BITS Faculty Publications

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    Enhancing 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid skin permeation via nanostructured lipid carriers: integrating quality by design principles for risk estimation and optimization
    (RSC, 2025-10) Taliyan, Rajeev; Singhvi, Gautam
    3-Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA), a bioactive compound derived from Boswellia serrata, exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it a promising candidate for treating inflammatory skin disorders. Its hydrophobic nature makes topical administration challenging. By developing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), this work sought to enhance the skin penetration of AKBA. Quality-by-design principles were applied for the development of a robust formulation, where AKBA-NLCs were developed using a three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken design. AKBA-NLCs were prepared by the hot homogenization technique. The optimized formulation was further loaded into a gelling system, and its rheological parameters were evaluated. Further evaluation for ex vivo skin permeation and retention, along with other characteristics such as occlusivity, extrudability, and spreadability, was performed. Quality-by-design through p-value assessment highlighted that all three factors significantly affected particle size, and in the case of PDI, only lipid content showed a significant impact, whereas for entrapment efficiency, lipid and surfactant content were the governing factors. Based on the set constraints, the optimized batch of AKBA-NLCs exhibited a particle size of 173.700 ± 1.165 nm, a PDI of 0.323 ± 0.012, a zeta potential of −19.533 ± 0.493 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 82.349 ± 3.223%. The in vitro release showed a prolonged release profile up to 56 h. When tested for cytotoxicity in the HaCaT cell line, the formulation was observed to be non-cytotoxic. The rheological data of the gel demonstrated a non-Newtonian, pseudo-plastic nature and indicated good structural strength. The ex vivo skin permeation of AKBA-NLCs was found to be 1.34 times higher than that via plain gel. Based on consistent results of viscosity, particle size integrity, and assay after one year of storage, the formulation was found to be stable. The formulation method used was simple and cost-effective, allowing for possible industrial scale-up. According to the findings, the NLC-loaded gel may prove to be a useful delivery strategy for the management of inflammatory skin conditions.
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    Packaged GaN HEMT biosensor and handheld system for brain injury detection
    (AIP, 2025-03) Taliyan, Rajeev
    In this Letter, an extended pad packaged GaN HEMT-based biosensing system has been reported for the detection of US Food and Drug Administration-approved ubiquitin-C-terminal-hydrolase-L1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein and Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee-recommended S100B brain injury biomarkers in clinically relevant concentration ranges. The work is an extension of our preliminary reported work on the noninvasive detection of traumatic brain injury biomarkers using saliva [R. Thakur, IEEE Sens. J. 24(3), 2313 (2023)]. A very high sensitivity of 0.58 mA/ng/ml with good linearity (Adj. R2 = 0.99) was observed for the detection of S100B with a response time of less than 15 s. The platform offers a shelf life of four weeks with minute degradation of −3.08% and −4.66% in its stability and reactivity. The developed biosensing platform shows great potential for its deployment in real-time application areas due to its high sensitivity, good shelf life, and fast detection time.
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    Exploration of the therapeutic potential of the epigenetic modulator decitabine on 6-OHDA-induced experimental models of Parkinson’s disease
    (ACS, 2025-04) Taliyan, Rajeev
    Parkinson’s disease (PD) poses a global menace, as the available treatment methods solely aim to mitigate symptoms. An effective strategy to address the pathogenesis of PD involves eliminating the accumulation of aggregated alpha-synuclein, emphasizing the role of epigenetics. Aberrant epigenetic changes significantly influence gene expression, which is pivotal in PD progression, impacting neuronal growth and degeneration. Epigenetic-related genes are regulated by histone modification and DNA methylation processes. Nevertheless, their significance in PD has not been confirmed. This research was carried out using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. In the in vitro investigations, N2A neuronal cell lines were utilized, and the neuroprotective effect of decitabine (DB) was observed at concentrations of 0.1 μM and 0.5 μM. In the in vivo study, PD induction led to significant motor deficits, which were notably ameliorated at the highest treatment dose. This improvement was accompanied by a marked attenuation of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and CRP levels. Additionally, there was a significant enhancement in antioxidative defense, evidenced by increased GSH (glutathione) levels and reduced oxidative stress marker NO (nitric oxide). Neurochemical analysis revealed a substantial rise in dopamine levels, a critical PD marker, alongside an elevation in BDNF, indicating neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, gene expression analysis indicated a notable upregulation in the mRNA expression of epigenetic genes and proteins linked to PD pathology. Histological assessments, including IHC, H&E, and CV staining of the substantia nigra, showed enhanced structural integrity following treatment. Collectively, these insights reveal DB’s promise as a therapeutic solution for mitigating PD symptoms and pathology exacerbated by 6-OHDA.
