Januka Budhathoki-Uprety

Januka Budhathoki-Uprety is a polymer chemist with an interest in developing novel materials for applications in cutting-edge technologies. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology, Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry, and Ph.D. in Chemistry. Her Ph.D. research under the supervision of Professor Bruce Novak at North Carolina State University was focused on the design and synthesis of helical polycarbodiimide polymers. She completed her postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, with her research focused in biomedical sciences developing bio-nanomaterials for disease diagnosis and therapy.

Dr. Budhathoki-Uprety is the recipient of the MSK Society Scholar Prize (2018), Tow Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015-2018), ACS Graduate Student Travel Award (2011), Academic Excellence for Teaching Award, Kathmandu Model College (2003-2005).

Research

Polymers and nanomaterials offer a wide range of capabilities in modern technologies in everyday life such as in healthcare, safety and comfort. