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Day 3 : Oct 10,2024
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Keynote Speakers
Biography:
Paulo C. DE MORAIS, PhD, was full Professor of Physics at the University of Brasilia (UnB) – Brazil up to 2013, Appointed as UnB’s Emeritus Professor (2014), Appointed as Guest Professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology – China (2011), Visiting Professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) – China (2012-2015), Appointed as Distinguished Professor at Anhui University (AHU) – China (2016-2019), Appointed as Full Professor at Catholic University of Brasília (UCB) – Brazil (2018), Appointed as CNPq-1A Research Fellowship since 2010. 2007 Master Research Prize from UnB, 2008-member of the European ERA NET Nanoscience Committee, Member of the IEEE-Magnetic Society Technical Committee, Senior Member of the IEEE Society, 2012 China’s 1000 Foreign Expert Recipient, and 2012 Academic Excellence Award from Brazilian Professor’s Union. He held two-years (1987-1988) post-doc position with Bell Communications Research – New Jersey, USA and received his Doctoral degree in Solid State Physics (1986) from the Federal University of Minas Gerais – Brazil. He graduated in both Chemistry (1976) and Physics (1977) at UnB. Professor Morais is member of the Brazilian Physical Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – IEEE. He has served as referee for more than 50 technical journals, takes part of the Editorial Board of more than 15 technical journals and has conducted research on nanomaterials for over 40 years. He has delivered 170 Invited Talks all over the World. He is known for his research in preparation, characterization and applications of nanosized materials (magnetic fluid, magnetoliposome, magnetic nanoemulsion, magnetic nanocapsule, magnetic nanofilm, magnetic nanocomposite, nanosized semiconductors, polymeric dots, carbon dots, and graphene quantum dots). With about 500 published papers in peer reviewed journals, more than 12,500 citations and 16 patents, he has appeared in recent World ranking of top scientists, such as 2020-Stanford, 2022-Research.com, 2023-AD Scientific Index, and 2023-Research.com.

Abstract:
 
