DIPTI DESHPANDE

*** ********** ****** *** **, Boston, MA 02115

Cellphone: 857-***-****; Email: ab85sh@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Committed and enthusiastic research scientist with proven research abilities formulation development,

drug delivery and preclinical model development. Sound technical ability in selecting, troubleshooting

and optimizing drug delivery systems. A motivated team player and a self starter with strong

presentation and communication skills, looking forward to join a multidisciplinary research group

committed towards making original contributions in the pharmaceutical industry

EDUCATION

Doctoral Candidate, Pharmaceutical Sciences Expected

date of graduation: Aug 2013 Northeastern University, Boston, MA

M.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dec 2007

Northeastern University, Boston, MA

B.S. Pharmacy

Aug 2005

University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India

TECHNICAL SKILLS

I. Formulation development and characterization

• Expertise in development, characterization, profiling and assay of novel drug delivery

formulations (polymeric nanoparticles and nanoemulsions) for challenging small molecules.

• Proficient in lab characterization tools and techniques like zetasizer, solvent displacement,

microfluidization, ultrasonication and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM)

• Experience with physicochemical characterization of small molecules, solid/liquid dosage forms,

solubility, dissolution, viscosity and drug stability studies

• Successful method development and optimization of peptide conjugation and development and

characterization of targeted nanoformulations

II. Bioanalytical techniques

• Successful method development, analysis and interpretation of data using HPLC system (Waters

HPLC system and Waters Empower software) for small molecules, radiolabeled molecules and

drug metabolites

• Proficient in techniques like IVIS spectrum imaging system, radiotracer assays, UV/VIS

spectroscopy, FACS, fluorescence and confocal microscopy and hematology

III. Molecular and cell biology techniques

• Experienced in RNA and protein isolation, real time q-PCR, gel-electrophoresis, western blot,

single and multiplex ELISA, RT-PCR, fluorometric and colorimetric bioassays, high content

screening (HCS-Cellomics®), biomek-robotic assembly and cell proliferation assays (MTT, MTS,

XTT and CTG)

IV. Experimental animal handling and in vivo experience

• Proficient in tail vein injections, intraperitoneal injections, blood collection by cardiac puncture

and sub-mandibular bleeding techniques, heart and aorta isolation and sectioning, immuno-

histochemistry, imaging and PK studies

V. Computer skills

• Operating Systems: Windows (98/NT/2000-2007/XP) and Mac

• Applications: Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Software: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), End Note, Graph Pad Prism,

BioDraw Ultra

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, Cambridge, MA

Senior Associate - Molecular Cell Biology

Mar 2008 – Jul 2008

Responsible for Multiple Sclerosis Biology and Validation studies

• Cultured and characterized primary oligodendrocytes ex vivo from murine brain tissue

• Developed and optimized immunostaining protocols for validating neuronal functionalities

• Analyzed the in vitro differentiation of the CG4 cell line into astrocytes and oligodendrocytes

• Optimized screening assay to study the myelination of cultured cells using the HCS-Cellomics®

platform

Research Associate - Toxicology

May 2007 – Dec 2007

Responsible for Anti-cancer agents screening studies

• Cultured HepG2, UACC 62, HCT 116, MIA Paca, SKN SH, DLD-1 cell lines

• Developed and optimized screening assays for small molecules with anti-cancer properties for

early detection of sub-cellular toxicity using high content screening (HCS-Cellomics®)

• Operated and validated protocols for the Biomek Robotic workstation for automation of in vitro

assays

Raptakos and Brett Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, India

Scientific Associate - Research and Development

May 2004 – Aug 2004

• Analyzed different solid dosage forms as per I.P,B.P and USP requirements

LABORATORY EXPERIENCE

Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Sep 2008 – May 2013

PhD. Thesis: Multimodal Omega-3 Fatty Acid Oil-Containing Nanoemulsion-Based Therapeutic

Strategy for the Treatment of Endothelial Dysfunction in Coronary Artery Disease

I. Research/ Teaching Assistant

• Experience as an environmental health and safety representative of the research laboratory

• Mentored and trained high school, undergraduate and graduate students (MS and PhD) and

research staff in use of several laboratory instruments, analytical techniques and laboratory

safety policies

• Delivered lectures and graded exams of undergraduate (Pharm D) students in anatomy and

physiology laboratory courses and biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics

