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Dr. Vandana Sankar

Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri

Qualification: Ph.D
vandanasankar@am.amrita.edu
Google Scholar
Research Interest: Cardiovascular Disease Biology

Bio
  • PhD in Biological sciences (Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, 2009)
  • Guest Lecturer (All Saints’ College, Trivandrum, 2009)
  • Postdoctoral research experience in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (CSIR-NIIST, 2010-2015)
  • Young Scientist and Principal Investigator in Life Sciences (CSIR-NIIST, 2015-2019)
Publications

Journal Article

Year : 2021

Chemical constituents from Chonemorpha fragrans roots and antibacterial activity studies of sarcorucinine D

Cite this Research Publication : Chemical constituents from Chonemorpha fragrans roots and antibacterial activity studies of sarcorucinine D (2021), Dhanya SR, Nair MS, Dileep Kumar BS & Vandana Sankar: Natural Product Research, DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2021.1910263 (IF 2.86)

Publisher : Natural Product Research

Year : 2018

Influence of Branched Polyester Chains on the Emission Behaviour of Dipyridamole Molecule and its Biosensing Ability

Cite this Research Publication : Influence of Branched Polyester Chains on the Emission Behaviour of Dipyridamole Molecule and its Biosensing Ability (2018) Nagarajan S, Sankar V, Bejoymohandas KS Duan Y, Zhang J ACS Omega 3: 15530−15537 (IF 3.512)

Publisher : ACS Omega 3

Year : 2017

Role of autophagy in cardiac hypertrophy: an insight into use of autophagy- targeted drugs

Cite this Research Publication : Role of autophagy in cardiac hypertrophy: an insight into use of autophagy- targeted drugs (2017) Vandana Sankar Allied J Med Res Volume 1 Issue 2 Pg 65 (0.56)

Publisher : Allied J Med Res Volume 1 Issue 2 Pg 65

Year : 2017

Horizontal transfer of mir‐23a from hypoxic tumor cell colonies can induce angiogenesis

Cite this Research Publication : Sruthi TV, Edatt L, Raji GR, Kunhiraman H, Shankar SS, Shankar V, Ramachandran V, Poyyakkara A, Kumar SVB. Horizontal transfer of miR-23a from hypoxic tumor cell colonies can induce angiogenesis. J Cell Physiol. 2018 Apr;233(4):3498-3514. doi: 10.1002/jcp.26202. Epub 2017 Nov 16. PMID: 28929578.

Publisher : J Cell Physiol

Year : 2017

Rapid, Acid-Free Synthesis of High-Quality Graphene Quantum Dots for Aggregation Induced Sensing of Metal Ions and Bioimaging

Cite this Research Publication : Rapid, Acid-free Synthesis of High-Quality Graphene Quantum Dots for Aggregation Induced Sensing of Metal Ions and Bioimaging (2017) Nair RV,Thomas RT, Sankar V, Muhammad Dong M, Pillai S ACS Omega 2 (11) 8051- 8061

Publisher : ACS Omega

Year : 2017

Novel Glycoconjugated Squaraine Dyes for Selective Optical Imaging of Cancer Cells

Cite this Research Publication : M.Shimi, & Sankar, Vandana & AbdulRahim, M. & Nitha, P. & Das, Suresh & Radhakrishnan, K. & K G, Raghu. (2017). Novel Glycoconjugated Squaraine Dyes for Selective Optical Imaging of Cancer Cells. Chemical Communications. 53. 10.1039/C6CC10282D.

Publisher : Chem Commun

Year : 2016

An Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation prevents cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by inhibition of ERK and PKCε signaling pathways

Cite this Research Publication : An Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation prevents cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by inhibition of ERK and PKCε signaling pathways (2016) Vandana Sankar Altern Integr Med 5:3(Suppl)Pg49

Publisher : Integr Med

Year : 2015

Nimbolide from Azadirachta indica and its derivatives plus first-generation cephalosporin antibiotics: a novel drug combination for wound-infecting pathogens†

Cite this Research Publication : Nimbolide from Azadirachta indica and its derivatives plus first-generation cephalosporin antibiotics: A novel drug combination for wound infecting pathogens (2015) Dhanya SR, Nishanth KS, Sankar V, Raghu, KG, Nair MS and Dileep BSK RSC Adv 5 89503-89514 (IF 3.36)

Publisher : RSC Adv

Year : 2015

Cerium nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous extract of Centella asiatica: characterization, determination of free radical scavenging activity and evaluation of efficacy against cardiomyoblast hypertrophy†

