Linu Balan

Research Scholar

Polyhydroxybutyrate from Marine bacteria and their potential applications in human and veterinary medicine

The current study involves isolation & screening of PHB producing bacteria from Marine environment, development & standardization of downstream process, characterization of PHB and their use in human and veterinary applications. The aim of the work is to develop a benchmark products using PHB suitable for biomedical applications. During the development of the product, the technology can be developed and transferred to the industry. Also, the product range can be diversified giving a great opportunity for future research.

Professional Experience

  • Research Scholar (Oct2013-present)
  • Senior Research Fellow, CUSAT (Mar2018-Sep2019)
  • Junior Research Fellow, CUSAT (Apr2017-Mar2018)
  • Senior Research Fellow, Ministry of Earth Sciences – Centre for Marine Living Resources and Molecular Ecology (Jan2013-Mar2017)
  • Junior Research Fellow, Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Port Blair (Jun2012-Jan2013)
  • Senior Research Fellow, Marine BioResource Centre Jamnagar, Gujarat (Nov2010-May2012)

Ad-Hoc Reviewer in Peer Reviewed Journals:

  • Applied and Environmental Microbiology (American Society for Microbiology)
  • Microbiology Spectrum (American Society for Microbiology)

Awards/ Honours/ Fellowships/ Scholarships:

  • GATE
  • NET (Lectureship)

Publications

  • Mohandas, S.P., Balan, L., Gopi, J., Anoop, B.S., Mohan P, S., Philip, R., Cubelio, S.S., Singh, I.S.B., 2021. Biocompatibility of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate films generated from Bacillus cereus MCCB 281 for medical applications. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 176, 244–252. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.006 view
  • Mohandas, S.P., Balan, L., Jayanath, G., Anoop, B.S., Philip, R., Cubelio, S.S., Bright Singh, I.S., 2018. Biosynthesis and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoate from marine Bacillus cereus MCCB 281 utilizing glycerol as carbon source. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 119, 380–392. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.07.044 view
  • Ajeeshkumar, K.K., Asha, K.K., Vishnu, K. V., Remyakumari, K.R., Shyni, K., Reshma, J., Navaneethan, R., Balan, L., Mathew, S., 2017. Proteoglycans Isolated from Bramble Shark Cartilage (Echinorhinus brucus) Inhibits Proliferation of MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis. Biochem. Pharmacol. 6, 7. doi:10.4172/2167-0501.1000226 view
  • Mohandas, S.P., Balan, L., Lekshmi, N., Cubelio, S.S., Philip, R., Bright Singh, I.S., 2017. Production and characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate from Vibrio harveyi MCCB 284 utilizing glycerol as carbon source. J. Appl. Microbiol. 122, 698–707. doi: 10.1111/jam.13359 view
  • Balan, L., Mohandas, S.P., Priyaja, P., Philip, R., Bright Singh, I.S., 2020. Polyhydroxyalkanoate Producing Bacteria from North Eastern Arabian Sea (NEAS), in: Joshi, K.K., Varghese, M., Kaladharan, P., Sreenath, K.R., S., L., Sanil, N.K., Hatha, A.A.M., Shinoj, P., Padua, S., Gills, R., Jayakumar, C. V. (Eds.), Marine Ecosystem Challenges & Opportunities (MECOS 3). Marine Biological Association of India, Kochi, Kerala, India, p. 421. view
  • Mohandas, S.P., Balan, L., Bhaskaran, A., Philip, R., Bright Singh, I.S., 2016. Production and characterization of PHA from Bacillus cereus MCCB 281 and its biomedical application-A preliminary study, in: 4th International Conference on Nanomedicine and Tissue Engineering (ICNT2016).
  • Mohandas, S.P., Balan, L., Lekshmi, N., Cubelio, S.S., Philip, R., Bright Singh, I.S., 2015. Production and characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate from bioluminescent Vibrio harveyi MCCB284 isolated from Phallusia nigra, in: International Conference on New Horizons in Biotechnology (NHBT-2015). Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, p. 164.
  • Balan, L., Mohandas, S.P., Philip, R., Bright Singh, I.S., 2014. Screening and Isolation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Producing Bacteria from Goa Coast, in: MECOS2 Marine Ecosystems Challenges and Oppurtunities- International Symposium. Marine Biological Association of India, Kochi, pp. 274–275. view

GenBank Submissions: 28

  • Training programme titled “Recent Trends & Developments in Bioplastics and their Applications” conducted by Centre for Bio-Polymer Science and Technology (CBPST), CIPET, Kochi
  • Training on Marine Bacterial Diversity at Central Salts and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar
  • Training on Methodologies for study of Plankton and Benthos at Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai.
  • On-board sample collection on FORV Sagar Sampada, undertaken to study the Benthic Productivity, Harmful Algal Blooms, Environment and Productivity, and Marine Mammals and travelled 409 nautical miles from Mangalore to Cochin
  • Training on Applications of Plant Physiology in Biotechnology at Water Management (AGRI) Division, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Calicut.
  • Training on Applied Techniques in Biotechnology at CARD-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pathanamthitta

Supervising Guide

Prof. I. S. Bright Singh

Technical Skills:

Molecular Biology- gDNA/RNA/Plasmid Extractio, PCR, Primer Designing, Cloning

Microbiology & Bioprocess Technology- Bacterial isolation, Optimization, handling bacterial and fungal pathogens, Operation of manual (100L- Scigenics) and automatic (5L-Sartorious) fermentors,Downstream processing techniques, Sample Preparation for SEM, TEM and FAME

Materials science- Nanoparticle Preparation-o/w and w/o/w emulsion methods, Characterization- SEM, TEM

Proteomics- Quantification of Proteins, Protein Purification, ELISA,SDS-PAGE, Native PAGE, Western Blotting, Zymography

Chemistry-Water Quality Analysis

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