Following are our current representative projects.
Lipid-based Nano-formulations
[Lyotropic/Liquid Crystalline Lipid Phases, Cubosomes, Emulsions, Creams, Hybrid Hydrogel Films, Hybrid Lipid Particles, Food-based Carriers, Cosmetics, Agricultural/Pharmaceutical formulations]
A comparison of two different lipid systems for drug delivery
Hierarchically ordered lipid structures in the form of water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions are found in many consumer products including foods, cosmetics and pharmaceutics. They are commercially very useful for many biotechnological applications.
Multiscale structural hierarchy (nano-micro), high hydrophobic surface to volume ratios, fine-tunablity in terms of structure and properties (e.g. viscosity), an ability to be loaded with hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic molecules, and the ease of preparation of these lipid systems are promising features for the development of innovative applications, including smart delivery of active ingredients. Lipid-based formulations are useful, particularly, for poorly soluble functional molecules.
We can control the final consistency and nanostructure of these formulations. We focus on the preparation, processing and modulation of properties of such nano-formulations for specific applications.
Multiscale structural hierarchy (nano-micro), high hydrophobic surface to volume ratios, fine-tunablity in terms of structure and properties (e.g. viscosity), an ability to be loaded with hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic molecules, and the ease of preparation of these lipid systems are promising features for the development of innovative applications, including smart delivery of active ingredients. Lipid-based formulations are useful, particularly, for poorly soluble functional molecules.
We can control the final consistency and nanostructure of these formulations. We focus on the preparation, processing and modulation of properties of such nano-formulations for specific applications.
Key Publications
- Self-Assembled Lipid Cubic Phase and Cubosomes for the Delivery of Aspirin as a Model Drug. Kulkarni, C. V.*, V. Vishwapathi, A. Quarshie, Z. Moinuddin, J. Page, P. Kendrekar and S. Mashele (2017) Langmuir, 33 (38), pp 9907–9915.
- Lipid Self-Assemblies and Nanostructured Emulsions for Cosmetic Formulations. Kulkarni, C.V.* (2016) Cosmetics, 3 (4), 37
- Ultrasonic Processing of Butter Oil (Ghee) into Oil‐in‐water Emulsions. Kulkarni, C.V.* (2016) Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, jfpp. 13170.
- Lipid-Hydrogel Films for Sustained Drug Release.Kulkarni,C.V*, Z. Moinuddin, Y. Patil-Sen, R. Littlefield, and M. Hood (2015) Int. J. Pharmaceutics, 479, 416-421.
Smart Hybrid Materials: Bio/functionalization of Nanomaterials
[Hydrogels, Lipid decorated: Carbon Nanotubes (CNT), Fullerene, CNT-Arrays-Forests, Biomedical applications]
Fullerene loaded lipid particles (cubosomes)
We have fabricated novel hybrid nanomaterials by combining various forms of carbon nanotubes (single walled, multiwalled and aligned) and fullerene with a range of lipid molecules. These bio-functional materials are potentially useful for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
We are currently exploring other avenues of developing novel hybrid materials (e.g. lipid-hydrogel matrices) and working towards their applications in bio-and nano-technological fields.
Key Publications
- Effect of Fullerene on the Dispersibility of Nanostructured Lipid Particles and Encapsulation in Sterically Stabilized Emulsions. Kulkarni, C.V.*, Z. Moinuddin and Y. Agarwal (2016) Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 480, 69-75.
- Carbon Nanotubes for Stabilization of Nanostructured Lipid Particles. Nicholas P. Gaunt, Yogita Patil-Sen, Matthew J. Baker, Chandrashekhar V. Kulkarni* (2015) Nanoscale, 7, 1090-1095.
- Lipid-Hydrogel Films for Sustained Drug Release. Kulkarni,C.V*, Z. Moinuddin, Y. Patil-Sen, R. Littlefield, and M. Hood (2015) Int. J. Pharmaceutics, 479, 416-421.
