Dr. Deepthy Menon is a Professor at Nanobioengineering group and Faculty Coordinator of the Nanobiotechnology program at Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi campus. She completed her Master’s degree in Physics from Cochin University of Science & Technology and Doctoral degree in Physics (Materials Science) from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. With post doctoral trainings from the Technical University of Eindhowen, The Netherlands; National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA, and International School of Photonics, Cochin University, she joined Amrita in 2006 to work at the interface of materials science and biology. Her research work applies the use of advanced materials and technologies to various realms of biomedical problems such as cancer, regenerative medicine, etc. Dr. Menon’s research laboratory focuses on the design and development of multifunctional nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis and therapy based on quantum dots, magnetic and plasmonic nanomaterials. The use of biodegradable polymeric nanomaterials for drug delivery applications is also heavily explored. Her research also addresses the fabrication and evaluation of nanophase metallic materials for developing more effective biomedical implants in orthopedics, dental and vascular applications. A recent innovation by her group is the development of high strength biodegradable polymeric yarns/nanothreads by the process of electrospinning which finds use in drug eluting sutures, vascular grafts, implantable drug loaded patches, etc.
Dr. Deepthy has received several recognitions in her research career which includes the Young Research Award from International Union of Materials Research Society (1999), Young Scientist Fellowship from Department of Science & Technology [DST] (2002), Rapid Young Investigator grant from Department of Biotechnology [DBT] (2007) and BOYSCAST fellowship from Department of Science & Technology (2010). Her lab group has produced over 70 research publications, 45 conference presentations, 4 book chapters and 5 provisional or full patents. She is a member of the Materials Research Society, Society for Biomaterials, Photonics Society of India and American Chemical Society.