Cite this Research Publication : Cerium nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous extract of Centella asiatica: characterization, determination of free radical scavenging activity and evaluation of efficacy against cardiomyoblast hypertrophy (2015) Sankar V, Salin RP, Athira R, Soumya R S and Raghu KG RSC Adv 5 21074-21083 (IF 3.36)

Publisher : RSC Adv

Year : 2015

Production and characterization of PHB from a novel isolate Comamonas sp. from a dairy effluent sample and its application in cell culture

Cite this Research Publication : Production and characterization of PHB from a novel isolate Comamonas sp.from a dairy effluent sample and its application in cell culture (2015) Prabisha TP, Sindhu R, Binod P, Sankar V, Raghu KG and Pandey A Biochem Eng J 101 150–159 (IF 3.97)

Publisher : Biochem Eng

Year : 2015

Tribulus terrestris (Linn.) Attenuates Cellular Alterations Induced by Ischemia in H9c2 Cells Via Antioxidant Potential

Cite this Research Publication : Tribulus terrestris (Linn.) attenuates cellular alterations induced by ischemia in H9c2 myoblasts via its antioxidant potential (2015) Reshma PL, Lekshmi VS, Sankar V and Raghu KG Phytother Res 29(6)933-43

Publisher : Phytother Res

Year : 2015

Hybrid alginate-polyester bimodal network hydrogel for tissue engineering–Influence of structured water on long-term cellular growth

Cite this Research Publication : Hybrid alginate-polyester bimodal network hydrogel for tissue engineering - Influence of structured water on long-term cellular growth (2015) Finosh GT, Jayabalan M, Vandana S and Raghu KG Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 135 855-64 (IF 5.27)

Publisher : Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces

Year : 2015

One-step green synthesis of carbon quantum dots and its application towards the bioelectroanalytical and biolabeling studies

Cite this Research Publication : One-step green synthesis of carbon quantum dots and its application towards the bioelectroanalytical and biolabeling studies (2015) Shereema RM, Sankar V, Raghu KG, Rao TP and Shankar SS Electrochim Acta 182 588–595

Publisher : Electrochim Acta

Year : 2014

Green synthesis of cerium nanoparticles using Centella asiatica, their characterization and evaluation of efficacy against cardiomyoblast hypertrophy

Cite this Research Publication : Green synthesis of cerium nanoparticles using Centella asiatica, their characterization and evaluation of efficacy against cardiomyoblast hypertrophy (2014) Sankar V, Salin RP, Athira R, Raghu KG Indian J Pharmacol 46: S29-S30 (IF 1.04)

Publisher : Indian J Pharmacol

Year : 2014

Chebulagic acid from Terminalia chebula enhances insulin mediated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via PPARγ signaling pathway

Cite this Research Publication : Chebulagic acid from Terminalia chebula enhances insulin mediated glucose uptake in 3T3 L1 adipocytes via PPARγ signaling pathway (2014) Shyni GL, Kavitha S, Indu S, Arya A, Anusree SS, Vineetha VP, Vandana S, Sundaresan A and Raghu KG Biofactors 40 646–657 (IF 6.113)

Publisher : Biofactors

Year : 2014

A lysosome-targeted drug delivery system based on sorbitol backbone towards efficient cancer therapy†

Cite this Research Publication : A Lysosome - Targeted Drug Delivery System based on Sorbitol Backbone towards Efficient Cancer Therapy (2014) Maniganda S 1, Sankar V 1, Nair JB, Raghu KG and Maiti KK Org Biomol Chem 12(34)6564-6569 (IF 3.87)

Publisher : KK Org Biomol Chem

Year : 2013

Sorbitol-Based Drug Delivery Vector Conjugated with Cathepsin B Peptide Sequence Targeting to Lysosome

Cite this Research Publication : Sorbitol-based drug delivery vector conjugated with cathepsin B peptide sequence targeting to lysosome (2013) Maniganda S, Sankar V, Raghu KG, Maiti KK. Indian J Pharmacol 45: S33-S34 (IF 1.04)

Publisher : Indian J Pharmacol

Year : 2013

Growth and survival of cells in biosynthetic poly vinyl alcohol-alginate IPN hydrogels for cardiac applications

Cite this Research Publication : Gnanaprakasam Thankam F, Muthu J, Sankar V, Kozhiparambil Gopal R. Growth and survival of cells in biosynthetic poly vinyl alcohol-alginate IPN hydrogels for cardiac applications. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2013 Jul 1;107:137-45. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.01.069. Epub 2013 Feb 11. PMID: 23475061.