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    Neuroprotective effects of the epigenetic modulator decitabine in 6-OHDA-Induced cellular and mouse models of Parkinson's disease
    (Elsevier, 2025-05) Taliyan, Rajeev
    Oxidative stress is one of the factors in Parkinson’s disease (PD) etiology. Genes implicated in PD, such as DJ-1, PARKIN and PINK1, contribute to oxidative stress, affecting dopaminergic neurons. The Xlinked G6PD gene encodes glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, an important regulator of oxidative stress. Conflicting reports have shown both reduced G6PD activity and elevated G6PD expression levels in PD patients, leading to inconsistent conclusions about its role in PD.
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    The interplay of triphala and its constituents with respect to metabolic disorders and gut-microbiome
    (Elsevier, 2025-07) Taliyan, Rajeev
    Ayurveda is based on natural therapeutic methods that focuses on eliminating toxins from the body and enhancing both physical and mental regeneration using herbal remedies. Medicinal plants have significant elemental and therapeutic value. Triphala (TLP) is a highly potent polyherbal Ayurvedic remedy that is widely regarded as one of the most crucial ayurvedic supplements. This study aims to analyze and comprehend the effectiveness and therapeutic value of TLP and its components by summarizing the pertinent literature based on a selection of publications obtained through a focused search of reliable academic resources. The review primarily emphasizes on the ethnomedical and pharmacological effects of TLP, while also providing a probable explanation of the underlying molecular mechanism. TLP is recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antimutagenic, hypoglycemic, antineoplastic, chemoprotective, and radioprotective properties. It is also effective against parasitic infections, and other infectious disorders. Although, the mechanisms are not well explored but these activities are also ascribed to alter the gut microbiota composition. Therefore, it is imperative to undertake rigorous systematic study for TLP in order to identify and assess the chemical ingredients which bring about the change either in gut microbiome composition or increase the number of beneficial gut-microbiota. Hence, this review thoroughly examines the pharmacological advantages of Triphala with special emphasis on molecular mechanisms altering the gut-microbiota prior to its potential utilization in clinical environments.
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    Sertraline enhances bacterial control by improving the pharmacodynamic - pharmacokinetic properties of frontline TB drugs
    (2025-07) Taliyan, Rajeev
    Given the need for innovative interventions for tackling the burden of TB, host directed therapies have emerged as a promising alternative in recent times. The combination of sertraline with frontline TB drugs has shown excellent promise in the murine models of infection in imparting better bacterial control and increasing host survival. We tested if the addition of sertraline worked to increase bacterial clearance in the random bred guinea pig model of TB infection that mimics the inter individual heterogeneity observed in the human response to infection. The combination of sertraline and frontline TB drugs effectively reduced bacterial burdens in the tissues of guinea pigs significantly better than the drugs alone with a marked betterment of lung histopathology. In order to evaluate the effect of sertraline on the pharmacodynamic properties of TB drugs, concentrations of the drugs were estimated in tissues at different time intervals over a period of 24h of administration to rats. Overall, addition of sertraline did not alter TB drug distribution or clearance from the animals, although enriching drug amounts transiently between 3-6 h in the different tissues. We thus highlight the advantage of an adjunct TB therapy with the inclusion of sertraline, an FDA approved antidepressant, in improving the PKPD of TB drugs and imparting better infection control in diverse models of infection.
