Rakesh Kumar Harishchandra

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Name: Rakesh Kumar Harishchandra
Diploma / M.Sc degree: Bangalore University, India (June 2003)


PhD Project: Interaction and influence of nanoparticles and compatible solutes on the lung surfactant model system

Abstract of Research Project

The pulmonary surfactant is a complex lipid-protein mixture lining the air-liquid interface of the alveoli of vertebrate lungs. It is essential for reduction of surface tension and prevents the collapse of alveoli. Another crucial function of this lipid-protein monolayer is to act as a first line of defence against any inhaled foreign particle and micro-organisms. A widely concerned issue that needs to be answered in this regard is to investigate the hazardous effects of the undesirable and unavoidable exposure to Nanoparticles (NPs) through air or drugs which first need to cross the pulmonary surfactant. Also essential is to explore possible answers in the form of macromolecule stabilizing molecules such as ectoin or hydroxyectoin that may help overcome the deleterious effects of the NPs. Our objectives, therefore, are

i) to investigate the influence of the NPs on the structural and functional aspects of the pulmonary surfactant model systems. This would enable us to gain insight into the possible mechanism of entry and undesirable effects of the NPs interaction with the surfactant monolayer and
ii) to investigate the possible potential of compatible solutes such as ectoin/hydroxyectoin to restore and stabilize the native, healthy state of structural and functional organization of the surfactant monolayer thus counter-acting the above deleterious effects of NPs.
Both aims should be reached by means of biophysical techniques such as Langmuir film balance, Fluorescence microscopy, Atomic force microscopy and Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.


Publications

A. Sachan, R. K. Harishchandra, C. Bantz, M. Maskos, R. Reichelt, H.-J. Galla
High-resolution investigation of nanoparticle interaction with the model Pulmonary Surfactant monolayer
ACS Nano 6 (2012), 1677-1687.

J. Smiatek, R. K. Harishchandra, O. Rubner, H.-J. Galla, A. Heuer
Properties of compatible solutes in aqueous solution
Biophys. Chem. 160 (2012), 62-68.

R. K. Harishchandra, A. Sachan, A. Kerth, G. Lentzen, T. Neuhaus, H.-J. Galla
Compatible solutes: ectoine and hydroxyectoine improve functional ananostructures in artifical lung surfactants
Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1808 (2011), 2830-2840.

R. H. Harishchandra, S. Wulff, G. Lentzen, T. Neuhaus, H.-J. Galla
The effect of compatible solute ectoines on the structural organization of lipid monolayer and bilayer membranes
Biophys Chem. 150(1-3) (2010), 37-46.

R. H. Harishchandra, M. Saleem, H.-J. Galla
Nanoparticle interaction with model lung surfactant monolayers
J. R. Soc. Interface. 7(1) (2010), 15-26.


Rakesh Kumar Harishchandra
eMail: Rakesh Kumar Harishchandra