Dhiraj Bhatia

EDUCATION

PhD, NCBS_TIFR

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Multidisciplinary, Biotechnology

Scopus Publications

Bio-inspired, programmable biomacromolecules based nanostructures driven cancer therapy
Rahul Sharma, Unnati Modi, Rahul Kumar, Chirag Sharma, Amit Kumar Srivastav, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Raghu Solanki
Elsevier BV



Advanced nanomicelles for targeted glioblastoma multiforme therapy
P. Chithra, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Raghu Solanki
Elsevier BV



Improving the cell adhesion and antibacterial behaviour on Ti6Al4V through micro and nano hierarchical laser surface texturing
Rohit Gupta, Anvesh Gaddam, Hema Naveena A, Deepak Prajapati, Stefan Dimov, Dhiraj Bhatia, Abhijit Mishra, Yavor Sofronov, and Madhu Vadali
Elsevier BV



Global impact of vitamin D deficiency and innovative biosensing technologies
Deepika Chauhan, Amit K. Yadav, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Pratima R. Solanki
Elsevier BV



Programmable short peptides for modulating stem cell fate in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Rohan Vishwanath, Abhijit Biswas, Unnati Modi, Sharad Gupta, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Raghu Solanki
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
The schematic representation of biomedical applications of short peptides in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering.


Self-Assembled DNA-Collagen Bioactive Scaffolds Promote Cellular Uptake and Neuronal Differentiation
Nihal Singh, Ankur Singh, and Dhiraj Bhatia
American Chemical Society (ACS)



Growth factor-triggered de-sialylation controls glycolipid-lectin-driven endocytosis
Ewan MacDonald, Alison Forrester, Cesar A. Valades-Cruz, Thomas D. Madsen, Joseph H. R. Hetmanski, Estelle Dransart, Yeap Ng, Rashmi Godbole, Ananthan Akhil Shp, Ludovic Leconte,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC



Programmable DNA-Based Nanodevices for Next-Generation Clinical and Healthcare Applications
Krupa Kansara, Anwesha Laha, Ashutosh Kumar, and Dhiraj Bhatia
Wiley
AbstractDeoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanotechnology has brought an unparalleled set of possibilities for self‐assembled structures emerging as an independent branch of synthetic biology. The field of science uses the molecular properties of DNA to build nanoparticles and nanodevices that have the potential to bring breakthroughs in medical science. On the one hand, their biocompatibility, precision, synthetic ease, and programmability make them an ideal choice in drug delivery and healthcare. On the other, the lack of proper biodistribution profiles, stability inside the system, enzymatic cleavage, immune recognition, and translational barriers are some of the hurdles it faces. Many recent technological advancements are in progress to tackle these challenges, while some already have been used. These tools and technologies need to be understood and studied for the successful transition of these intelligent DNA nanostructures (DNs) to healthcare applications. This review thus, highlights some of the challenges being faced by the DNs in healthcare. Additionally, it provides an overview of the recent trends in using these devices in disease detection and remission and finally talks about the future scope and opportunities for an effective transition from bench to bedside.


Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis of Fluorescent Graphene Quantum Dots: Metal Sensing, Antioxidant Properties, and Biocompatibility Insights
Parul Singh, Hitasha Vithalani, Aditya Adhyapak, Tinodaishe Semwa, Nihal Singh, Mukesh Dhanka, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Jhuma Saha
Springer Science and Business Media LLC



DNA-based Precision Tools to Probe and Program Mechanobiology and Organ Engineering
Nihal Singh, Ayushi Sharma, Anjana Goel, Krishan Kumar, Raghu Solanki, and Dhiraj Bhatia
Wiley
AbstractDNA nanotechnology represents an innovative discipline that combines nanotechnology with biotechnology. It exploits the distinctive characteristics of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to create nanoscale structures and devices with remarkable accuracy and functionality. Researchers may create complex nanostructures with precision and specialized functions using DNA's innate stability, adaptability, and capacity to self‐assemble through complementary base‐pairing interactions. Integrating multiple disciplines, known as nanobiotechnology, allows the production of sophisticated nanodevices with a broad range of applications. These include precise drug delivery systems, extremely sensitive biosensors, and the construction of intricate tissue scaffolds for regenerative medicine. Moreover, combining DNA nanotechnology with mechanobiology provides a new understanding of how small‐scale mechanical stresses and molecular interactions affect cellular activity and tissue development. DNA nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize molecular diagnostics, tissue engineering, and organ regeneration. This could lead to enormous improvements in biomedicine. This review emphasizes the most recent developments in DNA nanotechnology, explicitly highlighting its significant influence on mechanobiology and its growing involvement in organ engineering. It provides an extensive overview of present trends, obstacles, and future prospects in this fast‐progressing area.


