Dr. K SINDHU  
Assistant Professor

Department of Zoology, University of Calicut,
Calicut University PO, Malappuram District, Kerala, 673635, India
Phone (Office): 0494-2407419
Mobile: +91 9495577928
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lab webpage

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. K. Sindhu completed her master’s degree at Government Victoria College, Palakkad in Zoology. After obtaining CSIR-JRF she worked for her PhD at CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Chennai in the area of nanoparticle synthesis using polyphenols and demonstrated its anti-carcinogenic effect in breast cancer cells. She was awarded Ph.D. for her work by University of Madras. During her post doctoral tenure at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research - Tirupati, she got accustomed with molecular docking studies involving protein-DNA interactions. With skill sets in nanotechnology, biochemistry and cell-biology she aspires to unravel the intricate cell responses towards mechanical forces operating in a normal and cancer microenvironment which can be utilized to understand cancer progression, in medical diagnosis and designing of mechanical force responsive biomaterials. 

Educational & Professional Experience

• Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Calicut (June 2021-Present)
• Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Visiting Scientist: Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) - Mumbai (May 2024 - June 2024) 
• Post-doctoral research:  Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) - Tirupati ( 2019-2020)
• Ph.D.: CSIR- Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), University of Madras, (2010-2016)
• M.Sc.: University of Calicut (2006-2008)

PROFILE LINKS

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ORCID iD

RESEARCH GATE

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RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Development of novel magnetic iron nanoparticles for biomechanical effect-based cancer therapy
• Understand the mechano-biological aspects of the cytoskeleton during  metastasis
• Development of mechanobiology based simple-to-use diagnostic tools
• Designing hydrogels with tunable stiffness for application in regenerative therapy
• Synthesize novel iron nanofomulations to fight cancer related anemia

RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Mechanical Force-Mediated Differentiation Therapy of Breast Cancer Stem Cells (Seed Money Project, University of Calicut, 2022-2024; Principal Investigator; ₹2.90 Lakhs).
2. Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR), supported by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF/PAIR/2025; Co-Principal Investigator).

 RESEARCH GUIDANCE

           Ph.D.: Ongoing - 04

           M.Sc. Dissertations: Completed -16

           Minor project for integrated M.Sc. students: Completed -13

 

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

1. Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Visiting Scientist Programme (FY 2024-25), Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Mumbai; Bioluminescence-based molecular imaging.
2. International Travel Grant from DBT-CTEP (2014).
3. International Travel fellowship from CICS (2014).

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

1. Ambali A, Rishad KA, Linshina T, Kondath S*. Stiff for the stride and soft for the glide: dual role of cytoskeleton in stiffness dynamics of breast cancer cell lines meta-analysis, J. Biol. Phys. 2026, 52(1):12.

2. Sindhu K*, Rajaram A and Rama Rajaram, Curcumin reduced gold nanoparticles synergistically induces ROS mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells, Inorg. Nano-Met. Chem. 2021, 51, 601.

3. Bhuvanasree SR, Sindhu K, Rajaram A and Rama Rajaram*, Kaempferol mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cancer cell line, Proc. Biochem. 2015, 50, 1966.
4. Sindhu K, Bhuvanasree SR, Rajaram A and Rama Rajaram*, Synthesis and characterization of morin reduced gold nanoparticles and its cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells, Chem.Biol. Interact. 2014, 224, 78.
5. Sindhu K, Rajaram A, Sreeram KJ and Rama Rajaram*, Curcumin conjugated gold nanoparticle synthesis and its biocompatibility, RSC Adv.2014, 4, 1808.
6. Sindhu K, Indra R, Rajaram A, Sreeram KJ and Rama Rajaram*, Investigations on the interaction of gold-curcumin nanoparticles with human peripheral blood lymphocytes,  J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2011, 1, 56.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

1. Sindhu K, Rajaram A, and Rama Rajaram, Interaction of plasma proteins with ellagic acid reduced gold nanoparticles and their biocompatibility (2014, December) 2^nd IBN International Symposium on ‘Nanomedicine and Nanoassays’, Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Biopolis, Singapore.
2. Sindhu K, Rajaram A, and Rama Rajaram, Room temperature synthesis of gold nanoparticles using ellagic acid (2013, December), International Conference organized by International Union for Materials Research Society (IUMRS-ICA), IISc, Bangalore.
3. Sindhu K, Rajaram A, and Rama Rajaram, Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity of morin reduced gold nanoparticles (2013 October) 4^th International Conference on Stem Cells and Cancer (ICSCC): Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis, Haffkine Institute, Mumbai.

4. Linshina T, Harsha Ramesh Kumar, Sindhu K, Interaction studies of chemically synthesized iron (III) oxide nanoparticles with Human Serum Albumin (HSA) (2022 August), SERB Sponsored National Symposium on Advances in Biosciences for a Sustainable Future: Nano-sciences, SirSyed Institute for Technical Studies, Kannur, Kerala.
5. Sindhu K, Linshina T, Biomechanical forces experienced by breast cancer cells (2023 December), 92^nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists (India), BITS Pilani, KK Birla Goa Campus.
6. Linshina T, Sindhu K, Synthesis of biocompatible curcumin conjugated magnetic nanoparticles and their internalization studies in red blood cells (2023 December), 92^nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists (India), BITS Pilani, KK Birla Goa Campus.
7. Anusri Ambali, Rishad K A, Linshina T, Sindhu Kondath, Effect of anti-cancer treatment on cell stiffness- A meta-analysis on breast cancer cell lines (2025 January) International Conference on Cancer Epigenetics: from Laboratory Studies to Precision Medicine, Manipal School of Life Science, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka.
8. Smrithi S, Shahla Shibin, Sindhu K, Biocompatible tetrahdrocurcumin reduced metal nanoparticles with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycation potential (2025 October) 7^th International Conference on Neutraceuticals and Chronic Diseases (INCD 2025) & 11^th Symposium on Translational Cancer Research, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
9. Sindhu K, Anusri Ambali, Rishad K A, Linshina T, Do cancer cells maintain a stiffness threshold range: A meta-analysis to correlate cancer cell stiffness with treatment strategies (2025 October) MechBio: Indian mechano biology annual meeting, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
10. Linshina T, Sanjay Sain, Namrata Gundiah, Sindhu Kondath, Biophysical insights into magnetic nanoparticle-induced cancer cell death (2025 October) MechBio; Indian mechano biology annual meeting, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
11. Rishad K A, Mohammed Nidhal K P, Sindhu Kondath, Synthesis of hemocompatible glucose functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for anti-cancer activity (2025 November), Taming Cancer: Progress and Promises, National Symposium on Advances in Cancer Research, Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur, Kerala.
12. Anusri Ambali, Thuluvath Linshina, Koolipoyil Abdulkareem Rishad, Sindhu Kondath, Impact of cell stiffening on metastatic activity of breast cancer cells (2026 January), National Conclave on Empowering Innovation: Interdisciplinary Sciences and Women Scientist Meet, Department of Zoology, University of Calicut.

COURSES TAUGHT

• Biomolecules (II Semester - Discipline Specific Course - Major)

• Biochemistry (VII Semester - Discipline Specific Course - Major)

• Molecular Biology (VIII Semester - Discipline Specific Course - Major)

• Cancer Biology (IX Semester - Discipline Specific Elective)

• Mechanobiology (V Semester - Discipline Specific Elective)

• First Aid and Biosafety (I Semester - Multi-Disciplinary Course)