Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Publications
Editorial Reviewer - Journals
Projects undertaken
Awards/Recognitions
International Exposure & Skill Building
Academic Engagements
Knowledge Transfer & Mentorship Activities
Expert Contributions & Invited Talks
References
Websites
Personal Profile
Languages
Timeline
Generic
Deepa Mundekkad

Deepa Mundekkad

Vellore

Summary

Experienced researcher with strong academic and technical grounding in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Nanobiotechnology, and Cancer Biology. Recipient of the prestigious WOS-A grant (INR 32 lakhs) awarded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for independent research in translational nanomedicine.

Recognized for academic excellence with a 2nd prize for proficiency during postgraduate studies, and known for a meticulous, hands-on approach to experimental design, execution, and data interpretation. Demonstrates consistent lab documentation practices, resource-conscious bench work, and a deep commitment to scientific rigor.

Possesses excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to work independently or collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams. Adept at fostering a positive research environment, mentoring peers, and contributing meaningfully to both strategic planning and day-to-day lab operations.

Work History

Project Director

Nehru Arts and Science College
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
01.2023 - 04.2025
  • Conducted research projects in biotechnology, fostering innovation and knowledge advancement.
  • Collaborated with faculty on interdisciplinary initiatives to promote biotechnology education.
  • Presented findings at academic conferences, sharing insights with the scientific community.
  • Organized workshops and seminars to engage students in current biotechnology trends.
  • Supervised independent research projects conducted by undergraduates or graduates.
  • Provided guidance for student thesis and dissertation work.
  • Researched and wrote articles for professional journals and publications.

Asst. Professor

Nehru Arts And Science College
Coimbatore, Tamilnadu
01.2023 - 04.2025

• Courses handled III BSc Microbial Biotechnology 5th semester
Course code 20U3BTC508
Credits 4
Year - 2022-2023

II MSc Animal Biotechnology 3rd semester
Course code 21PGBTC310
Credits 4
Year - 2023-2024

I MSc Molecular Biology 1st semester
Course code 22PGBTC101
Credits 4
Year - 2023-2024

III BSc Microbial Biotechnology 5th Semester
Course code 22UGBTC508
Credits 4
Year - 2024-2025

III BSc Medical Biotechnology 6th Semester
Course code 22U3BTC612
Credits 4
Year - 2024-2025

II MSc Clinical Pathology and Diagnosis 4th Semester.
Course code 22PGBTE401
Credits 4
Year - 2023-2024

II MSc Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 3rd Semester
Course code 23PGBTC311
Credits 4
Year - 2024-2025

II MSc Clinical Pathology and Diagnosis 4th Semester.
Course code 23PGBTE401
Credits 4
Year - 2024-2025

Mentored undergraduate students in laboratory techniques and scientific methodologies.
• Evaluated student performance through assessments and provided constructive feedback.
• Advised students on academic and career paths within the biotechnology field.
• Created lesson plans and developed instructional materials covering required topics and learning objectives.
• Advised students on their academic plans, career paths, and personal goals.
• Participated in faculty meetings to discuss department goals and strategy.
• Assisted in developing departmental policies, procedures, and activities related to educational programs.
• Attended meetings with administrators, deans, and other key stakeholders regarding curricular matters.

Principal Investigator

Centre for NanoBioTechnology (CNBT)
Vellore
04.2019 - 03.2022
  • Exploration of cyto-protective and anti-proliferative activities of green-synthesized iron oxide-based antioxidant nanozymes. Antiferromagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized from pomegranate rind extract that can act as a catalyst in degrading toxic chemicals or dyes. This discovery is significant because the disposal of the final product of biodegradation of industrial waste is almost always a problem, as the current disposal techniques invariably become a source of secondary pollution. Also, another study was carried out to exploit the potential of the polyphenol-rich fruit peel extract of Punica granatum (pomegranate) in synthesizing Fe₃O₄ NZs, which have intrinsic enzyme-mimicking activity.

Research Assistant

School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST)
Vellore
06.2014 - 12.2015
  • In vitro analysis of the inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase and induction of apoptosis by the extracts of Excoecaria agallocha L.

Graduate Research Associate (Ph.D)

School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST)
Vellore
06.2008 - 09.2014
  • In-vitro evaluation of the anticancer potential of a purified lectin and methanol extract from the leaves of Morus alba L.

