Dr. KUNAL PAL pal.kunal@yahoo.com

http://palkunal.bravehost.com/ PERSONAL INFORMATION Nationality Indian. Date of Birth October 15, 1980. Marital Status/ Sex Single/ Male. Languages Known English, Hindi, Bengali. POSITIONS HELD Assistant-Warden (July 2009- till date), M. S. Swaminathan Hall of residence, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela- 769008, Orissa, India. Assistant Professor (Jan. 2009- till date) Department of Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela- 769008, Orissa, India. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Post-doctoral Fellow (Feb. 2007 – Dec. 2008), School of Nutrition, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada Research Associate (Oct. 2006 –Jan. 2007), Center for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology- Delhi, New Delhi, India. EDUCATION Materials Science Center, Indian Institute of Technology- Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India. Ph.D. (Thesis defended on 14th January, 2008)

PERMANENT ADDRESS A-186, DDA Flats, Kalkaji, New Delhi-110019. India. +911126029535 (Residence)

PRESENT ADDRESS Qrt # D-34, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela- 769008, Orissa, India. +91-917-881-2505 (Mobile)

School of Bio-Science & Engineering Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. Master of Engineering, Biomedical, July 2004 Division: Ist class (77%). College of Pharmacy, Delhi University, India. Bachelor of Pharmacy, July 2002 Division: Ist class (66%). PROFESSIONAL BODY MEMBERSHIPS Society for Biomaterials & Artificial Organs (India) LM-268 Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association LM-3862 REVIEW ERS OF JOURNALS: Journal of Membrane Science Journal of Applied Polymer Science COMPUTER SKILLS Computer Tools: AutoCAD, MS (Excel), Origin, Omnic. Operating Systems: Windows. ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS

1. Vice-Chair, Highly Qualified Personnel Association, AFMNet, National Center for Excellence, Canada (2008-2009).

2. Quarterly Report compiling and filing of Biopolymers project of AFMnet, National Center of Excellence, Canada (2007- 2008).

3. Actively helped Prof. Dérick Rousseau in organizing “Biopolymers group meeting” of AFMnet, held at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada during November 23-24, 2007.

4. President, Materials Science Society, Materials Science Center, Indian Institute of Technology- Kharagpur, India (2005-2006).

TECHNIQUES KNOWN Hand on experience of FTIR machine (Perkin Elmer), mechanical testers (INSTRON-4204 and texture analyzer), XRD machine, DSC machine (Perkin Elmer), 16 station rotary tablet manufacturing unit, UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer), microscopes (confocal lazer scanning microscope, Inverted microscope and Polarized light microscope), pulsed NMR (droplet size measurement and SFC), du-Nouy tensiometer, homogenizers (Omni, pressure valve and polytron), rotational viscometer (TA rhelogical instrument AR-1000), Particle size and Zeta potential analyzer (Brookhaven 90Plus). Other techiniques drug release studies (in-vitro study), hemocompatibility of various materials, effect of albumin on drug release, release of drugs from ointments, capsule filling, determination of pore size of porous UHMWPE plates using Poiseulle’s equation, preparation of various pharmaceutical dosage forms (ointments, suspensions, emulsions, creams etc.), development of biopolymeric microparticles, development of scaffolds for biomedical applications, determination of diffusion coefficients of solutes through semi-permeable membranes.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES QIP-Short term course: “Advances in Drug Discovery” held at Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology- Guwahati, India during July 20-24, 2009. QIP-Short term course: "Approaches to the screening of bioactive molecules from natural resources" held at Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology- Guwahati, India during July 13-17, 2009. Intellectual Property Roundtable discussion: Attended the IP roundtable discussions at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada during November 21, 2007. AFMnet winter school: Attended AFMnet winter school at Richarson’s Nutraceutical Center, University of Manitoba during November 1-3, 2007. The trip was supported by AFMnet.

