(2gv) Engineering Complex Fluid-Fluid and Fluid-Solid Interfaces for Drug Delivery

Research Interests:
From the macroscopic tear film and lung mucosa to the microscopic lipid bilayers and cell-particle interfaces, complex fluid-fluid and solid-fluid interfaces are prevalent in biological systems. A thorough understanding of the physics of these interfaces and their interplay with therapeutics is vital for driving advances in drug development. My research seeks to establish a fundamental understanding of biologically relevant interfaces utilizing novel experimental, analytical, and data driven tools, with the goal of engineering interfaces for addressing unmet needs in drug delivery.

Research Experience:

Doctoral Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University (advised by Prof. Gerald Fuller)
Trained as a Chemical Engineer, I have extensively investigated and advanced the scientific frontiers in the areas of transport physics and interfacial stability. Notably, I discovered a new physical phenomenon: evaporation induced solutocapillary Marangoni flows – a mass transport induced interfacial phenomenon that drives convective flows to augment the stability of foams [1]. I subsequently engineered liquid mixtures leveraging evaporation induced solutocapillary Marangoni flows to create the first miscible antifoam (foam mitigation additive) [2], anecdotally considered as the holy grail of foam control. Crucial for these discoveries was my work on establishing a novel reduced order framework to study foams called the single bubble technique [3]. Single bubble technique deconstructs complex foams into single bubbles, facilitating comprehensive characterization of interfacial phenomena responsible for foam stability via internal bubble pressure measurements and exact spatiotemporal measurements of bubble film thickness using thin film interferometry. I improved the accuracy and throughput of thin film interferometry by incorporating hyperspectral imagers [4]. This improvement proved crucial for the development of the OnEye setup, where I leveraged similarities between liquid films making up bubbles and human tear films to build an in vivo platform to non-invasively characterize the pre-contact lens tear film. Recognizing its potential for contact lens development, Alcon and Johnson & Johnson have acquired this patented platform for a sum exceeding $350K [5]. We are currently transitioning this research into an independent company to expedite the integration of this technology into ophthalmological clinics for enhanced diagnosis of tear film health. Overall, my doctoral research has equipped me with a robust foundational understanding of transport physics and interfacial phenomena, the expertise to devise innovative experimental tools, and a clear understanding for translating frameworks established in physical sciences to address challenges in living systems.

Post-Doctoral Research, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University (advised by Prof. Samir Mitragotri)
In my post-doc, I extended this understanding to solve pressing problems in drug transport and delivery. An important issue pertains to the delay in drug delivery when using infusion pumps and central venous catheters. This delay, caused by the drug’s transportation across the catheter’s dead volume, results in unpredictable delivery of crucial medications, unexpected fluctuations in key physiological parameters, and suboptimal outcomes for critically ill patients. Utilizing a reduced order low Reynolds number advection-diffusion model coupled with reinforcement learning (physics informed neural networks), I developed a framework to mitigate this problem and offer real-time insight into the spatiotemporal distribution of drugs within the catheters. As a first step in translating this important technology into the clinic, the drug concentration visualization component of this patent pending framework is in the process of being tested in intensive care units at the Massachusetts General Hospital. A separate but related issue is the difficulty in predicting the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously administered monoclonal antibody formulations. Due to a myriad of competing transport and catabolic processes, predicting the pharmacokinetic parameters such as bioavailability remains an important unsolved challenge as identified by the subcutaneous drug development and delivery consortium. To address this problem, I established a microfluidic Subcutaneous co-Culture Tissue-on-a-chip for Injection Simulation (SubCuTIS) and formulated an associated mathematical model to predict clinical bioavailability based on transport rate constants measured using SubCuTIS. This model successfully predicted the bioavailability of clinical available monoclonal antibodies with a degree of uncertainty comparable to that of clinical studies, but in just over two weeks - a significant reduction compared to the timeframe required for clinical trials.

My research thus far has highlighted the potential of combining advancements in physical sciences with engineering innovations to address critical challenges in life sciences. Continuing in this direction and utilizing my strong background in physical and interfacial sciences I am determined to establish a fundamental understanding of biologically relevant interfaces and accelerate the existing paradigm for optimizing the delivery of newly discovered drugs, a process which is currently trial-and-error based, slow and exorbitantly costly.

Referenced Publications and Patents:

[1] V. Chandran Suja, G.G. Fuller et.al, Evaporation Induced Foam Stabilization in Lubricating Oils, PNAS (2018).

[2] V. Chandran Suja et.al WO2022251469A1 (Worldwide Patent)

[3] V. Chandran Suja et.al, Single bubble and drop techniques for characterizing foams and emulsions, Adv. Coll. Int. Sci 102295.

[4] V. Chandran Suja et.al, Hyperspectral imaging for dynamic thin film interferometry, Sci. Rep. 10 (1)

[5] V. Chandran Suja et.al US Patent 11,580,631

Selected Awards:

• Charpak Scholarship (2014)
• Chemical Engineering Outstanding TA award (2019)
• Centennial TA award (2019)
• International Congress of Rheology Gallery Contest Award (2020)

Teaching Interests:

As a formally trained chemical engineer, I am excited and qualified to teach core coursework in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and transport phenomena. I also look forward to leveraging my interdisciplinary research experience and interests to develop and teach electives in Interfacial phenomenon relevant to drug delivery, Rheology of Biological Soft Matter, Biointerfaces, and/or Applied mathematics for chemical engineers.

Teaching Experience:

• Rheology short course in Beijing, Teaching Assistant (2019)
• Fluid Mechanics (ChemEng 120A), Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer (2018, 2019)
• MediSTARS (SEAS, Harvard), Co-Creator, Organizer, and Instructor (2023)