Polymeric Nanogels for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Applications

Prof. Rotimi Sadiku, currently a Professor at the Department of Chemical, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering at Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa, earned his BSc. [Hons] and a PhD from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, specializing in Polymer Physics with a focus on Polymer Processing, X-ray Diffraction, Thermal Characteristics, Rheology, and Microscopy of Polymers techniques. His academic journey includes a role as a Lecturer II at the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria, followed by a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Genova/CNR, Italy. Upon returning to Nigeria, he continued his career by joining the Federal University of Technology, where he served as a Senior Lecturer. He also spent a year as a Research Fellow at the KTH Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. In January 2004, he assumed his current position as a Research Professor at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), South Africa. Prof. Suprakas Sinha Ray is a Chief Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa. He was awarded a Ph.D. in physical chemistry by the University of Calcutta in 2001 and is the Manager of the Center for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials and Director of the DSI-CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Center. He is also affiliated with the University of Johannesburg as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Applied Chemistry. Prof. Ray’s current research focus is on advanced nanostructured materials and their applications. His honours and awards include the 2013 Morand Lambla Awardee, International Polymer Processing Society; Distinguish Professor, King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arab (2012); Extraordinary Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa (2012); Global Star Award 2011 from the Engineering ceramic division, the American Ceramic Society; CSIR MSM Prestigious Established Researcher Award (2010); Prestigious CSIR President’s Award (2008). He holds several patents with over 500 journal articles, book chapters, books, and peer-reviewed articles in conference proceedings. He is an editor to several reputable journals such as American Chemical Society, ACS, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Advanced Science Letters, International Journal of Plastic Films and Sheeting, Applied Nanoscience, and Journal of Nanomaterials. Oluwasegun C. Adekoya is currently a student of both Prof. Sadiku E.R. and Prof. Ray and conducts his research at their respective laboratories. His master’s degree research at the Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology is about the study of the potency of functionalized biopolymer nanogel as a potential antiviral drug delivery strategy to combat the viral SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. He has worked at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu (NOHE), Reddington Hospital and Premier Specialist Medical Center (PSMC). His current research is geared towards molecular diagnostics, nanotechnology, and biopolymer for drug delivery. Gbolahan J. Adekoya is a doctoral student and works under Prof. Sadiku at the Institute of NanoEngineering Research (INER), Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, and under Prof. Ray at the Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, DSI-CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Center, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria. He earned his MSc in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the University of Lagos with distinction (Cum Laude) in 2015 under Prof. Esezobor E. David. His current research focuses on developing and modeling polymer nanocomposites for energy storage in automotive industry. He is a reviewer for the reputable journal-America Chemical Society, ACS.

1. Chemistry and Properties of Polymeric Nanogels 2. Molecular overview of diagnostic application of polymer nanogels 3. Ionotropic functionalization of polymer nanogels for delivery systems 4. Xenobiotic metabolism of synthetic biopolymers 5. Polymer nanogels for tissue repair and regeneration 6. Functionalized nanogels in diabetic treatment 7. Physiological and biochemical role of polymeric nanogels in oxidative stress 8. Polymeric nanogels for treatment of neurological disorders 9. Targeted gene modification using smart biopolymeric nanogels 10. Biohybrid nanogels for active target delivery 11. Polymeric nanogels for antimicrobial therapy 12. Self-assembled nanogels for treatment of respiratory infections 13. Polypeptide nanogels for metabolic disorder therapy 14. Enzymatic hybrid nanogel systems for degenerative diseases 15. Functionalized nanogels for cancer therapy 16. Conducting polymer-based nanogels for medical diagnostics