Nanodiamonds as Emerging Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications
Ankesh Kumar, Pankaj Yadav, and Dhiraj Bhatia
World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd
Nanodiamonds (NDs) have unique optical and mechanical characteristics, surface chemistry, extensive surface area and biocompatibility, and they are nontoxic, rendering them suitable for a diverse range of applications. Recently, NDs have received significant attention in nano-biomedical engineering. This review discusses the recent advancement of NDs’ biomedical engineering, historical background, basic introduction to nanoparticles and development. We summarize NDs’ synthesis technique, properties and applications. Two methodologies are used in ND synthesis: bottom-up and top-down. We cover synthesis methods, including detonation, ball milling, laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and high pressure and high temperature (HPHT); discuss the properties of NDs, such as fluorescence and biocompatibility. Due to these properties, NDs have potential applications in biomedical engineering, including bioimaging, biosensing, drug delivery, tissue engineering and protein mimics. Further, it provides an outlook for future progress, development and application of NDs in biological and biomedical areas.


Biological Scaffolds in 3D Cell Models: Driving Innovation in Drug Discovery
Raj Dave, Kshipra Pandey, Ritu Patel, Nidhi Gour, and Dhiraj Bhatia
Springer Science and Business Media LLC



Programmable soft DNA hydrogels stimulate cellular endocytic pathways and proliferation
Ankur Singh, Nihal Singh, Manasi Esther Jinugu, Prachi Thareja, and Dhiraj Bhatia
Elsevier BV



Structurally programmable, functionally tuneable dendrimers in biomedical applications
Geethu Prakash, Bhagyesh Parmar, and Dhiraj Bhatia
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
The application of nanotechnology in medical biology has seen a significant rise in recent years because of the introduction of novel tools that include supramolecular systems, complexes, and composites.


BODIPYS Based Fluorescent Markers To Monitor Autophagic Lysosomes and Lipid Droplets in TNBC
Jaydeepsinh Chavda, Arjun Siwach, Sudhir Sabharwal, Anu Janaagal, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Iti Gupta
American Chemical Society (ACS)



Introduction to targeted biomedical applications of nanomaterials




Nanotechnology at the crossroads of stem cell medicine




DNA-amphiphilic nanostructures: synthesis, characterization and applications




Functionalized Nanomaterials for Detecting Environmental Pollutants
Raj Dave, Kshipra Pandey, Sweny Jain, Vivekshinh Kshtriya, Poulomi Sengupta, Sandeep Kumar Verma, Nidhi Gour, and Dhiraj Bhatia
Wiley
AbstractThe environment consists of wide diversity, of which, an integral and most diversifying part is the living organisms, and hence it is imperative to design novel strategies that could alleviate pollutants and detect them at very minute levels. The functionalization of nanomaterials provides a very facile and efficient tool for the design of robust sensors that could detect pollutants that contaminate air, water, and soil. Because of their nanoscale size, these materials have enhanced surface‐to‐volume ratio, which in turn provide more reaction sites for the analyte interaction and enables highly specific and sensitive detection. Different nanomaterials like metal/metal oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon‐based nanomaterials, and miscellaneous nanomaterials like polymer, dendrimers, metal‐organic frameworks are functionalized with suitable ligands for efficient detection of a wide range of pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, industrial wastes, volatile organic compounds, toxic gases, and environmental pathogens with efficient level of sensitivity. In this review, we will briefly discuss different types of functionalized nanomaterials, strategies adopted for their functionalization, detection methodologies pursued for specific sensing and detection of different types of pollutants and their critical analysis, and future outlook.