Visiting Scientist for a week in Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. Recent Advances in Cryogenic Technology: Attended a week long school at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India on advances in cryopumps, cryosurgery, techniques for food preservation, cryopreservation of blood. JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS 1. S. Roy, K. Pal* , A. Anis, K. Pramanik and B.Prabhakar, Polymers in Mucoadhesive Drug

Delivery System: A Brief Note, Designed Monomers & Polymers, 12 (6), 2009, pp. 483-495. 2. G. Thakur, K. Pal, A. Mitra, S. Mukherjee, A. Basak and D. Rousseau, Some common

antidiabetic plants of the Indian subcontinent, Food Reviews International, accepted on July 26, 2009.

3. G. Thakur, A. Mitra, K. Pal and D. Rousseau, Effect of flaxseed gum on reduction of blood glucose & cholesterol in Type 2 diabetic patients, International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 60 (S6), 2009, pp. 126-136.

4. K. Pal*, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Polymeric Hydrogels: Characterization and Biomedical Applications, Designed Monomers & Polymers, 12 (3), 2009, pp. 197-220.

5. R. Dasgupta, K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.N. Tibarewala, Effect of heat treatment of starch on the iontophoretic diffusion of salicylic acid through starch hydrogels: A comparative study, Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 1 (1), 2008, pp. 65-70.

6. R.K. Mishra, M. Datt, K. Pal and A.K Banthia, Preparation and characterization of amidated pectin based Hydrogels for Drug Delivery System, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19 (6), 2008, pp. 2275-2280.

7. K. Pal* , S. Bag and S. Pal, Development of Porous Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene scaffolds for the fabrication of orbital implant, Journal of Porous Materials, 15 (1), 2008, pp. 53-59.

8. P. Sutar, R.K. Mishra, K. Pal and A.K. Banthia, Development of pH sensitive polyacrylamide grafted pectin hydrogel for controlled drug delivery system, published in Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19 (6), 2008, pp. 2247-2253.

9. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Effect of heat treatment of starch on the properties of the starch hydrogels, Materials letters, 62 (2), 2008, pp. 215-218.

10. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol- gelatin hydrogel membranes for biomedical applications, AAPS PharmSci Tech, 8 (1), 2007, Article 21.

11. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Polyvinyl alcohol-gelatin patches of salicylic acid: preparation, characterization and drug release studies, Journal of Biomaterials Application, 21 (1) 2006, pp. 75-91.

12. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Biomedical evaluation of the prepared polyvinyl alcohol- gelatin esterified hydrogel, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 18 (9), 2007, pp. 1889-1894.

13. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Preparation of Novel pH Sensitive Hydrogels of Carboxymethyl Cellulose Acrylates: A Comparative Study, Materials & Manufacturing Processes, 21, 2006, pp. 877–882.

14. K. Pal and S. Pal Development of porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds, Materials & Manufacturing Processes, 21 (3), 2006, pp. 325-328.

15. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Polyvinyl alcohol-glycine composite membranes: preparation, characterization, drug release and cytocompatibility studies, Biomedical Materials: Materials for tissue engineering & regenerative medicine, 1, 2006, pp. 49-55.

16. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Development of carboxymethyl cellulose acrylate for various biomedical applications, Biomedical Materials: Materials for tissue engineering & regenerative medicine, 1, 2006, pp. 85-91.

17. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Characterizations of the prepared corn- starch based hydrogel membranes, Journal of Applied Biomaterials and Biomechanics, 4, 2006, pp. 38 - 44.

18. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Preparation of transparent starch based hydrogel membrane with potential application as wound dressing, Trends in biomaterials and Artificial Organs, 20 (1), 2006, pp. 59-67.

19. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Esterification of carboxymethyl cellulose with acrylic acid for targeted drug delivery system, Trends in biomaterials and Artificial Organs, 19 (1), 2005, pp. 12-14.

