Raviraj Vankayala

Root canal treatment (RCT) is the standard endodontic procedure for eliminating infection and preserving natural teeth. However, treatment failure can occur when residual bacteria persist within complex root canal anatomies, as current irrigation protocols do not provide direct confirmation of bacterial presence prior to obturation. Herein, we present SteriGP, an engineered Gutta-Percha (GP)-based proof-of-concept theranostic platform that integrates bacterial detection with localized photothermal disinfection during root canal treatment. SteriGP employs a ferricyanide-mediated bioreaction in which respiration-driven electron transfer from metabolically active bacteria promotes the in situ formation of Prussian blue (PB), providing a visible indicator of bacterial activity. The generated PB exhibits strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and, upon 808 nm laser irradiation, produces localized hyperthermia for targeted photothermal inactivation of residual bacteria. SteriGP demonstrated concentration-dependent PB formation, photothermal heating, and antibacterial activity against both planktonic and biofilm models of representative Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Furthermore, evaluation in an E. coli biofilm-based resin root canal model demonstrated visible bacterial detection within the canal and effective reduction of bacterial regrowth following NIR irradiation. Collectively, these findings establish the feasibility of integrating bacterial-responsive sensing and localized photothermal therapy into a Gutta-Percha platform for endodontic applications. While additional studies evaluating cytocompatibility, clinically relevant oral pathogens, natural tooth models, and in vivo performance are required, this work provides a foundation for the future development of theranostic biomaterials for precision-guided root canal treatment.

The brain of Alzheimer's patients are characterized by a multitude of malfunctioned pathways leading to neuroinflammation. We present a porous MnO ₂ based nanoplatform to mediate ROS responsive delivery of defensamide and mitigate neuroinflammation.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, largely driven by amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation and dysregulated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. While current pharmacological interventions utilize AChE inhibitors and Aβ antagonists, their efficacy is frequently hampered by monotherapeutic limitations, poor blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and a lack of controlled release mechanisms. Herein, we report the engineering of the liposomal formulation coloaded with Donepezil (DNP) and the photothermal agent indocyanine green (ICG), followed by conjugation of ApoE3 protein (LIDA) designed for multimodal AD therapy. Surface-conjugated ApoE3 serves a bifunctional role by facilitating BBB penetration and actively inhibiting Aβ oligomerization. Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, ICG-mediated photothermal induction triggers the spatiotemporal release of DNP, significantly enhancing AChE inhibition. Furthermore, LIDA treatment effectively mitigates Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction in SH-SY5Y cells. By integrating targeted delivery with NIR responsiveness, this study presents a novel, multivalent strategy to combat the complex pathological landscape of AD.

Near-infrared (NIR)-responsive nanomaterials are of critical importance for biomedical applications owing to their superior tissue penetration depths. Herein, we present a rational design of NIR-responsive tetraniline (TANI)-engineered nickel coordination frameworks for multimodal cancer phototheranostic applications. These frameworks represent an advanced class of hybrid materials, combining the redox activity and electrical conductivity of oligomeric aniline along with the structural versatility of nickel-based frameworks or related coordination polymers. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first report of a nickel-tetraniline coordination framework (NTF) employing tetraniline as the organic linker, resulting in a porous and aqueous-dispersible platform with NIR absorption properties. Upon NIR light excitation in the first biological window (650–950 nm), NTFs demonstrate dual-mode theranostic functionality, simultaneously generating ROS and inducing potent photothermal and photodynamic therapeutic effects. The framework also displays measurable magnetic relaxivity and enables loading of fluorescent probes such as indocyanine green, highlighting its potential for theranostic and multimodal imaging applications. This scalable strategy offers a structurally versatile NIR-responsive combinatorial theranostic nanoplatform, holding significant promise for next-generation biomedical applications.

We report a green and efficient iodine‐catalysed cascade reaction of indoles with α‐bromoacetophenones, enabling the rapid and highly regioselective construction of diverse carbazole scaffolds. Remarkably, this metal‐ and oxidant‐free protocol operates with only 5 mol% iodine in water, converting unprotected and protected indoles to carbazoles in excellent yields. A series of carbazole derivatives were synthesised under mild, operationally simple conditions, demonstrating broad functional group tolerance and excellent scalability to gram‐scale synthesis. The biological evaluation revealed that among the compounds tested, six compounds showed cell viability below 50% in A549 lung cancer cells and whereas nine compounds in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. Selectivity index calculations further indicated that one compound displayed moderate selectivity towards A549 cells, whereas five compounds showed preferential cytotoxicity against SKOV3 cells, highlighting the promising therapeutic potential of these scaffolds. Collectively, these findings underscore the medicinal relevance of the synthesised carbazole frameworks and the potential of this cost‐effective, chemo‐divergent and sustainable strategy for generating structurally complex, bioactive carbazole cores in anti‐cancer drug development.

