Can we look at biology from the lens of materials science? How can materials on the nanoscale pose risks to health as well as potentially revolutionise cancer therapy?

Using everyday examples like cigarette smoke, sunscreen, air pollutants and wound dressings, Aahana Ganguly takes us on a journey through the multidisciplinary field of nanoparticles. She explores where nanoscience meets medicine with a particular focus on cancer therapy while also analysing the challenges that arise in their development. She also identifies gaps where young aspiring scientists can make their contributions.

About the Resource Person

Aahana Ganguly is a faculty member at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, where she teaches Chemistry. Her current research interests involve studying nanoparticle-induced oxidative stress and its role in pulmonary toxicity. 

Before joining the university, she was a regulatory scientist in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She worked in the National Centre for Toxicological Research developing better regulatory frameworks and methods of evaluating safety and efficacy for cancer nanotherapeutics. Aahana did her PhD in Chemistry and Materials Science at Princeton University, USA.