II. Formulation design and characterization of nanoemulsion system

• Developed and characterized omega-3-fatty acid containing oil in water nanoemulsion system

for encapsulation of ceramide and 17-β-estradiol

• Evaluated distribution of the nanoemulsions in vitro through microscopy based cell trafficking

studies

III. In vitro evaluation of drug loaded nanoemulsion system in treatment of atherosclerosis

• Evaluated the effect of ceramide and 17-β-estradiol loaded nanoemulsions on growth and

proliferation of cultured vascular human aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells and

prevention of atherosclerosis

• Analyzed different mechanistic factors contributing towards development of atherosclerosis like

endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide and eNOS/iNOS regulation, cellular MAPK activity and

vascular inflammation

IV. In vivo evaluation of the biodistribution, safety and efficacy of the drug loaded Nano emulsion

system in treatment of atherosclerosis

• Developed an inflammation based atherosclerosis disease model in the ApoE-/- mice

• Analyzed lipid profile and inflammatory markers in plasma and tissue samples

• Evaluated development of atherosclerotic lesion using imaging modalities

• Pre-clinical tissue distribution and mass balance analysis using tritium labeled drug molecules

• Evaluated PK parameters for plasma and different tissues using non-compartmental analysis

using the WiNonlin software system

• Collaborated with Tufts Veterinary School and Tufts Medical Center for microscopic vascular

lesion analysis in heart and aorta of diseased animals by immunohistochemistry

Northeastern University, Boston, MA Jan

2006 – Dec 2007

Master’s Thesis: Biodegradable Nanoparticle Delivery System for Intracellular Delivery of Paclitaxel

and Ceramide in the Treatment of Coronary Restenosis

I. Formulation design and characterization of polymeric nanoparticles

• Developed and characterized the PEO-PCL polymeric nanoparticle system for encapsulation of

small molecules - Paclitaxel and Ceramide

II. In vitro evaluation of drug loaded polymeric nanoparticles in treatment of coronary restenosis

• Evaluated uptake and internalization, cellular growth and proliferation and apoptotic potential

of the drug loaded nanoparticles in cultured human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells

PUBLICATIONS

• Deshpande, D., Janero, DR. and Amiji, M.; Engineering of an ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty

Acid-Containing Nanoemulsion System for Combination C6-Ceramide and 17β-

Estradiol Delivery and Bioactivity in Human Vascular Endothelial and Smooth Muscle

Cells. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, (Submitted).

• Deshpande, D., Janero, DR. and Amiji, M.; Therapeutic strategies for endothelial

dysfunction, Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2011 Dec;11(12):1637-54.

• Deshpande, D., Devalapally, H. and Amiji, M.; Enhancement in Anti-Proliferative

Effects of Paclitaxel in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells upon Co-administration with

Ceramide using Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles, Pharm Res. 2008

Aug;25(8):1936-47.

• Ganta, S., Chadwick, S., Deshpande, D. and Amiji, M.; Role of Eco-Friendly

Strategies in the Development of Biomedical Nanotechnology; International Journal of

Green Nanotechnology: Biomedicine, Volume 1, Issue 1 January 2009, pages B9 - B23

• Ganta, S., Deshpande, D., Korde, A., and Amiji, M.; Multifunctional Nanoemulsion

Systems to Overcome Oral and CNS Drug Delivery Barriers ; Molecular Membrane

Biology; 27(7):260-73

PRESENTATIONS

• Poster at annual meeting and conference of American Association of Pharmaceutical Science

(AAPS) 2012 titled “A Novel Multimodal Treatment of Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction

in Atherosclerosis using 17-β-Estradiol Loaded Omega-3-Fatty Acid Oil Containing Nano-

Emulsion Formulation for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis”

• Poster at annual meeting of Controlled Release Society (CRS) 2010 titled “Preliminary

evaluation of combination Ceramide/17-β-Estradiol Therapy in Coronary Restenosis with

Omega-3- Fatty Acid Oil Containing Nano-Emulsion Formulation”

• Poster at Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Intern Fear and Fun event about “Cellomics and its

Applications and Cytotoxicity Assay Developed for Toxicity Screening”

• Poster at AAPS NERDG 2007 titled “Intracellular Delivery of Paclitaxel and Ceramide using

Polymeric Nanoparticles for the Prevention of Coronary Restenosis”

AWARDS AND AFFILIATIONS

• American Association of Indian Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAiPS) Student Scholar Award 2012

• Membership of Rho Chi Pharmaceutical Honor Society 2009

• Student of the Year 2004-2005

• Young Scholars Program (YSP) – Mentorship of summer research for high school students

• American Association of Pharmaceutical Science (AAPS): Student member

• Controlled Release Society (CRS): Student member

REFERENCES

Available upon request

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