Nanomedicines as a cutting-edge solution to combat antimicrobial resistance
Raghu Solanki, Nilesh Makwana, Rahul Kumar, Madhvi Joshi, Ashish Patel, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Dipak Kumar Sahoo
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Antimicrobial mechanism of nanomaterials to combat AMR.


Small Molecular Approaches for Cellular Reprogramming and Tissue Engineering: Functions as Mediators of the Cell Signaling Pathway
Bhagyesh Parmar and Dhiraj Bhatia
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in drug screening and cell replacement therapy has emerged as a method with revolutionary applications. With the advent of patient-specific iPSCs and the subsequent development of cells that exhibit disease phenotypes, the focus of medication research will now shift toward the pathology of human diseases. Regular iPSCs can also be utilized to generate cells that assess the negative impacts of medications. These cells provide a much more precise and cost-efficient approach compared to many animal models. In this review, we explore the utilization of small-molecule drugs to enhance the growth of iPSCs and gain insights into the process of reprogramming. We mainly focus on the functions of small molecules in modulating different signaling pathways, thereby modulating cell fate. Understanding the way small molecule drugs interact with iPSC technology has the potential to significantly enhance the understanding of physiological pathways in stem cells and practical applications of iPSC-based therapy and screening systems, revolutionizing the treatment of diseases.


Exploring the potential of surface-active copolymers on P123 micelles for drug solubility enhancement and in vitro cytotoxicity assay
Nitumani Tripathi, Payal Vaswani, Dhiraj Bhatia, Ketan Kuperkar, and Pratap Bahadur
Springer Science and Business Media LLC



DNA-templated fluorescent metal nanoclusters and their illuminating applications
Ashwin Rajeev and Dhiraj Bhatia
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
After the discovery of DNA during the mid-20th century, a multitude of novel methodologies have surfaced which exploit DNA for its various properties.


Programmable bionanomaterials for revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy
Ayushi Sharma and Dhiraj Bhatia
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Cancer immunotherapy involves a cutting-edge method that utilizes the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells.


Targeted Macrophage Re-Programming: Synergistic Therapy With Methotrexate and RELA siRNA Folate-Liposome in RAW264.7 Cells and Arthritic Rats
Simran Nasra, Dhiraj Bhatia, and Ashutosh Kumar
Wiley
AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation and destruction. Current treatments, such as Methotrexate (MTX), though effective, often face limitations such as high plasma Cmax and lack of sustained release. This study explores a synergistic approach to RA therapy using folate‐liposomal co‐delivery of MTX and RELA siRNA (short interfering RNA), targeting RAW264.7 macrophage repolarization via nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway inhibition. Extensive in vitro characterizations demonstrate the stability and biocompatibility of this therapy via folate‐liposomes. In the collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) rat model, treatment leads to reduced synovial inflammation and improved mobility. The combined MTX and RELA siRNA approach indirectly inhibits inflammatory cytokines, rheumatoid factor (RF), and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Targeted macrophage delivery shows marked therapeutic effects in RAW264.7 murine macrophages, potentially modulating M1 to M2 polarization. This research presents a promising avenue for innovative RA therapies by inhibiting the inflammatory cascade and preventing joint damage.

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Meso-functionalized 21-thiaporphyrins: Synthesis, DFT and phototoxicity studies in cancer cells
R Bishnoi, A Janaagal, J Chavda, D Bhatia, I Gupta
Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines 2025



Clinical Applications of Targeted Nanomaterials
A Kumar, SK Shahvej, P Yadav, U Modi, AK Yadav, R Solanki, D Bhatia
Pharmaceutics 17 (3), 379 2025



Proteomics and genomics-based innovation in biosensors for marine biology
AK Yadav, D Verma, SK Yadav, D Bhatia
Sensors for Marine Biosciences: Next-generation sensing approaches, 10-1-10-21 2025



Growth factor-triggered de-sialylation controls glycolipid-lectin-driven endocytosis
E MacDonald, A Forrester, CA Valades-Cruz, TD Madsen, ...
Nature cell biology, 1-15 2025