This plenary talk presents a prospective immersion on the Hill’s model, introduced more than a century ago, aiming to explain the binding of oxygen molecules to hemoglobin and subsequently used to explain a huge variety of biological data. Evaluation of cell viability challenged by a particular bioactive compound, including bioactive nanomaterials, is among the experiments Hill’s model has been applied. Nevertheless, even after half of a century has passed since the “NANO” term was coined and introduced into the scientific literature, only recently emerged a proposal on how to incorporate the morphological characteristics (mean size and size dispersity) of a nanomaterial in the description of in vitro bioassays, as for instance cell viability assays. Moreover, in recent years, the standard Hill’s model has been used to describe cell viability assays performed with nanomaterials. In view of this long-standing gap in the literature, the present talk aims to present a recently-developed Hill-inspired model that successfully accounts for the description of MTT assays performed with nanomaterials, emphasizing the impact of the mean size and size dispersity in the biological response. The concept of “biological polydispersity” of a nanomaterial is then introduced, meaning the size characteristics of a nanomaterial while recognized by a particular biological assay. Last, but not least, for a nanomaterial, the “biological polydispersity” is compared with the morphological polydispersity, the latter assessed from high-resolution microscopy micrographs.
Biography:
Hari Shanker Sharma, FRSM (UK), Director of Research (Int. Expt. ECNSIR), University Hospital, Uppsala University is Professor of Neurobiology (MRC), Docent in Neuroanatomy (UU) and is currently affiliated with Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden. Hari Sharma was born on January 15, 1955 in an Industrialist town Dalmianagar (Bihar), India. He did his Bachelor of Science with Honors from the prestigious L. S. College Muzaffarpur in 1973 and secured 1st position in his batch. He obtained his Master Degree from Bihar University with special expertise in Cell Biology in 1976 and awarded Gold Medal of Bihar University for securing 1st potion in the 1st Class. Hari Sharma joined the group of Professor Prasanta Kumar Dey, a neurophysiologist by training in the Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical; Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in 1977 to obtain Doctor of Philosophy Degree (D.Phil.) in Neurosciences and was awarded Ph.D. in 1982 on “Blood-Brain Barrier in Stress.” Hari Sharma after carrying out a series of Government of India funded Research Projects on the BBB and brain dysfunction (1982–1987), joined the lab of Neuropathology at Uppsala University with Professor Yngve Olsson in 1988 to investigate passage of tracer transport across the BBB caused by stress or traumatic insults to the Brain and Spinal cord at light and electron microscopy. Dr. Sharma awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship of German Government (1989–1991) to work on hyperthermia induced BBB dysfunction at the ultrastructural level in the laboratory of Professor Jorge Cervós-Navarro (a living “Legend in Neuropathology in Europe”). Dr. Sharma joined again Uppsala University and established a network of collaboration on “Experimental CNS Injury Research Group” as a lead investigator with eminent collaborators in various parts of Europe, USA, and Australia (1991–). On his work on hyperthermia Dr. Sharma received the prestigious Neuroanatomy award “Rönnows Research prize” of Uppsala University for “best neuroanatomical research of the year 1996” followed by the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences of Uppsala University in Neuroanatomy in 1999 and selected for the Best Thesis Award of the Medical faculty, “The Hwassers Prize” of 1999. On his meticulous works on the Blood Brain barrier and Brain edema (2000–2003) Dr. Sharma earned the prestigious title of “Docent in Neuroanatomy” of Medical Faculty, Uppsala University in April 2004. Currently his main research interest is Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration, in relation to the Blood-brain barrier in stress, trauma, and drugs of abuse in health and disease. Dr. Sharma on his research on brain pathology and neuroprotection in different models received the prestigious awards from The Laerdal Foundation of Acute Medicine, Stavanger, Norway, in 2005 followed by Distinguished International Scientists Collaboration Award by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Baltimore, MD (2006–2008). His recent work on 5-HT3 receptor mediated neuroprotection in morphine withdrawal induced neurotoxicity won the coveted prize of Best Investigator Award 2008 and Best Scientific Presentation by European Federation of the International Association for Study of Pain (ISAP), and Awarded during their VI Annual Meeting in Lisbon, September 9–12, 2008. His recent research is aimed to find out the role of nanoparticles in Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection using various treatment strategies that is supported by European Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD), London, UK and US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Oh, USA. On his works on Blood–brain barrier in hypertension and diabetes together with Romanian colleagues, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu,” Cluj-Napoca, Romania awarded Dr. Sharma with Honorary Doctorate of Medical Sciences in 2009. Dr. Sharma’s work over 30 years on the blood-brain barrier and brain edema won him the US Neurosurgeon Dr. Anthony Marmarou Award (2011) by the International Brain Edema Society at their 15th Congress in Tokyo, Japan, November 20–24, 2011. His works on Nanoneuroscience and development of nanomedicine to treat the CNS injuries has won accolades at various Government and International Scotties or Organization across the World. Accordingly Dr Sharma was decorated with the most prestigious “Hind Rattan Award 2012” on the eve of Republic Day of India 25th January 2012 and Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Gold Medal on October 12, 2012 in House of Lords, London, UK. Hari Sharma was also invited to organize and chair Nanosymposium in Society for Neuroscience meetings in Chicago (2009), San Diego (2010), Washington DC (2011) and New Orleans (2012). Hari Sharma has published over 380 research papers, 75 reviews, 12 monographs, and 70 international book chapters and edited 15 book volumes. He served as Guest Editor of Curr. Pharm. Desig. (2005, 2007, 2010–); J. Neural. Transmiss. (2006, 2011–) and is founding Editor-in-Chief of Int. J. Neuroprotec. Neuroregen. (2004–), UK. Dr. Sharma is on board of various International Journals including CNS and Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets, USA, Journal of Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, USA (2009–) and is associate editor of Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Nanoneuroscience 2006–), USA, Review Editor—Frontiers in Neuroengineering (2007–), Frontiers in Neurorestoratology, and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2008–), Frontiers of Fractal Physiology (2010–), Switzerland, Journal of Neurorestoratology, Dove Medical press, London, UK (2012–), Webmed Central, Neurology Faculty, Advisory Board Member (2010–), World Journal of Pharmacology (2011–), Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, USA (2012–). Dr. Sharma served as volume editor of several progress in Brain research series (Volumes 104, 115, 162 and 180), International review of Neurobiology (Volume 82 and 102) and other Springer Volumes on Spinal cord injury (1988) and Handbook of Neurochemistry (2009) apart from stand alone books (Elsevier, Springer and Academic Press since 1994). Dr. Hari Sharma is invited to join several National Academies of repute including New York Academy fo Science, USA (since 1994–); International Academy of Stress, New York (2003–), Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2010–). Dr. Sharma has served as an expert evaluator and advisor to various Boards, Councils and Institutions for their Research Grants including Wellcome Trust, London, UK (2011–); Catalan Agency for Health Information and Quality, TV3 (2010–), European Commission Projects (2002–), European Nanomed Council (2009–), Ministry of Health Science Foundation; Medical research Council and University Commission of Grants in various countries in Europe, USA, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and in Australia