- Lipid Nanoscaffolds in Carbon Nanotube Arrays. Paukner, C.P, Koziol, K.* and C.V.Kulkarni* (2013) Nanoscale, 5 (19): 8992-9000.
Lipid Self-Assembly: Phase Behaviour
[Nanoscale design, Lipid cubic phases, Fine-tuning, Nanostructural parameters, Molecular shape, Chain splay, small angle X-ray scattering, high-pressure studies, phase diagrams]
Equilibrium phase diagram of monoelaidin-water system
By strategically selecting a set of lipid molecules one can engineer and thereby predict their behaviour for self-assembling nanostructures.
The classical phase behaviour of various lipids can be further fine tuned by adding chemical and biological molecules and by modulating physicochemical triggers such as, temperature, pressure and shear.
Our projects involve basic understanding, calculation of molecular level parameters, fine tuning and application-driven studies of lipid nanostructural behaviour.
Key Publications
- Calculating the ‘Chain Splay’ of Amphiphilic Molecules: Towards Quantifying the Molecular Shapes.
Kulkarni, C.V.* (2019) Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, 218, pp 16-21. - Effect of High Pressure on Internally Self-Assembled Lipid Nanoparticles: A Synchrotron Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) Study. Kulkarni, C.V*, Anan Yaghmur, Milos Steinhartd, Manfred Kriechbaum and Michael Rappolt (2016) Langmuir, 32 (45), pp 11907–11917.
- Engineering Bicontinuous Cubic Structures at the Nanoscale– the Role of Chain Splay. Kulkarni, C.V., T. Y. Tang, A. M. Seddon, J.M. Seddon, O. Ces, and R. H. Templer.* (2010) Soft Matter, 6: 3191-3194.
- Nanostructural Studies on Monoelaidin-Water Systems at Low Temperatures. Kulkarni, C.V.* (2011) Langmuir, 27(19):11790-800.
- Monoolein: A Magic Lipid? Kulkarni, C.V.*, W. Wachter, G. R. Iglesias, S. Engelskirchen and S. Ahualli. (2011) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 13 (8): 3004-3021.
Model Biomembrane Structures
[Lipid bilayers, Liposomes, Planar membranes, 3-dimensional membrane structures, biomolecule interactions including DNA, Proteins, Membrane proteins, Bile salts]
Reconstitution of alfa-hemolysin (L) and bacteriorhodopsin (R)
Biomembranes are responsible for structuring, for instance, compartmentalization of cells and subcellular organelles. Many important functions are performed cooperatively with membrane proteins, for example, signal transmission, cell differentiation and fusion, protection and insulation of important organs, and biomolecular transport across membranes.
We study interactions of various biomolecules with lipid nanostructures to help understanding some of the above functions.
Key Publications
- Bile Salts Caught in the Act: From Emulsification to Nanostructural Reorganization of Lipid Self-Assemblies. Sadeghpour, A., Michael Rappolt, Shravasti Misra and Chandrashekhar V Kulkarni* (2018) Langmuir, 34 (45), pp 13626–13637.
- Pressure Effects on a Protein-Lipid Model Membrane. Kulkarni, C.V.*, O. Ces, R. H. Templer and J. M. Seddon* (2013) Soft Matter, 9 (28), 6525 - 6531.
- Lipid Nanobilayers to Host Biological Nanopores for DNA Translocations. Göpfrich, K., C.V. Kulkarni, O.J. Pambos and U.F. Keyser* (2013) Langmuir 29: 355-364.
- Lipid Crystallization: From Self Assembly to Hierarchical and Biological Ordering. Kulkarni, C.V.* (2012) Nanoscale, 4, (19): 5779-5791.
- Evidence That Membrane Curvature Distorts the Tertiary Structure of Bacteriorhodopsin. Kulkarni, C.V., A. M. Seddon, O. Ces, and R. H. Templer.* (2010) Soft Matter, 6: 4339-4341.