Recent Advances in Clinical Applications of Targeted Nanomaterials
A Kumar, SK Shahvej, P Yadav, U Modi, AK Yadav, R Solanki, D Bhatia
Preprints 2025



Bio-inspired, programmable biomacromolecules based nanostructures driven cancer therapy
R Sharma, U Modi, R Kumar, C Sharma, AK Srivastav, D Bhatia, ...
Biomaterials Advances, 214235 2025



Advanced nanomicelles for targeted glioblastoma multiforme therapy
P Chithra, D Bhatia, R Solanki
Biomaterials Advances, 214221 2025



Nanodiamonds as Emerging Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications
A Kumar, P Yadav, D Bhatia
Nano, 2530002 2025



Global impact of vitamin D deficiency and innovative biosensing technologies
D Chauhan, AK Yadav, D Bhatia, PR Solanki
Chemical Engineering Journal, 159790 2025



Improving the Cell adhesion and Antibacterial Behaviour on Ti6Al4V Through Micro and Nano Hierarchical Laser Surface Texturing
R Gupta, A Gaddam, D Prajapati, S Dimov, D Bhatia, A Mishra, ...
Surfaces and Interfaces, 105857 2025



Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis of Fluorescent Graphene Quantum Dots: Metal Sensing, Antioxidant Properties, and Biocompatibility Insights
P Singh, H Vithalani, A Adhyapak, T Semwa, N Singh, M Dhanka, ...
Journal of Fluorescence, 1-17 2025



Bioimaging and therapeutic applications of multifunctional carbon quantum dots: Recent progress and challenges
TPM Daby, U Modi, AK Yadav, D Bhatia, R Solanki
Next Nanotechnology 8, 100158 2025



Competence of DNA Tetrahedron and Exosomes as Nanocarriers for Epirubicin drug delivery in Breast Cancer Cells
A Saleem, S Saleeem, U Gani, N Shafi, P Vaswani, LA Dhar, J Nazir, ...
bioRxiv, 2025.02. 11.637654 2025



DNA‐based Precision Tools to Probe and Program Mechanobiology and Organ Engineering
N Singh, A Sharma, A Goel, K Kumar, R Solanki, D Bhatia
Small, 2410440 2025



Programmable short peptides for modulating stem cell fate in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
R Vishwanath, A Biswas, U Modi, S Gupta, D Bhatia, R Solanki
Journal of Materials Chemistry B 2025



Biochemical and Biophysical Cues of The Extracellular Matrix Modulates Stem Cell Fate: Progress and Prospect in Extracellular Matrix Mimicking Biomaterials
A Mishra, U Modi, R Sharma, D Bhatia, R Solanki
Biomedical Engineering Advances, 100143 2025



Structurally programmable, functionally tuneable dendrimers in biomedical applications
G Prakash, B Parmar, D Bhatia
Biomaterials Science 2025



Introduction to targeted biomedical applications of nanomaterials
D Bhatia, M Dhanka, A Awasthi, K Awasthi, K Chatterjee
Journal of Materials Chemistry B 13 (1), 12-14 2025



Nanotechnology at the crossroads of stem cell medicine
S Jain, J Bhatt, S Gupta, DD Bhatia
Biomaterials Science 13 (1), 161-178 2025



DNA-amphiphilic nanostructures: synthesis, characterization and applications
N Jain, A Singh, D Bhatia
Nanoscale 2025

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

A synthetic icosahedral DNA-based host–cargo complex for functional in vivo imaging
D Bhatia, S Surana, S Chakraborty, SP Koushika, Y Krishnan
Nature communications 2 (1), 339 2011
Citations: 261



Icosahedral DNA nanocapsules by modular assembly
D Bhatia, S Mehtab, R Krishnan, SS Indi, A Basu, Y Krishnan
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 48 (23), 4134-4137 2009
Citations: 253



Friction mediates scission of tubular membranes scaffolded by BAR proteins
M Simunovic, JB Manneville, HF Renard, E Evergren, K Raghunathan, ...
Cell 170 (1), 172-184. e11 2017
Citations: 226