Publisher : Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces

Year : 2013

Mitochondria-specific visible-light sensitized europium complex with impressive red emission

Cite this Research Publication : Mitochondria-specific visible-light sensitized europium complex with impressive red emission (2013) Divya V, Sankar V, Raghu KG and Reddy MLP Dalton Trans 42(34)12317-12323 (IF 4.39)

Publisher : Dalton Trans

Year : 2012

Cardoguard, an Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation, prevents cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats by inhibition of ERK and PKCε signaling pathways

Cite this Research Publication : Cardoguard, an Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation, prevents cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats by inhibition of ERK and PKCε signaling pathways (2012) Sankar V, Nair RR, Harikrishnan VS, Fernandez AC, Krishna Kumar CS and Madhavachandran V Can J Physiol Pharmacol 90(5)627-635 (IF 2.273)

Publisher : Can J Physiol Pharmacol

Year : 2010

Endothelium dependent vasorelaxation of rat aortae by Cardoguard- an Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation

Cite this Research Publication : Endothelium dependent vasorelaxation of rat aortae by Cardoguard- an Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation (2010) Sankar V, Nair RR, Fernandez AC, Krishna Kumar CS and Madhavachandran V Biomedicine 30(1)18-24

Publisher : Biomedicine

Year : 2009

Studies on chemically crosslinkable carboxy terminated-poly (propylene fumarate-co-ethylene glycol)-acrylamide hydrogel as an injectable biomaterial

Cite this Research Publication : Kallukalam, Bobby Cherian et al. “Studies on chemically crosslinkable carboxy terminated-poly(propylene fumarate-co-ethylene glycol)-acrylamide hydrogel as an injectable biomaterial.” Biomedical materials 4 1 (2009): 015002 .

Publisher : Biomedical materials

Year : 2008

Injectable polyethylene glycol terminated poly (propylene fumarate) / acrylamide biodegradable materials for cardiac applications

Cite this Research Publication : Injectable polyethylene glycol terminated poly (propylene fumarate) / acrylamide biodegradable materials for cardiac applications (2008) Kallukalam BC, Jayabalan M and Sankar V Hacettepe J Biol Chem 36(4) 283-290

Publisher : Hacettepe J Biol Chem

Year : 2008

An Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation attenuates negative inotropic response of rat papillary muscle to reactive oxygen species

Cite this Research Publication : An Ayurvedic antihypertensive formulation attenuates negative inotropic response of rat papillary muscle to reactive oxygen species (2008) Sankar V, Nair RR, Fernandez AC, Krishna Kumar CS and Madhavachandran V Biomedicine28(1)12-15

Publisher : Biomedicine

Conference Proceedings

Year : 2018

Autophagic involvement in isoproterenol-stimulated cardiomyoblast hypertrophy: an insight into use of autophagy-targeted drugs

Cite this Research Publication : Autophagic involvement in isoproterenol-stimulated cardiomyoblast hypertrophy: an insight into use of autophagy-targeted drugs. Vandana Sankar* and Kavitha Sasidharan. Proceedings pg.123. 3rd International Conference on Nutraceuticals and Chronic diseases. September 14-16, 2018, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun,Uttarakhand.

Publisher : Proceedings pg.123. 3rd International Conference on Nutraceuticals and Chronic diseases

Year : 2015

Near infrared fluorescent glyco-conjugated squaraine dyes for targeted tumor optical imaging

Cite this Research Publication : Near infrared fluorescent glyco-conjugated squaraine dyes for targeted tumor optical imaging. Shimi M, Vandana Sankar, Suresh Das, K.V.Radhakrishnan, K.G.Raghu. International Symposium on Photonics Applications and Nanomaterials (ISPAN), October 28- 30, 2015, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Publisher : ISPAN

Year : 2015

Cerium nanoparticles synthesized using Centella asiatica, their characterization, interaction with cardiomyoblasts and evaluation of efficacy against hypertrophy in vitro

Cite this Research Publication : Cerium nanoparticles synthesized using Centella asiatica, their characterization, interaction with cardiomyoblasts and evaluation of efficacy against hypertrophy in vitro. Vandana Sankar, Salin Raj P, Raghu K.G. Abstract pg.63. Indo-Canadian Symposium on Heart Failure, Progress and Prospects, March 11-14, 2015, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Publisher : Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology

Year : 2015

An Efficient Approach on Guanidium Appended Molecular Transporter for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin towards Malignant Cells: A Future Prospect in Cancer Therapy

Cite this Research Publication : An Efficient Approach on Guanidium Appended Molecular Transporter for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin towards Malignant Cells: A Future Prospect in Cancer Therapy. Jyothi B Nair,Varsha Karunakaran, Saswat Mohaptraa, Santhi Maniganda, Vandana Sankar, Raghu K G, Surajit Ghosh, Kaustabh Kumar Maiti. Abstract book, The Ramanbhai Foundation 7th International Symposium, “Advances in new drug discovery and development”, February 2-4, 2015, Zydus Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India.