Research Associate

School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University
Vellore
08.2013 - 05.2014
  • Practical sessions - analytical techniques and downstream processing - for BTech and MTech students.

Research Scholar (M.Phil.)

Avinashilingam University for Women
Coimbatore
06.2006 - 11.2007
  • Qualitative analysis of the extracts of Excoecaria agallocha L. and a study on the antibacterial activity of the plant extracts.

Assistant Research Consultant

Small Industries Service Institute (SISI)
Coimbatore
07.2003 - 01.2004
  • Basic Bioinformatics.

Post graduation (M.Sc.)

Avinashilingam University for Women
Coimbatore
06.1997 - 04.1999
  • A study on the antimicrobial properties of Excoecaria agallocha L., the temple tree of Chidambaram.

Education

PhD - Plant lectin and cancer

Vellore Institute of Technology
Vellore, Tamil Nadu
09-2014

Post-Graduation (M Phil) - Life Sciences

Avinashilingam University For Women
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
11-2007

Govt. Certified Post graduate diploma in Bioinformatics (PGDBI) - Bioinformatics

Small Industries Service Institute
Chennai
04-2002

Post-Graduation (MSc.) - Life Sciences

Avinashilingam University For Women
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
04-1999

Graduation (BSc.) - Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry

Calicut University
Kerala
01.1997

Pre-degree - Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry

Calicut University
Kerala
04-1994

SSLC - Mathematics, Biology, Social Sciences, Languages

Presentation English Medium High School
Kerala
03-1992

Skills

  • Extraction of secondary metabolites
  • Extraction
  • Phytochemical analysis
  • Chromatographic analysis - TLC
  • Protein Isolation & purification
  • Ammonium sulphate precipitation
  • TCA precipitation
  • Chromatography: IMAC/Ion exchange chromatography
  • SDS PAGE
  • Western blotting
  • Antioxidant assays
  • Basic assays for ROS/RNS analysis
  • Fluorescence staining (DCFH-DA/DHE)
  • Flow cytometry
  • Anti-microbial assays
  • Serial dilution
  • Disc diffusion
  • Well diffusion
  • Biofilm formation
  • Lectin characterisation
  • Hemagglutination assays
  • Haemagglutination inhibition assays
  • PAS staining
  • Gelatin zymography
  • Cell culture techniques
  • MTT assay
  • DAPI staining
  • AO/EtBr staining
  • Annexin V staining
  • Caspase assay
  • Nitric oxide synthase activity assay
  • DNA extraction
  • DNA fragmentation assay
  • Agarose gel electrophoresis
  • Immunofluorescence analysis
  • Cell cycle analysis
  • Propidium iodide staining
  • Dual staining
  • Synthesis of nanoparticles
  • Physical characterization of nanoparticles
  • Chemical characterization of nanoparticles
  • Structural characterization of nanoparticles
  • Biomimetic assays
  • Cytoprotection
  • Basic Bioinformatics tools
  • MS-Office
  • Writing project proposals
  • Writing research articles

Publications

1. Mundekkad D. ; Anjali R Mallya. Biomimicry at the nanoscale-a review of nanomaterials inspired by nature. NanoTrends. 2025, 10.

2. Mundekkad, D.; Cho, W.C. Biomimetic Fe3O4nanozymes promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines via free radical scavenging and inhibition of RelA/p65. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 2025.

3. Mundekkad, D.; Cho, W.C. Application of curcumin and its nanoform in the treatment of cancer. Pharmaceutics. 2023. (I.F. 6.525) (invited contribution in the Special Issue on “Curcumin in Biomedical Applications”

4. Mundekkad, D.; Cho, W.C. Mitophagy induced by metal nanoparticles for cancer treatment. Pharmaceutics. 2022, 14, 2275. (I.F. 6.525) (invited contribution in the Special Issue on “Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy”

5. Mundekkad, D.*; Alex, A.V. Analysis of structural and biomimetic characteristics of the green-synthesized Fe3O4 nanozyme from the fruit peel extract of Punica granatum. Chem. Pap. 2022, doi:10.1007/s11696-022-02130-2. (I.F. 2.146).