* Corresponding author.* Corresponding author.* Corresponding author.* Corresponding author. PATENTS Provisional US patent application has been filed on “Encapsulation of Multiple Emulsions” under the supervision of Prof. Dérick Rousseau and Prof. Allan Paulson. BOOK CHAPTER

1. K. Pal, D. Sarkar, D.K. Majumdar, A.K. Banthia and K. Pramanik; Book chapter titled “Development of Novel Cellulose-Acrylate Based Enteric Polymers for the Fabrication of Controlled Delivery System” in “Socio-Economic Development: Challenges before Women Scientists, Technologists & Engineers”, 2009, pp. 40-45. Published by: Excel India Publishers, India (ISBN: 978-93-80043-03-6).

2. K. Pal, A.T. Paulson and D. Rousseau; Book chapter titled “Biopolymers in Controlled Release Delivery Systems” in " Modern Biopolymer Science: Bridging the Divide between Fundamental Treatise and Industrial Application", 2009, pp. 519-577. Published by: Academic Press, USA (ISBN: 978-0-12-374195-0).

REFFERED CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS

1. K. Pal, A.K. Banthia and D.K. Majumdar, Diffusion of gatifloxacin through starch hydrogels: A comparative study, Proc ACUN-5 “Developments in Composites: Advanced, Infrastructural, Natural, and Nano-Composites”, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; 11-14 July 2006; pp. 51-56.

NON-ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS 1. An article titled “From India to Canada: The Journey of an HQP” was published in

“The official newsletter of the highly qualified personnel association as part of the advanced foods and materials network”, 3 (4), 2008. The article is available at: http://www.afmnet.ca/Docs/hqp/newsletters/Dec_2007_Insider.pdf

ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS

1. Invited as an expert for the development of Biomaterials & Cell Culture laboratory of School of BioScience & Engineering, Jadavpur University.

2. Appointed as Biomedical Engineering Curriculum Committee coordinator of Department of Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology- Rourkela.

3. Invited as a Biomedical Expert for faculty recruitment in Eastern Academy of Science & Technology affiliated to Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, Orissa.

4. Delivered an invited talk on “Biopolymeric Hydrogels: Design & Characterization” in “National Conference on Socio-economic development of Women” held at National Institute of Technology- Rourkela, Orissa, India during Feb. 13-15, 2009.

5. The poster titled “Controlled delivery of model drug from encapsulated multiple emulsions” was among the top 10 posters at AFMnet Annual Meeting held at Vancouver, British Coloumbia, Canada during May 31- June 3, 2008.

6. Elected as a Governing Council Member of Highly Qualified Personnel Association (HQPA), AFMnet, a federal Govt. of Canada supported body.

7. Post-doctoral Fellow under Biopolymers project supported by AFMnet, a federal Govt. of Canada supported

8. Visiting Scientist at Dalhousie University, Canada for 7 days. The trip was supported by AFMnet.

9. Institute Fellowship from Indian Institute of Technology- Kharagpur to carry out his PhD research.

10. UGC fellowship during his Post-graduation studies. 11. He attended ACUN-5 conference in Sydney, Australia. The trip was supported by IIT-

Kharagpur, CSIR- India and DST- India. 12. Obtained 90.79 percentile in GATE 2002 in pharmacy. 13. Participated successfully in UN GK Test 1993, '94, '95 and UN Information test '92, '94. 14. Life member of “Society of biomaterials and Artificial Organs”. 15. Awarded Associate Membership in 2005 of “Society of biomaterials and Artificial

Organs” (Stood first in the exam conducted for the same 16. Delivered an invited talk on “Hydrogel and it’s advanced application” in National

Technical Symposium on Biomedical Engineering held at Siliguri Institute of Technology, Siliguri, West Bengal.

17. Best presentation award for presenting a paper titled “Characterization of crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol and starch hydrogels for wound dressings” in National Technical Symposium on Biomedical Engineering held at Siliguri Institute of Technology, Siliguri, West Bengal.