Near‐infrared (NIR) light‐responsive nanomaterials have emerged as powerful tools for cancer therapy, yet stable and biocompatible delivery of NIR‐II agents remains a major challenge. In this work, we develop NIR‐I/II‐responsive niosomes co‐encapsulating plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs) and the NIR‐II dye, IR1061, forming a multifunctional nanoplatform for effective phototherapeutic ablation of cancer cells. The niosomal system provides robust encapsulation, improved dispersion stability, and biocompatibility for both photoactive components. Upon NIR‐I/II laser irradiation, the nanoplatform exhibits strong photothermal heating and substantial reactive oxygen species generation due to the synergistic integration of plasmonic GNRs and dye‐mediated effects. In vitro evaluations demonstrate efficient cellular uptake, potent photoinduced cytotoxicity, and minimal dark toxicity. The integration of photothermal and photodynamic mechanisms results in markedly enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared with individual agents. This study highlights the potential of niosomes as versatile and efficient nanocarriers for dual NIR‐window phototherapy, offering a promising route for precise and minimally invasive cancer treatment.

Erythrocyte membranes, also known as ghosts, can be utilized as drug carriers or camouflaging membranes for drug delivery systems due to their “self‐to‐biological system” nature. However, size modulation of erythrocyte ghosts may influence their drug loading capabilities, cellular uptake, and performance as drug carriers. Herein, we have prepared micron‐sized N ear i nfrared E rythrocyte P articles (µNiEP) and nanosized variants (NiEP ₄₀₀ , NiEP ₁₀₀ ) erythrocyte‐derived particles using whole human blood and encapsulated with a near infrared fluorophore, indocyanine green (ICG). Size modulation of ICG‐loaded erythrocyte ghosts is achieved through hypotonic lysis and regulated extrusion. Physico‐chemical characterization confirms preservation of specific membrane proteins, including CD47, indicating immune evasion abilities across all three formulations. Size‐dependent cellular uptake studies in Detroit‐562 oropharyngeal cancer cells reveal that NiEP ₁₀₀ demonstrates superior penetration and intracellular distribution. NIR laser‐mediated photothermal studies unveil NiEP ₁₀₀ showing uptake‐correlated cytotoxicity enhancement (∼1.8‐fold). NiEP ₄₀₀ shows limited therapeutic benefit (∼0.9‐fold) with moderate uptake. All displayed macrophage evasion through inherent biomimetic properties. These findings establish a vital size‐performance relationship for erythrocyte‐based particles. This study provides a foundation for developing optimized, patient‐tailored cancer therapeutic platforms with enhanced therapeutic indices and clinical translation potential.

The development of dual-band electrochromic (EC) smart windows represents a transformative approach for next-generation energy-efficient buildings, enabling dynamic control over both visible and near-infrared (NIR) light transmittance. In this work, we present a comprehensive investigation of the morphology-dependent plasmonic-assisted enhanced performance of WO₃·H₂O (WH) electrochromic films via the integration of anisotropic Au nanostructures. By precisely tailoring the shape and size of Au nanorods (Au NRs) and nanoparticles (Au NPs) at dilute concentrations, we reveal their distinct roles in enhancing EC performance through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Among the hybrids, the WH-Au NR system exhibits outstanding electrochromic characteristics, achieving 70% optical modulation at 800 nm, a high areal capacitance of 21.7 mF/cm², exceptional coloration efficiency (172 cm²/C), and superior cycling stability with 99.9% retention over 3,000 cycles. Electrochemical analysis further reveals a 4.4-fold increase in donor density and 22.85-fold enhancement in diffusion coefficient compared with pristine WH films. Importantly, the device is fabricated entirely using scalable, solution-based processing and demonstrates strong NIR modulation, offering passive indoor temperature regulation. This study not only establishes the critical influence of Au nanostructure morphology on EC functionality but also provides a possible pathway toward high-performance smart windows for sustainable architectural applications.