Dr. Katti's research areas include:
- Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Green Nanotechnology in Nanomedicine
- Innovations in Green Nanotechnology
- Radiopharmaceutical Sciences in molecular imaging and therapy
- Metals/Organometallics In the Development of Cancer Diagnostic and Therapeutic Agents
- Biomedical Optical Imaging
Nanoscience, and Nanotechnology in Nanomedicine: The central objective of our current research in cancer nanotechnology platform will be to bring interdisciplinary professionals consisting of chemists, physicists, biologists, engineers, theoretical modeling experts and clinicians under a highly interactive and scientifically stimulating forum to: (i) develop a thorough knowledge on the synthesis of biologically robust and clinically useful hybrid nanoparticles;(ii) understand the fate and distribution of hybrid nanoparticles in vivo; (iii) develop innovative delivery methods of hybrid nanoparticles for maximum localization within tumor sites; (iv) work toward the development of a ‘multi-modality‘ suite of the future for hybrid nanoparticles-based molecular and functional imaging of various cancers using computer tomography, optical imaging and ultrasound imaging techniques; and (iv) establish the feasibility of using hybrid nanoparticulate beta emitting Au-198/199 isotope for site specific delivery and as effective therapeutic pay loads in treating breast, pancreatic, prostate cancers and osteosarcoma. In vivo studies encompass evaluation of toxicity and therapeutic efficacy in tumor bearing/normal mice, and pigs. Tumor bearing dogs, as realistic models for spontaneously occurring human cancers is an important focus of our clinical translational studies—all aimed at testing and application of nanotechnologically driven molecular imaging and therapeutic products to conduct studies for imaging and therapy of cancers and other diseases in humans. For further details, see: https://vimeo.com/61631390
Innovations in Green Nanotechnology: As the nanotechnology revolution unfolds, its impacts and implications are being felt in vast sub-sections of fields ranging from medicine, hygiene, and consumer electronics to agricultural productivity and environmental restoration. Green Nanotechnology appears to bring about this important connectivity with tremendous futuristic power reaching out to even the most common citizens of this planet—just as how agricultural technologies have made their way into human lives. Green Nanotechnology, as conceived and developed by Professor Kattesh V. Katti at the University of Missouri, uses phytochemicals from Tea, Cinnamon, Cumin or Soy, as electron reservoirs, for the production of nanoparticles. Given the trajectory of various Green Nanotechnology discoveries achieved by Professor Kattesh V. Katti, at the University of Missouri, this emerging field which connects agricultural economy with nanotechnology, has the potential in developing profitable industry through highly sophisticated products in sustainable and environmentally-benign processes. Ongoing studies include: (i) New concepts in Green Nanotechnology; (ii) production of gold nanoparticles using biocompatible phytochemicals; and (iii) Oncological aspects including the design and development of molecular imaging and therapy products from green nanotechnology. Research on global implications as they relate to establishing new ways of connecting agricultural productivity and economy with nanotechnology that allows harnessing the tremendous economic power of green nanotechnology in energy, medicine and allied fields—all are being investigated. For further details, see: http://vimeopro.com/mizzouvideo/asc-videoproduction/video/125473706
Radiopharmaceutical Sciences: Multifunctional ligands for tumor specific SPECT and PET imaging are being developed. The first BFCA derived from hydroxymethyl phosphine has been discovered. These approaches encompass ligand design, in vitro and in vivo investigations of radiolabeled conjugates. Metals/Organometallics In the Development of Cancer Diagnostic and Therapeutic Agents: Metal-based therapeutic agents are being developed to reduce the overall systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. A series of gold compounds, with excellent cytotoxic properties with high selectivity toward cancer cells, have been discovered. The overall goal is to achieve target specificity, optimum uptake within tumors and rapid clearance from non-target organs.
Biomedical Optical Imaging: Optical and photoacoustic imaging at single cell levels are being pursued. The overall objective is to develop sample free analysis of blood samples for detection of cancer cells at the single cell levels.