ABSTRACT OF MASTERS THESIS Title: Development of porous UHMWPE and its composites for the fabrication of orbital implant. Supervisor: Prof. Subrata Pal, School of BioSc. & Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032 email: spalbme@yahoo.co.in Abstract. Biomaterial scientists and surgeons are familiar with the porous polyethylene (PE) and

hydroxyapatite (HA) implants. These porous implants have interconnecting channels that allow ingrowth

of host connective tissues. Complete vascularization reduces the risk of infection and extrusion. The

porous polyethylene products are available in various shapes and sizes. Considering the above facts 60%

and 70% porous ultra high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE) plates and blocks were developed using

Sodium Chloride as channeling agent. These blocks and plates were prepared by hot isostatic pressure. In

a similar way porous hydroxyapatite-UHMWPE composites were developed. Then the various

characterization techniques like determination of pore size, Modulus of elasticity, ultimate strength,

surface roughness studies, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis etc of the plates and blocks were

done. The pore size of 60% and 70% porous plates were found to be approximately 170 µm and 210 µm

respectively. These dimensions are well within the limits of 120-400 µm required for soft tissue ingrowth.

Then the porous plates were coated with a membrane of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Sod. CMC) /

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) / HA / Ciprofloxacin. The membrane was also casted on glass plates and the

release characteristic of ciprofloxacin was studied using ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Then the

hemocompatibility tests of the above samples were done as per the ASTM protocols. An orbital implant

was designed and machined out from the porous blocks.

ABSTRACT OF Ph.D. THESIS Title: Design, development and evaluation of hydrogels for biomedical applications Supervisors: Prof. A. K. Banthia, Prof. D. K. Majumdar Materials Science Centre, Department of Pharmacy IIT Kharagpur, College of Pharmacy Kharagpur-721302. University of Delhi (South Campus) email: ajitbanthia2000@yahoo.co.in New Delhi-110017 email: dkmajumdaar@yahoo.com

Abstract. Biomaterials play a key role in most approaches for engineering tissues as substitutes for

functional replacement, for components of devices related to therapy and diagnosis, for drug delivery

systems and supportive scaffolds for guided tissue growth. Modern biomaterials could be composed of

various components, e.g. metals, ceramics, natural tissues, polymers. In this last group, the hydrogels,

hydrophilic polymeric gels with requested biocompatibility and designed interaction with living

surrounding seem to be one of the most promising groups of biomaterials. This work deals with the

development of hydrogels by different chemical modifications and physical interaction between glycine

and polyvinyl alcohol. Chemical modifications include esterification of hydroxyl group polyvinyl alcohol

with carboxylic group of gelatin, crosslinking of corn- starch (heat- treated and non- heat treated) and

polyvinyl alcohol with glutaraldehyde and esterification of carboxymethyl cellulose hydroxyl group with

acrylates. The hydrogels were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD and DSC. Biocompatibility tests

were done for the hydrogels. Diffusion studies were done for the chemically modified hydrogels and

glycine release from the physical hydrogels was also studied. The hydrogels were found to be

biocompatible. The hydrogels supported the growth of L929 cell line and mice splenocytes indicating its

probable use in tissue engineering and wound healing where fibroblast cell proliferation plays an

important role. Polyvinyl alcohol- gelatin ester hydrogels and starch hydrogels allowed diffusion of both

anionic and cationic drugs indicating probable use in drug delivery systems. Starch hydrogels were found

to be biodegradable in the presence of α-amylase. Carboxymethyl cellulose modified hydrogels showed

pH dependent swelling and drug release indicating its enteric property. Polyvinyl alcohol- glycine

physical hydrogels instantaneously released glycine when put in aqueous media. The in vitro studies

indicated that the developed hydrogels could be tried for various biomedical applications.