Publisher : The Ramanbhai Foundation 7th International Symposium, “Advances in new drug discovery and development

Year : 2014

Guanidium appended molecular transporters, an alternative platform for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs

Cite this Research Publication : Guanidium appended molecular transporters, an alternative platform for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. Jyothi B Nair, Santhi Maniganda, Vandana Sankar, Saswat Mohapatra, Raghu KG, Surajit Ghosh, Kaustabh Kumar Maiti. Abstract pg.151. National Symposium on Transcending Frontiers in Organic Chemistry. October 9-11, 2014. CSIR- NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Publisher : National Symposium on Transcending Frontiers in Organic Chemistry

Year : 2013

Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC. exhibits antihypertrophic effect in isoproterenol- stimulated cardiomyoblasts via amelioration of oxidative stress and mitochondrial alterations

Cite this Research Publication : Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC. exhibits antihypertrophic effect in isoproterenol- stimulated cardiomyoblasts via amelioration of oxidative stress and mitochondrial alterations. Vandana Sankar, Raghu KG. Abstract pg 82. 26th Annual Symposium of Indian Society for Atherosclerosis. November 22-23, 2013. Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur, Kerala.

Publisher : 26th Annual Symposium of Indian Society for Atherosclerosis.

Year : 2012

Novel Biosynthetic Hydrogel Ipns for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Cite this Research Publication : Novel Biosynthetic Hydrogel Ipns for Cardiac Tissue Engineering. Finosh G.T, Jayabalan Muthu, Vandana Sankar, Raghu K.G. 9th World Biomaterials Congress. Innovative Biomaterials and Crossing Frontiers in Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine. June 1-5, 2012. Chengdu, China.

Publisher : 9th World Biomaterials Congress. Innovative Biomaterials and Crossing Frontiers in Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine.

Year : 2012

A highly luminescent europium complex showing visible light sensitized red emission: applications in live cell imaging

Cite this Research Publication : A highly luminescent europium complex showing visible light sensitized red emission: applications in live cell imaging. V. Divya, Vandana Sankar, K.G. Raghu and M. L. P. Reddy. Abstract pg 95. 14th National Symposium in Chemistry (NSC14) and 6th CRSI-RSC Symposium in Chemistry, February 03-05, 2012. CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala.

Publisher : 14th National Symposium in Chemistry (NSC14) and 6th CRSI-RSC Symposium in Chemistry

Year : 2006

In vitro assessment of vasorelaxant effect of a herbal antihypertensive formulation and delineation of its mechanism of action

Cite this Research Publication : In vitro assessment of vasorelaxant effect of a herbal antihypertensive formulation and delineation of its mechanism of action. Vandana Sankar, R. Renuka Nair, A. C. Fernandez, C. S. Krishna Kumar, V. Madhavachandran. Souvenir & Abstracts. pg 172. National Symposium on Current trends in the Development of Herbal drugs & 27th Annual Conference of Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists. November 25-27, 2006. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Publisher : Souvenir & Abstracts

Year : 2006

Low levels of extracellular magnesium augment vasoconstrictive response to oxidative stress

Cite this Research Publication : Low levels of extracellular magnesium augment vasoconstrictive response to oxidative stress. Vandana Sankar, R.Renuka Nair. Journal of the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. Special Abstract Issue. Volume I, Number 1, 2006, pg 55. Joint Annual meeting of the International Society of Heart Research (India section) and International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (Indian chapter). January 12-14, 2006, Chennai.

Publisher : Joint Annual meeting of the International Society of Heart Research (India section) and International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences

Awards and Achievements
  1. Kerala State Young Scientist Award 2014 by KSCSTE (Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment)
  2. Young Scientist Award- International Society of Nutraceuticals and Chronic Diseases (2018)
  3. Scientific Track Speaker at the 5th International Conference and Exhibition on Natural & Alternative Medicine hosted by OMICS International, Beijing.
  4. DBT Research Associateship, Department of Biotechnology, Govt.of India (2010)
  5. DST- SERB Young Investigator Project Grant, Govt. of India (2015)
  6. KSCSTE Travel grant for presentation at International conference abroad (2016)
  7. CICS Travel grant for attending International conference abroad (2016)
  8. UGC Junior and Senior Research fellowship (2004 and 2006)
Research Expertise

PhD and postdoctoral studies were primarily in hypertension, cardiovascular disease and their interventions. Research has been mainly focused on delineation of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy to identify drug targets. Collaborative and interdisciplinary projects with the chemistry group of CSIR-NIIST such as targeted drug delivery in cancer cells using novel peptide-based constructs, cancer diagnosis using novel dyes,etc.