Quantum dot-loaded monofunctionalized DNA icosahedra for single-particle tracking of endocytic pathways
D Bhatia, S Arumugam, M Nasilowski, H Joshi, C Wunder, V Chambon, ...
Nature nanotechnology 11 (12), 1112-1119 2016
Citations: 174



Controlled release of encapsulated cargo from a DNA icosahedron using a chemical trigger
A Banerjee, D Bhatia, A Saminathan, S Chakraborty, S Kar, Y Krishnan
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed 52 (27), 6854-6857 2013
Citations: 148



Functional DNA based hydrogels: Development, properties and biological applications
V Morya, S Walia, BB Mandal, C Ghoroi, D Bhatia
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering 6 (11), 6021-6035 2020
Citations: 105



Structural DNA nanotechnology: From bases to bricks, from structure to function
S Modi, D Bhatia, FC Simmel, Y Krishnan
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 1 (13), 1994-2005 2010
Citations: 93



Geometry of a DNA Nanostructure Influences Its Endocytosis: Cellular Study on 2D, 3D, and in Vivo Systems
A Rajwar, SR Shetty, P Vaswani, V Morya, A Barai, S Sen, M Sonawane, ...
ACS nano 16 (7), 10496-10508 2022
Citations: 85



A method to study in vivo stability of DNA nanostructures
S Surana, D Bhatia, Y Krishnan
Methods 64 (1), 94-100 2013
Citations: 71



Recent advances in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for rheumatoid arthritis treatment
S Nasra, D Bhatia, A Kumar
Nanoscale advances 4 (17), 3479-3494 2022
Citations: 60



Unusual aggregates formed by the self-assembly of proline, hydroxyproline, and lysine
B Koshti, V Kshtriya, R Singh, S Walia, D Bhatia, KB Joshi, N Gour
ACS Chemical Neuroscience 12 (17), 3237-3249 2021
Citations: 43



Synthetic, biofunctional nucleic acid-based molecular devices
D Bhatia, S Sharma, Y Krishnan
Current Opinion in Biotechnology 22 (4), 475-484 2011
Citations: 41



pH‐Toggled DNA Architectures: Reversible Assembly of Three‐Way Junctions into Extended 1D Architectures Through A‐Motif Formation
S Saha, D Bhatia, Y Krishnan
Small 6 (12), 1288-1292 2010
Citations: 37



Sequential and cellular detection of copper and lactic acid by disaggregation and reaggregation of the fluorescent panchromatic fibres of an acylthiourea based sensor
V Kshtriya, B Koshti, DK Pandey, S Kharbanda, DK Singh, D Bhatia, ...
Soft Matter 17 (16), 4304-4316 2021
Citations: 34



Carbon-based designer and programmable fluorescent quantum dots for targeted biological and biomedical applications
K Barve, U Singh, P Yadav, D Bhatia
Materials Chemistry Frontiers 7 (9), 1781-1802 2023
Citations: 29



Designer, programmable 3D DNA nanodevices to probe biological systems
A Rajwar, S Kharbanda, AR Chandrasekaran, S Gupta, D Bhatia
ACS Applied Bio Materials 3 (11), 7265-7277 2020
Citations: 29



Peptide functionalized DNA hydrogel enhances neuroblastoma cell growth and differentiation
P Hivare, A Gangrade, G Swarup, K Bhavsar, A Singh, R Gupta, P Thareja, ...
Nanoscale 14 (24), 8611-8620 2022
Citations: 27



Probing the structure and in silico stability of cargo loaded DNA icosahedra using MD simulations
H Joshi, D Bhatia, Y Krishnan, PK Maiti
Nanoscale 9 (13), 4467-4477 2017
Citations: 25



Aptamer-programmed DNA nanodevices for advanced, targeted cancer theranostics
S Walia, AR Chandrasekaran, B Chakraborty, D Bhatia
ACS Applied Bio Materials 4 (7), 5392-5404 2021
Citations: 24



Programmable, self-assembled DNA nanodevices for cellular programming and tissue engineering
A Gangrade, N Stephanopoulos, D Bhatia
Nanoscale 13 (40), 16834-16846 2021
Citations: 24