RELEVANT GRADUATE COURSES Numerical Analysis Instrumentation Anatomy, Physiology & Biochemistry, Biomechanics & Biomaterials Artificial Organ & Rehabilitation Engg. Biomedical Instrumentation Clinical Engg. & Hospital Management Occupational Health & Safety In Industries. Advanced Inorganic chemistry Advanced Organic chemistry Pharmacognosy Pharmacology Pharmaceutical Maths & Biostatistics Pharmaceutical Engg. Engineering Drawing Physical Chemistry Principles of Instrumental Analysis Pharmaceutical Microbiology Physical Pharmacy Formulative Pharmacy & Cosmeticology Chemistry of Natural Products Medicinal Chemistry Biopharmaceutics & Clinical Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Technology Pharmacy Management Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry Biochemistry Techniques of Materials Characterization COURSES TAUGHT/ COORDINATED

S.No. Course/Subject Subject code Level No. of times taught 1 Biomedical Engineering BM-604 PG 1 2 Biomedical Engineering BM-403 UG (Institute

open elective) 1

3 Biomaterials BM-321 UG 1 4 Medical Signal & Signal

Processing BM- 313 UG 1

5 Biomedical Signal processing & Analysis

BM-611 PG 1

6 Clinical Science Laboratory- Hospital Training

BM-274 UG 1 (Assisted Prof. S. S. Ray in co-ordinating

the course) 7 Computer Application in

Medical Engineering BM-619 PG 1

8 Biomaterials laboratory BM- 371 UG 1

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

1. Socio-Economic Development: Challenges before Women Scientists, Technologists & Engineers held at NIT, Rourkela during February 13-15, 2009.

2. Biopolymers group meeting of AFMnet, held at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada during November 23-24, 2007.

3. 5th Annual Nanomedicine Meeting held at University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada during June 20-21, 2007.

4. AFMnet Annual Meeting held at Quebec City, Quebec, Canada during June 3-5, 2007. 5. CBS (Canadian Biomaterials Society) Annual Meeting held at Univeristy of Western Ontario,

Canada during May 25-27, 2007. 6. AFMnet HQP meeting held at University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada during March 23, 2007. 7. ACUN-5 held at University of New South Wales, Australia during July 11-14, 2006. 8. National Technical Symposium on Biomedical Engineering held at Siliguri Institute of

Technology, Siliguri, during April 7-8, 2006. 9. XVI National Conference of the Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs (India) held at

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, during January 20-22, 2006. 10. Conference on Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (STAM05) held at Pondicherry

Engineering College, Pondicherry during July 27-29, 2005. 11. Indo-Australian Conference held at SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram during January 19-21, 2005. 12. ISAMAP-2K4 held at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur during December 6-8, 2004.

REFERENCES A/Prof. Dérick Rousseau, Prof. Allan T. Paulson, School of Nutrition, Dept. of Process Eng. & Applied Sci., Ryerson University, Dalhousie University (Sexton Campus), Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Halifax, NS, Canada, M5B 2K3. B3J2X4. email: rousseau@ryerson.ca email: allan.paulson@dal.ca Prof. A. K. Banthia, A/Prof. S. Bandyopadhyay, Materials Science Centre, School of Materials Science & Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, Univ. of New South Wales, Kharagpur-721302 NSW 2052, India. Australia. email: ajitbanthia2000@yahoo.co.in email: s.bandyopadhyay@unsw.edu.au Prof. D. K. Majumdar, Prof. Alok Ray, Department of Pharmacy, Center for Biomedical Engineering, College of Pharmacy, Indian Institute of Technology, University of Delhi (South Campus), Delhi, New Delhi-110017, New Delhi-110016, India. India. email: dkmajumdaar@yahoo.com email: alokray@cbme.iitd.ac.in Prof. D. N. Tibarewala, Director, Asst. Prof. S S Ray, School of BioScience & Engineering, Department of Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Jadavpur University, National Institute of Technology, Kolkata- 700032, Rourkela-769008, India. India. email: biomed_ju@yahoo.co.in email: sirsendu.iitkgp@gmail.com

(KUNAL PAL) Date: December 4, 2009. Place: Rourkela, India.