Current Lab Members

Anil Kumar H. Achyuta
PhD Candidate

Email: achyuta.a@neu.edu

Education

B.E Chemical Engineering, 2006
M.S.R.I.T, Bangalore, India.

Research

“Bioactive and Biopassive Coatings for Neuroprosthetic Devices”

The primary objective of my research is to develop biopassive and bioactive coatings for neural prosthetic devices. Neural prostheses are silicon-based electrodes that stimulate and record electric potentials to and from neurons in the central nervous system and are currently under development as potential therapies for disorders such as stroke and paralysis. One major challenge in the fabrication of these devices is the protection of the electronic circuits under implantation conditions. A possible solution for this problem is to encapsulate the electronic components in the device in a biocompatible insulating thin film.

The other complexity encountered is not related to the fabrication of the probe but occurs following implantation where the connectivity between the neurons and the device is lost due to a foreign body response from the host system. This is known as glial scar and manifests as a dense cellular sheath around the implant resulting in an increase in impedance of the electrodes. One potential strategy to accomplish this is to conjugate bioactive molecules on the surface of the electrodes to facilitate neuronal adhesion and proliferation.

My research aims at depositing biocompatible thin film polymers to encapsulate the electronic components of the implants and engineering surfaces to mitigate the tissue response post-implantation to ensure enhanced performance of the implant during clinically relevant chronic settings.  

Publications

Journal Articles

A.K.H. Achyuta, R. Cieri, K. Unger, and S.K. Murthy. "Synergistic Effect of Immobilized Laminin and Nerve Growth Factor on PC12 Neurite Outgrowth," Biotechnology Progress 2009, 25, 227-234.

A.K.H. Achyuta, A.J. White, H.G. Pryce Lewis, and S.K. Murthy. “Incorporation of Linear Spacer Molecules in Vapor Deposited Silicone Polymer Thin Films,” Macromolecules 2009, 42, 1970-1978.

Presentations

A.K.H. Achyuta (presenter), R. Cieri, K. Unger, and S.K. Murthy. “Synergistic Effect of Immobilized Laminin and Nerve Growth Factor on PC12 Cell Neurite Outgrowth,” Northeastern Research and Scholarship Expo, Boston, MA. March 26, 2008.

A.K.H. Achyuta “Bioactive and Biopassive Coatings for Neuroprosthetic Devices”, Invited Speaker at Connexios Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore, India December 10, 2008.

A.K.H. Achyuta (presenter), R. Cieri, K. Unger, and S.K. Murthy. “Synergistic Effect of Immobilized Laminin and Nerve Growth Factor on PC12 Cell Neurite Outgrowth,”
Graduate Materials Links Intercollegiate Symposium on Interdisciplinary Graduate Research, Boston, MA. February 20, 2009.

A.K.H. Achyuta (presenter), A.J. White, H.G. Pryce Lewis, and S.K. Murthy. “Incorporation of Linear Spacer Molecules in Vapor Deposited Silicone Polymer Thin Films,” Northeastern Research and Scholarship Expo, Boston, MA. March 26, 2009.