Dr. Avinash Bajaj’s lab is involved in the development of new drug delivery systems that tackle the problems of conventional therapy. Drug encapsulation efficacy and release kinetic parameters are critical for the efficacy of liposomal formulations. In this present research; they designed three bile acid- phosphocholine- derived phospholipids that control the encapsulation and release of drugs. These three phospholipids differ by their number of free hydroxyl groups that impacts fluidity.

Hydrogel based localized drug delivery has major advantages over the conventional systemic and oral drug delivery in terms of maintaining therapeutic concentration of the drugs at the target site and minimal concentration in rest of the major organs of the body, sparing them of the undesired side effects and toxicity. Doxorubicin (DOX) and Docetaxel (DTX) are potent anticancer drugs used in combination for the treatment of various cancer in clinics. However, their commercial intravenous formulations have major side effects such as cardiotoxicity and hypersensitivity respectively.

Gynecological cancers such as breast cancer is rapidly rising in India. Surgical resection of breast tumors is the main form of therapy. To reduce the recurrence of tumors in breast cancer patients, Tamoxifen (anticancer drug) is administered daily as oral tablets up to 1-2 years. Acidic pH of stomach precipitates the Tamoxifen, thereby requiring frequent doses of Tamoxifen. Moreover, long-term treatment schedules of Tamoxifen induce hepatotoxicity.

Dr. Avinash Bajaj’s lab is primarily focused in the development and finding of new drug delivery molecules and bio-inspired materials for the betterment of conventional chemotherapeutic strategies. Over the years his group exploited bile acids in developing cancer targeting cationic lipids, bile acid based drug conjugates, and further designed bile acid-phosphocholine- derived phospholipids for drug encapsulations and controlled release. Now his group simply explored categorically how the hydrophobic and hydrophilic bile acids modulate angiogenesis. Teaming with Dr.