Martinez, M. Dash, P. Dubruel, G. Smagghe,  Increased RNAi efficacy in Spodoptera exigua via the formulation of dsRNA with guanylated polymers, Fronteirs in Physiology, 2018, doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00316
5. I. Van Nieuwenhove, S. Maji, M. Dash, S. Van Vlierberghe, R. Hoogenboom, P. Dubruel, RAFT/MADIX polymerization of N-vinylcaprolactam in water-ethanol solvent mixtures, Polymer Chemistry, 2017, 8, 2433-2437.
6. M Dash*, S.K Samal, H.A. Declercq, T.E.L Douglas, D. Schaubroeck, P. Vander Voort, S. C. Leeuwenburgh, P. Dubruel, Enzymatically Biomineralized Chitosan Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications, Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2017; 11(5): 1500-1513. doi: 10.1002/term.2048DOI: 10.1002/term.2048. * corresponding author
7. O.M. Dragostin, S. K.  Samal, M.  Dash, F.  Lupascu, A. Panzariu, C. Tuchilus, N. Ghetu, M. Danciu, P. Dubruel, D. Pieptu, C. Vasile, New antimicrobial chitosan derivatives for wound dressing applications, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2016,141,28-40
8. M Dash*. Protein Based Stimuli Responsive Materials for Tissue Engineering, in Smart Materials for Tissue Engineering: Fundamental Principles, Qun Wang (Ed.), Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016, ISBN: 978-1-78262-464-6, 10.1039/9781782626756-00045 *corresponding author
9. T.E.L Douglas, G. Krawczyk, E. Pamula, H. A Declercq, D. Schaubroeck, M.M Bucko, L. Balcaen, P. Van Der Voort, V. Bliznuk, N. M. F Vanden Vreken, M. Dash, R. Detsch, A. R Boccaccini, F. Vanhaecke, M. Cornelissen, P. Dubruel, Generation of composites for bone tissue-engineering applications consisting of gellan gum hydrogels mineralized with calcium and magnesium phosphate phases by enzymatic means, Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2016, 10, (11), 938–954,10.1002/term.1875
10. S.K. Samal, V. Goranov, M. Dash, A. Russo, T. Shelyakova, P. Graziosi, L. Lungaro,  A. Riminucci,  M. Uhlarz,  M. Bañobre-López,  J. Rivas,  T. Herrmannsdörfer,  J. Rajadas,  S.De Smedt,  K. Braeckmans, D. Kaplan,  V. Dediu, Multilayered Magnetic Gelatin Membrane Scaffolds, ACS Applied Materials & Interface, 7 (41), 23098–23109, 2015,10.1021/acsami.5b06813.
11. M Dash, S. K Samal, F.M Fakhouri, S.M Martelli. Bone Tissue Engineering: Biocompatible, Biodegradable Polymers, and Composites, in Encyclopedia of Biomedical Polymers and Polymeric Biomaterials, Munmaya Mishra (Ed.), Taylor & Francis, 10.1081/E-EBPP-120050759, ISBN: 1-4398-9879-0 (2015).
12. M Dash, S.K Samal, P. Dubruel. Cationic Polymers based Gene Activated Matrices for Biomedical Applications, in Cationic Polymers in Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Sangram K. Samal and Prof. Peter Dubruel (Ed.), Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015, ISBN: 978-1-84973-937-5, 438-462
13. F.G. Lupascu, M. Dash, S.K Samal, P. Dubruel, C. E. Lupusoru, R. V. Lupusoru, O. Dragostin, L. Profire, Development, optimization and biological evaluation of chitosan scaffold formulations of new xanthine derivatives for treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus, European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences , 2015,77 (18), 122-134.
14. S. K Samal, M. Dash, P. Dubruel. Cationic Polymeric Carriers for Blood-Brain Barrier Delivery Applications, in Cationic Polymers in Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Sangram K. Samal and Prof. Peter Dubruel (Ed.), Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015, ISBN: 978-1-84973-937-5, 539-556
15. K. Samal, M. Dash, T. Shelyakova, H. A. Declercq, M. Uhlarz, M. Bañobre-López, P.Dubruel, M. Cornelissen, T. Herrmannsdörfer, J. Rivas, G. Padeletti, S. Desmedt, K. Braeckmans, D. L Kaplan, V. A. Dediu, Biomimetic Magnetic Silk Scaffolds, ACS Applied Materials & Interface, 2015, 7 (11) 6282-6292
16. M. Dash*, S.K Samal, C. Bartoli, A. Morelli, P. F. Smet, P. Dubruel, F. Cheillini, Biofunctionalization of Ulvan Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering, ACS Applied Materials & Interface, 2014, 6 (5) 3211-3218 * corresponding author
17. M. Dash^{^,} M. Ferri^{^}, S. Cometa, E. D. Giglio, L. Sabbatini, F. Chiellini, Preparation and characterization of hybrid nanoparticles based on chitosan and poly(methacryloylglycylglycine), Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2014 , 16 (5)  2422 ^ Authors’ contributed equally
