Research Professor | Kyungpook National University | South Korea
Dr. Sarangthem Vijaya Devi is an innovative biomedical scientist with over twelve years of expertise in biopolymer-based drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and nanotechnology, focusing on the design and development of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)–based biomaterials for targeted therapeutics. Her doctoral research at Kyungpook National University, South Korea, involved constructing IL-4 receptor–targeting ELP systems for precise drug delivery, laying the foundation for her pioneering work in tumor-targeted cancer therapy and gene delivery. As a postdoctoral fellow, she led the development of multivalent ELP nanoparticles and depot systems, optimizing pharmacokinetics and tissue biodistribution, and establishing platforms for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. At AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr. Vijaya Devi advanced regenerative medicine applications by developing self-assembling ELP hydrogels and 3D scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell culture, differentiation, and tissue regeneration. She further integrated 3D bioprinting technologies to create artificial tissue models for high-throughput drug screening and preclinical evaluation. Her ongoing work as a visiting research professor at Kyungpook National University focuses on ELP-driven 3D culture platforms, enabling scalable and reproducible organoid and spheroid models for precision medicine. Dr. Vijaya Devi’s research portfolio includes over 16 high-impact publications, several as corresponding or first author, highlighting her contributions to nanoparticle engineering, biomaterial optimization, and translational therapeutics. She has contributed to patents on ELP-based hydrogels for tissue regeneration and nanocarriers for oncology drug delivery, demonstrating the translational potential of her work. Recognized with multiple awards, including the Best Article Award and DST Fellowship, her research bridges fundamental science with industry applications, emphasizing scalability, regulatory compliance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her expertise encompasses gene delivery systems, molecular imaging, biomaterials engineering, and organoid culture, making her a leading researcher in precision therapeutics. Dr. Vijaya Devi continues to drive innovations in ELP biomaterials for cancer therapy, tissue engineering, and high-throughput drug discovery, positioning her as a global leader in biomedical research and translational medicine.
Featured Publications
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Lee, Y.-J., Hong, J., Seo, B.-Y., Lee, B.-H., Sarangthem, V.*, & Park, R.-W. (2025). Strategic optimization of nanoparticle characteristics to enhance tumor targeting and doxorubicin delivery. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 20, 6357–6378.
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Hong, J., Sim, D., Lee, B.-H., Sarangthem, V.*, & Park, R.-W. (2024). Multifunctional elastin-like polypeptide nanocarriers for efficient miRNA delivery in cancer therapy. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 22(1), 293.
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Sarangthem, V., Sharma, H., Mendiratta, M., Sahoo, R. K., Park, R.-W., Kumar, L., Singh, T. D., & Mohanty, S. (2022). Application of bio-active elastin-like polypeptide on regulation of human mesenchymal stem cell behavior. Biomedicines, 10(5), 1151.
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Sarangthem, V.*, Sharma, H., Goel, R., Ghose, S., Park, R.-W., Mohanty, S., Chaudhuri, T. K., Dinda, A. K., & Singh, T. D. (2022). Application of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) containing extracellular matrix (ECM) binding ligands in regenerative medicine. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
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Sarangthem, V., Yi, A., Kim, Y., Rehemtulla, A., Lee, B.-H., Jeon, Y. H., Singh, T. D., & Park, R.-W. (2021). Therapeutic effect of IL4 receptor targeting pro-apoptotic peptide (AP1-ELP-KLAK) in glioblastoma tumor model. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 16, 5039–5052.