Abstract:
Concussive head injury (CHI) is one of the major risk factors in developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in military personnel at later stages of life [1]. Breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in CHI leads to extravasation of plasma amyloid beta protein (AbP) into the brain fluid compartments precipitating AD brain pathology [2]. Oxidative stress in CHI or AD is likely to enhance production of nitric oxide indicting a role of its synthesizing enzyme neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in brain pathology [3]. Thus, exploration of the novel roles of nanomedicine in AD or CHI reducing NOS upregulation for neuroprotection are emerging. Recent research shows that stem cells and neurotrophic factors play key roles in CHI induced aggravation of AD brain pathologies. Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that CHI exacerbates AD brain pathology in model experiments. Accordingly, it is quite likely that nanodelivery of NOS antibodies together with cerebrolysin and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) will induce superior neuroprotection in AD associated with CHI. In this review, co-administration of TiO2 nanowired cerebrolysin- a balanced composition of several neurotrophic factors and active peptide fragments, together with MSCs and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to neuronal NOS is investigated for superior neuroprotection following exacerbation of brain pathology in AD by CHI based on our own investigations. Our observations show that neurotrophic factors, MSCs and neuronal NOS play key roles in brain pathology of AD exacerbated by CHI, not reported earlier.
Biography:
Dr. Mònica Mir received the Degree in Chemistry from University Rovira i Virgili, Spain in 1998. In 2006 she received her PhD in biotechnology in the same University. She realized different predoctoral stages at the Institute of Microelectronic in Demokritos, University of Bath and National Hellenic Research Foundation. From 2007, she held a postdoctoral position in Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany. Since 2008, she joins the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Spain as Senior CIBER researcher, combined with her teaching as associate professor at the University of Barcelona. Along her carrier she was managing European, National and industrial research projects, supervising PhD ad Master students and collaborating in congresses organization as coordinator and scientific committee. Her main scientific interests are focused on electrochemical biosensor, integrated in lab-on-a-chip and point of care technologies, implantable sensors, and organ-on-a-chip for biomedical applications.
Abstract:
Nanotechnology is a cutting-edge field that spans many possibilities for the study and treatment of different diseases. A key tool recently developed in biomedical engineering research thanks to this technology is implantable sensors.The development of miniaturized implantable biosensors in the human body has revolutionized the field of medicine in terms of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of numerous conditions and diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders and metabolic problems. One of the great advances that these sensors have introduced is their ability to monitor clinical data practically in real time, obtaining records of the body's biophysical and biochemical parameters in a continuous way and for extended periods. This talk will present an overview of implantable sensors in blood vessels, followed by our developments in this field for different applications, such as ischemia monitoring for fetal growth restriction monitoring and cardiac disease biomarkers for an early diagnosis. Future trends and the advantages and limitations of this technology will be discussed.
Biography:

Aruna Sharma (nee Bajpai) W/O Hari Shanker Sharma is currently working as Medical Administrator in Uppsala University Hospital, Division of Anesthesiology & intensive Care Medicine. She is born in Unnao and married to Hari Sharma in April 1979. After graduating in Indian Medicine Aruna Sharma went to Free University Berlin, University Hospital, Kilinikum Steglitz, West Berlin (at that time) in Germany (1989-1991) for advance training in Neuropathology. She also worked as expert neurpathologist on Electron microscopy in School of Biosciences, Karl Marx University, Leipzig, German Democratic Republic (GDR), East Germany (now Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany) briefly and then came to Uppsala University in 1991. She actively participated in research works on CNS injury with Hari Sharma in Institute of Neuropathology since 1992-1996 and then in Neuroanatomy 1997-2003. She joined Department of surgical Sciences, University Hospital in April 2004. She is actively working on Nanoneurotoxicity of engineered metal nanoparticles and silica dust in animal models of stress and brain injury sponsored by European Aerospace of Research & Development (EOARD), London, UK and Wright Patterson Air Force Research Laboratory, Dayton, OH, USA. She is then key investigator of age-related toxicity of nanoparticles in relation to their sizes in mammals under normal and in hyperthermic conditions. This research works was acclaimed at Society for Neuroscience Meeting in Washington DC Nov 12-16, 2011. Based on her research in Nanoneurosciences she is nominated as member of Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Stockholm in 2011. She is active member of Society for Neurosciences, Washington DC, USA, International Brain Edema Society, Tokyo, Japan, International Brain Research Organization, Paris, France, New York Academy fo Sciences, New York, USA and American Association of Advancement of Science, Washington DC. Her administrative capability in medicine and research acquired International Women of the Year award 2009 (for Sweden) and enrolled her in prestigious top 10 Women administrators who set the standards by International Women review Board, USA in 2010. She is also the acquisition editor of key neuroscience journals namely American Journal of Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration (AJNN) and Journal of Nanaoneuroscience (JNS) published by American Scientific Publishers, Los Angeles, CA, USA. In the capacity of Organizing secretary she organized several International neuroscience congresses in Europe and in other parts of the World, namely, 7th Global College of Neuroprotection and Neuroregenartion (GCNN) Marc 3-7, Stockholm, Sweden, 8th GCNN Congress, Amman, Jordan, April 22-25, 2011, 9th GCNN Congress in Xi’an, China, May 3-7, 2012. She is the guest editor of Journal of Nanoneuroscience April 2012; Central Nervous System Neurological Disorders drug Target Feb 2012 and actively contributed key chapters in scientific protocols and reviews in Neuroscience Book series including Progress in Brain Research, International Review of Neurobiology. She received Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award for her continuous leadership in Science in 2020. She regularly practices Yoga and meditation and her hobbies include cooking, travel, photography and reading philosophical books at leisure. 

Abstract:
Sleep deprivation (SD) induces amyloid beta peptide and phosphorylated tau deposits in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid together with altered serotonin metabolism [1]. Thus, it is likely that sleep deprivation is one of the pre-disposing factors in precipitating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain pathology [2]. Our previous studies indicate significant brain pathology following sleep deprivation or AD [3]. In this investigation nanodelivery of cerebrolysin together with monoclonal antibodies to amyloid beta peptide (AbP), phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) in sleep deprivation induced superior neuroprotection in AD exacerbated by sleep deprivation is discussed based on our own investigations. Our results suggest that nanowired delivery of monoclonal antibodies to AbP with p-tau and TNF-a profoundly induces superior neuroprotection in brain pathology in AD exacerbated by sleep deprivation, not reported earlier. There was a significant reduction in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, brain edema formation and neuropathological consequences in AD with sleep deprivation caused by combined nanowired delivery of the above agents as compared to saline treatments. The possible mechanism of neuroprotection is discussed. 

Biography:

Sarita Khemani, MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurosurgery Hospitalist at Stanford University School of Medicine. Her clinical duties involve managing medical co-morbidities, with the primary goal of preventing post operative complications in the hospital setting. She is also the head of Stanford’s Lifestyle Medicine Stress Neuroscience pillar. Dr. Khemani is actively involved in medical education, serving as the Director of the Perioperative Medicine Rotation for medical students. She has been awarded for excellence in teaching and has presented at various local, regional, and national conferences. Her work focuses on integrating clinical practice with advancements in neuroscience and lifestyle medicine, with a commitment to enhancing patient care and medical training.