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    Epigenetic mechanisms linking environmental exposure to Parkinson’s disease: a comprehensive review
    (Elsevier, 2025-10) Taliyan, Rajeev
    Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction and non-motor symptoms affecting cognition, mood and autonomic function. Both genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures such as pesticides (e.g., paraquat, rotenone), heavy metals (e.g., manganese, lead), tobacco smoke, and caffeine have been implicated in PD pathogenesis. Recent studies highlight the role of epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation (e.g., SNCA, PARK2), histone modifications (e.g., H3K9me3, H3K27ac), and microRNAs (e.g., miR-133b, miR-7), in mediating the effects of environmental toxins on neuronal function and survival. These alterations can disrupt transcriptional programs, impair mitochondrial function and promote oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and dopaminergic neuronal loss. Aging further compounds epigenetic dysregulation by reducing chromatin plasticity and enhancing glial reactivity. This review synthesizes current insights into how specific environmental exposures modulate the epigenetic landscape in PD and explores their downstream effects on key pathological processes. We also discuss emerging therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic modifiers such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and miRNA-based interventions. A clearer understanding of the gene environment epigenome interface may help identify early biomarkers and develop precision medicine approaches for PD.
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    Epigenetics in neurodegeneration: emerging biomarkers and translational insights
    (Elsevier, 2025-12) Taliyan, Rajeev
    Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington’s disease (HD), are characterized by progressive neuronal loss leading to cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments. Despite available interventions such as medications, physical therapy, and surgery, effective disease-modifying therapies remain elusive, with most treatments limited to symptom management. The multifactorial etiology of NDDs involves genetic, environmental, and increasingly recognized epigenetic factors that alter gene expression and drive disease onset and progression. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling play central roles in neuronal development, brain aging, and neurodegeneration. Recent advances highlight the potential of epigenetic biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic tools, enabling early detection, monitoring of disease progression, and evaluation of therapeutic response. Protein- and microRNA-based biomarkers in biofluids, including blood and cerebrospinal fluid, provide promising insights into disease pathology and may support precision medicine approaches. This review explores current progress in identifying and validating epigenetic biomarkers and discusses their therapeutic implications, underscoring their transformative potential for improving diagnosis and treatment strategies in NDDs.
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    Significance of blocking layer in GaN HEMT biosensor for S100B detection using serum and saliva
    (Elsevier, 2025-11) Taliyan, Rajeev
    The work reports a meander-gated GaN HEMT-based biosensor for the noninvasive detection of the Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee (SNC) recommended biomarker S100B in clinically relevant concentration ranges. The proposed bio-assay for S100B detection has been validated using different surface characterization techniques. The impact of BSA blocking for suppressed nonspecific adsorption and possible sensitivity enhancement has been discussed in depth based on electrical and contact angle measurement-based studies. The biosensor sensitivity was enhanced by ∼58.04 μA/ng/ml for the BSA-coated sensor with a better linearity trend. The measured contact angle for the sensor dynamic range of 100 fg/ml to 10.0 ng/ml has been correlated with the sensor response for a better understanding of the antibody-antigen conjugation over the sensing areas. The inclusion of the BSA layer resulted in a 59.08 % increase in sensor response for the various S100B concentrations ranging from 1.0 ng/ml to 4.0 ng/ml. The platform has been utilized for the noninvasive saliva-based detection and invasive serum-based detection of the S100B biomarker. The platform offers a sensitivity of 250.12 μA/ng/ml and 0.84 mA/ng/ml for saliva and serum-based detection with excellent linearity. The platform is suitable for early diagnosis and prognosis of TBI in real-time application areas with a limit of detection of 1.47 fg/ml and ultrasensitive with a response time of 5–10s with a low sample volume requirement of 1–2 μl.
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    The role of diet and nutraceuticals in the amelioration of multidrug resistance amongst cancer patients
    (Springer, 2025-11) Singhvi, Gautam; Taliyan, Rajeev
    Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, with the reported numbers rising every year. Although the medical fraternity has made considerable progress in early detection and treatment interventions, the numbers are expected to increase drastically by 2040. The most prevalent cause of mortality in people with diverse cancer types is likely multidrug resistance (MDR). As per recent reports, there have been increased incidences of cancer being reported globally, with projections of low-Human Development Index (HDI) countries being affected more in the near future.