6. Mundekkad, D.; Cho, W.C. Nanoparticles in clinical translation for cancer therapy. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 1685. (I.F. 6.208)

7. Chauhan, P.; Mundekkad, D.; Mukherjee, A.; Chaudhary, S.; Umar, A.; Baskoutas, S. Coconut carbon dots: Progressive large-scale synthesis, detailed biological activities and smart sensing aptitudes towards tyrosine. Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 162. (I.F. 5.719)

8. Mundekkad, D.*; Kameshwari, G. V; Karchalkar, P.; Koti, R. The catalytic and ROS-scavenging activities of green synthesized, antiferromagnetic α-Fe2O3 nanoparticle with a prismatic octahedron morphology from pomegranate rind extract. Nanotechnology 2021. (I.F. 3.953)

9. Deepa, M.*; Ramalingam, C. In vitro analysis of ornithine decarboxylase inhibitory activity of the extracts of Excoecaria Agallocha L. Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res. 2017, 10, doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i2.15698.

10. Deepa, M.*; Leema George, B.; Ramalingam, C. Induction of Apoptosis in HCT- 15 and A549 Cell Lines by the Extracts of Excoecaria agallocha L. by the Down- regulation of Ornithine Decarboxylase. Braz. Arch. Biol. Technol 2017, 60, e17160252. (I.F. 1.180)

11. Deepa, M*.; Darsan, M.B.; Ramalingam, C. In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of the leaf extracts of Excoecaria agallocha L. Int. J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci. 2015, 7.

12. Dasgupta, N.; Ranjan, S.; Mundekkad, D.; Ramalingam, C.; Shanker, R.; Kumar, A. Nanotechnology in agro-food: from field to plate. Food Res. Int. 2015, 69, 381– 400. (I.F. 7.425). (Indexed in Thomson Reuters)

13. Deepa, M.*; Padmaja, C.K. A study on the antibacterial effects of the various extracts of Excoecaria agallocha L. Int. J. Pharma Bio Sci. 2014, 5.

14. Deepa, M.*; Padmaja, C.K. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and thin layer chromatography of the extracts of Excoecaria agallocha L. Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Res. 2014, 5, 4535.

15. Deepa, M.*; Padmaja, C.K. Effect of the extracts of Excoecaria agallocha on spore formation and budding in fungi. Asian J. Plant Sci. Res. 2013, 6, 14–19. (I.F. 0.92).

16. Deepa, M.; Sureshkumar, T.; Satheeshkumar, P.K.; Priya, S. Antioxidant rich morus alba leaf extract induces apoptosis in human colon and breast cancer cells by the downregulation of nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase. Nutr. Cancer 2013, 65, doi:10.1080/01635581.2013.748924. (I.F. 2.322). (Indexed in Thomson Reuters)

17. Deepa, M.; Sureshkumar, T.; Satheeshkumar, P.K.; Priya, S. Purified mulberry leaf lectin (MLL) induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human breast cancer and colon cancer cells. Chem. Biol. Interact. 2012, 200, Citations: 93 doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2012.08.025. (I.F. 5.192). (Indexed in Thomson Reuters)

18. Deepa, M.; Priya, S. Purification and characterization of a novel anti-proliferative lectin from Morus alba L. leaves. Protein Pept. Lett. 2012, 19, doi:10.2174/092986612801619516. (I.F. 1.927) (Indexed in Thomson Reuters)

Editorial Reviewer - Journals

1. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (Springer Nature)

2. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science

3. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative medicine

4. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (WILEY)

5. Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials

6. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (Springer Nature)

7. Journal of Physics: D-Applied Physics (IOP Publishing Ltd)

8. Journal of Polymers and the Environment (Springer Nature)

9. Materials Research Express (IOP Publishing Ltd)

10. Nanoexpress (IOP Publishing Ltd)

11. Nanotechnology

12. PlosOne

13. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Science

14. Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment (SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC)

15. Cell Biology and Toxicology

16. Studies in Natural products Chemistry

17. Chemical Papers

18. Sustainability Science and Technology

19. Discover Nano

Projects undertaken

1. Scheme: Women Scientist Scheme- A (WOS-A) 

Title: Exploration of cyto-protective and anti-proliferative activities of green-synthesized iron-oxide-based antioxidant nanozymes

Name of Investigator: Dr. Deepa Mundekkad (PI)

Mentor: Dr. Amitava Mukherjee

Duration: 3 years

Funding Agency: Department of Science & Technology (Govt. of India)

Status: Completed

Sanctioned amount: 32 Lakhs 

2. Scheme: TNSCST Students Project Scheme (SPS)

 Title: Harnessing nanoemulsions for enhanced antibiotic delivery against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Name of Investigator: Dr. Deepa Mundekkad (PI)