ABSTRACT:
 
With aging population, the number of patients undergoing surgeries annually are increasing. Post-operative delirium (POD) is one of the most common and serious complications after surgery, affecting 10% to 50% of surgical patients. POD significantly contributes to patient morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Moreover, research indicates that POD can have long term consequences, including cognitive impairment that may persist and potentially contribute to neurodegeneration.In this talk, we will discuss the current state of post-operative delirium research, highlighting the heterogeneity in risk factors, clinical presentation, and underlying mechanisms. We will briefly discuss updates on current treatment approaches and their limitations. We will go over why one-size-fits-all approach needs to shift towards a precision medicine model tailored to individual patient profiles. Drawing from the broader literature, we will explore the application of biomarkers indicating oxidative stress, neuroglial damage, and inflammatory responses that could help recognize patients with preoperative vulnerability to subsequent cognitive decline. We will conclude by discussing the challenges and opportunities in implementing precision medicine strategies in post operative delirium prevention, including the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of biomarker assessments into routine clinical practice. By implementing a precision medicine approach, we can develop personalized, targeted practices to mitigate the risk of post operative delirium and improve outcomes for our aging population.
Speaker Sessions
Biography

Eng-Poh Ng received his BSc. (Ind. Chem.) degree in 2004 from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He obtained his MSc. (Chem.) degree in 2006 and under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Halimaton Hamdan. Then, he received his PhD degree in 2009 from University of Upper Alsace, France under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Svetlana Mintova. He joined Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2010 as a Senior Lecturer before being promoted to Associate Professor in 2016. Currently, he has published more than 170 indexed journals including top-tier journals like Science, Chemistry of Materials, Green Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Journal, etc. His current H-index is 46 with a total citation of 6590. He was also one of the World's Top 2% Scientists in his research field listed by Stanford University since 2019 until 2022. His main research interests are synthesis, investigation and application of nanoporous silica-based materials for adsorption, catalysis and other advanced applications.
Abstract:
Mordenite is one of the most important industrial zeolites with two-dimensional pores (6.5 × 7.0 Å2 ? 2.5 × 5.7 Å2). It has widely been used in the agricultural, petrochemical and separation processes. However, the microporosity of mordenite limits its application in certain catalytic reactions involving bulky molecules, where the presence of small micropores creates a barrier to molecular diffusion. Furthermore, the restricted pore size of zeolites also lead to mass transfer for reactant molecules, causing coking and catalyst deactivation. In this work, highly active hierarchical mordenite zeolite with micro/mesoporosity (TM-n) for selective synthesis of cyclic acetals via acetylation reaction is reported. The hierarchical zeolite is synthesized using soft-templating approach with variations in octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS/Al2O3 ratio, n = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) in precursor hydrogels. The results reveal that OTMS not only creates secondary mesoporosity in zeolite framework (larger mesopore volume, external surface area, average pore diameter), but also influences the crystallization process, altering the crystal morphology, crystallinity and Si/Al ratios. Among TM-n zeolites prepared, TM-0.3 hierarchical mordenite has the optimum OTMS amount incorporated while further increasing the OTMS amount leads to the formation of ANA/GIS intergrowth. Thanks to the accessible hierarchical porosity, reduced acidity and morphological effects, the TM-0.3 hierarchical mordenite exhibits excellent catalytic performance (84.1% conversion, TOF = 0.087 s?1, 61.5% dioxolane selectivity) in acetylation of glycerol and benzaldehyde (160 °C, 20 min) better than pristine mordenite. In addition, comparative catalytic tests with classical homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, including H2SO4, HCl, CH3COOH, H–Y, H-LTL, Na-X, Na-A, are performed. Furthermore, the catalytic performance is superior than of the pristine mordenite and other conventional homogeneous and zeolite-based catalysts. More importantly, the catalyst is reusable for five runs with minimal loss of activity (TOF = 0.087 ? 0.084 s?1), offering it as a potential acid catalyst for chemical productions involving bulky molecules.