18. K. Samal, M. Dash, H. A. Declercq, F. Chiellini, X. Wang, E. Chiellini, D. L. Kaplan, Silk/Chitosan Biohybrid Hydrogels and Scaffolds via Green Technology, RSC Advances, 2014, 4 (96) 53547-53556
19. M. Piras, S. Sandreschi, S. P. Malliappan, M. Dash, C. Bartoli et al, Surface decorated poly(ester-ether-urethane)s nanoparticles: A versatile approach towards clinical translation, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2014, 475 (1-2) 523-535
20. K Samal, M. Dash, P. Dubruel, S. Van Vlierberghe. Smart polymer hydrogels, in Smart polymers and their Applications, Prof. Julio San Roman and Dr. Maria Rosa Aguilar de Armas (Ed.), Woodhead Publisher, 2014, ISBN 0 85709 695 8, 237-270
21. K. Samal, M. Dash, H. A. Declercq, T. Gheysens, J. Dendooven, P. V. D. Voort, R. Cornelissen, P. Dubruel, D. L. Kaplan, Enzymatic Mineralization of Silk Scaffolds, Macromolecular Bioscience, 2014, 14 (7) 991-1003
22. Missinne, S. Beri, M. Dash, S. K. Samal, P. Dubruel, J. Watté, G. Van Steenberge, Curing kinetics of step-index and graded-index single mode polymer self-written waveguides, Optical Materials Express, 2014, 4(7), 1324-1335.
23. K. Samal, M. Dash, F. Chiellini, D. L. Kaplan, E. Chiellini, Silk Microgels Formed by Proteolytic Enzyme Activity, Acta Biomaterialia, 2013, 9(9), 8192-8199
24. Missinne, S. Beri, M. Dash, Erwin Bosman, P. Dubruel, J.Watté , G. Van Steenberge. Self-Written Waveguides for Field-Installable Fiber Connectors, Advanced Photonics 2013, OSA, ISBN 9781557529817, DOI 10.1364/IPRSN.2013.JT3A.7
25. K Samal, M. Dash, S.Van Vlierberghe, D. Kaplan, E. Chiellini, L. Moroni, C.van Blitterswijk, P. Dubruel, Cationic Polymers and their Therapeutic Potential, Chemical Society Reviews. 2012, 41 (21), 7147-7194
26. M. Dash^{^}, M. Ferri^{^}, F.Chiellini, E. Chiellini. Synthesis and Characterization of Semi-interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogel Based on Chitosan and Poly(methacryloylglycylglycine). Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2012, 135 (2-3), 1070-1076 ^ Authors’ contributed equally
27. M. Dash, F.Chiellini, R.M Ottenbrite, E. Chiellini. Chitosan – A Versatile Semi-synthetic Polymer in Biomedical Applications. Progress in Polymer Science, 2011, 36 (8), 981-1014. -Among the Most Read articles of Materials Science.
28. F. Chiellini, D. Puppi, M. Dash, Emo Chiellini Biodegradable Polymers for Biomedical Applications in Biodegradable Polymers: Processing, Degradation and Applications, Gary.P.Felton (Ed), Nova Publishers, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-61209-534-9, pp 545-604
29. M. Dash, F.Chiellini, E.G Fernandez, A.M Piras, E. Chiellini. Statistical approach to the spectroscopic determination of the deacetylation degree of chitins and chitosans. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2011, 86 (1), 65-71
30. A. M.Piras, C.Errico, M.Dash, M.Ferri, E.Chiellini, F.Chiellini. Polymeric Nanoparticles for Targeted Release of Conventional and Macromolecular Drugs (preparation and characterization aspects), in NANOPARTICLES, Ramesh S. Chaughule and Raju V. Ramanujan (Ed): From Synthesis to Application. American Scientific Publishers, 2009, 25650 Lewis Way, Stevenson Ranch, California 91381-1439, USA.
31. M. Dash, A.M.Piras, F.Chiellini, Chitosan based beads for controlled release of proteins in Biohydrogels, Rolando Barbucci (Ed.), Springer-Verlag, Milan – Italy, 2009, 111 –120.
32. K. Samal, M. Dash, S. Pradhan, B. C. Meikap, T. N. Tiwari, B. Pradhan, Evaluation of Water Quality in Hirakud Reservoir, inPeople’s Empowerment and Sustainable Rural Development: A Technological Approach, U.N. Roy and J.S. Saini (Ed), Rawat Publication, New Delhi, 2009, 282-289.

TEAM MEMBERS

Pranita Rout, Lab Manager/Technician
Sasmita Samal, JRF
Debyashreeta Barik, JRF
Uma P.I, Summer Intern (NIT, Suratkal)

The lab is open for hiring scholars:

Prospective Ph.D. students please refer to the Ph.D. Programme advertisement on ILS website.

Students interested for summer dissertation, please refer to https://www.ils.res.in/ils-training-programme/

I will be happy to assist in writing and submitting  postdoctoral grant proposals  to the candidates who have completed their Ph.D. or at later stages of  Ph.D. completion to any of the listed funding sources:

1. SERB-National Post Doctoral Fellowship ( N-PDF)
2. DBT Research Associateship

For any specific query, you could write in to at:  mamoni.dash@ils.res.in.