Duration: 6 months

Funding Agency: Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology

Status: Completed

Sanctioned amount: Rs. 7500

Awards/Recognitions

1. Recipient of WOS-A grant worth INR 32 lakhs, funded by DST, GoI. 

2. Second prize for proficiency during Post Graduation.

International Exposure & Skill Building

1. Research Training – Neuroprotection and Model Organisms Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand December 11–20, 2024   Completed a 10-day intensive research program focused on neuroprotection mechanisms using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. The training emphasized translational approaches to neurodegeneration, experimental design, and molecular assays relevant to therapeutic screening.

2. Hands-on Training – Cancer Cell Culture Techniques Cancer Biology Laboratory, Centre for Molecular and Nanomedical Sciences, International Research Centre, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai September 26–28, 2024   Participated in a hands-on training programme focused on advanced cancer cell culture methodologies. The workshop covered aseptic techniques, media preparation, cell line maintenance, and experimental protocols relevant to oncology research and translational nanomedicine.

Academic Engagements

Resource person

i. Six-day workshop on ‘Research and Publication Ethics’ organized by Government Arts College, Calicut - 17.04.2024 to 22.04.2024.

ii. Six-day ‘Faculty Induction Programme (FIP-2024)’ organized by the Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology – 01.07.2024 to 06.07.2024.

iii. One-day seminar on ‘How to write research Articles’ at the Department of Computational Sciences, Nehru Arts and Science College - 04.09.2024.

Knowledge Transfer & Mentorship Activities

Judge

i. Ideatrix – conducted by NGI-TBI on 13.03.2025

ii. Various internal events at the college (Nehru Arts and Science College)

Mentor

NGI-TBI

Expert Contributions & Invited Talks

a. Scientific Committee Member - Annual International Congress on Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, February 27-28, 2025, Oxford, United Kingdom / Online - https://nanortc.com/scientific-committee-member/?pdb=7387

b. Invited Speaker

- International Hybrid Conference on Nano Structured Materials and Polymers (ICNP 2023), Kottayam, Kerala (May 2023)

- Invited again to the International Hybrid Conference on Nano Structured Materials and Polymers (ICNP 2025), Kottayam, Kerala during September 2025

References

1. Dr. C. Ramalingam, Professor, SBST, VIT, Vellore, e-mail: cramalingam@vit.ac.in

2. Dr. S. Priya, Scientist, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Industrial Estate Post, Pappanamkode, Thiruvananthapuram- 695019, Kerala, India, e-mail: priyasulu@gmail.com

3. Dr. William CS Cho, Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. e-mail: williamcscho@gmail.com

4. Dr. Tewin Tencomnao, Dean, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. e-mail: tewintencomnaoo@gmail.com

Personal Profile

Date of birth: 26 March 1976

Gender: Female

Nationality: Indian

Languages

Malayalam
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Hindi
Proficient (C2)
C2
Tamil
Elementary (A2)
A2

Timeline

Asst. Professor

Nehru Arts And Science College
01.2023 - 04.2025

Project Director

Nehru Arts and Science College
01.2023 - 04.2025

Principal Investigator

Centre for NanoBioTechnology (CNBT)
04.2019 - 03.2022

Research Assistant

School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST)
06.2014 - 12.2015

Research Associate

School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University
08.2013 - 05.2014

Graduate Research Associate (Ph.D)

School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST)
06.2008 - 09.2014

Research Scholar (M.Phil.)

Avinashilingam University for Women
06.2006 - 11.2007

Assistant Research Consultant

Small Industries Service Institute (SISI)
07.2003 - 01.2004

Post graduation (M.Sc.)

Avinashilingam University for Women
06.1997 - 04.1999

PhD - Plant lectin and cancer

Vellore Institute of Technology

Post-Graduation (M Phil) - Life Sciences

Avinashilingam University For Women

Govt. Certified Post graduate diploma in Bioinformatics (PGDBI) - Bioinformatics

Small Industries Service Institute

Post-Graduation (MSc.) - Life Sciences

Avinashilingam University For Women

Graduation (BSc.) - Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry

Calicut University

Pre-degree - Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry

Calicut University

SSLC - Mathematics, Biology, Social Sciences, Languages

Presentation English Medium High School
Deepa Mundekkad