Project Guided as PI
  1. Role of mitophagy in cardiac hypertrophy- an in vitro cell line approach”- The project aimed at evaluating autophagy as well as mitophagy as potential drug targets in an in vitro disease model of cardiac hypertrophy (Funding-SERB, Govt.of India, Total cost- 33.8 lakhs, Project completed in 2019)
  2. Natural compounds targeting autophagy: an insight into development of novel drugs for cardiac hypertrophy (Proposal submitted to DHR, 2020)
Teaching
  • Research methodology (BIO 317): B.Sc. Semester 5
  • Pharmacology (BIO 319) B.Sc. Semester 6
  • Cell and Molecular Biology Lab (BIO 281) B.Sc. Semester 3
  • Immunology Lab (BIO 282) B.Sc. Semester 4
  • Biochemistry Lab (BIO 180) B.Sc. Semester 2
  • Working as Associate with University of Arizona (2021 onwards) for the M.Sc Dual degree program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
New Projects

Project Approved (as PI): SERB Power Grant (April 2022)
Project Title: ” Therapeutic targeting of autophagy in hypertrophied myocardium: potential effects of compounds from Desmodium gangeticum.
Co PI1: Dr. Nandita Mishra
Co PI2: Dr. Chinchu Bose

Opportunity for PhD Candidates in the above Project

There is a vacancy for JRF / PhD student in the above project with a duration of 3 years. Interested PhD applicants can contact for further details in the Email ID: vandanasankar@am.amrita.edu

Invited Talks
  1. “National Seminar on Current vistas in Cell and Molecular Biology”, University of Kerala, Karyavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, March 26th, Topic of the talk: “A lysosome-targeted drug delivery system based on sorbitolbackbone towards efficient cancer therapy”
  2. Seminar on “New Avenues in Bioscience Research” supported by DST-PURSE organized by School of Biosciences, MG University, Kottayam, March 20th, Topic of the talk: “Experimental models in cardiovascular disease: emphasis on hypertensive, hypertrophic and heart failure models”
Presentation at Symposiums / Conferences
  1. Poster presentation at the Joint Annual Meeting of International Society of Heart Research (ISHR) & International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (IACS) (India), Jan 12- 14, 2006, Madras Medical Mission,Chennai
  2. Oral presentation at the National Symposium on Current Trends in the Development of Herbal Drugs and 27thAnnual Conference of Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists (IABMS), Nov 25-27, 2006, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram
  3. Oral presentation at the 26thAnnual symposium of Indian Society for Atherosclerosis Research (ISARCON 2013), Nov 22-23, 2013, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences,
  4. Oral presentation at 46th Annual Conference of Indian Pharmacological Society, (IPSCON 2013) and International Conference on Translational Pharmacology, Dec 16-18, 2013, NIMHANS Convention centre,
  5. Oral presentation at 47th Annual Conference of Indian Pharmacological Society, (IPSCON 2014), Dec 28 -30, 2014, Guwahati Medical College and Hospital Convention Centre, Bhangagarh, Guwahati, Assam
  6. Oral presentation of the Kerala State Young Scientist award-winning work at the 27th Kerala Science Congress, Jan 27-29, 2015, held at Pathirappally, Alappuzha
  7. Oral presentation at the Indo-Canadian Symposium on Heart Failure, Progress and Prospects, March 11-14, 2015, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram.
  8. Oral presentation at the 49th Annual Conference of the Indian Pharmacological Society /IPSCON-2016, Oct 21-23, 2016, PGIMER,
  9. Poster presentation at the 3rd International Conference on Nutraceuticals and Chronic diseases, Sep 14-16, 2018, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun.
  10. Poster presentation (online) at the 34th Kerala Science Congress, 10th-12th February 2022
Memberships
  • Life membership – Kerala Academy of Sciences (KAS)
  • Life membership – Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences
  • Life membership- International Society of Nutraceuticals and Chronic Diseases (ISNCD)
Admissions Apply Now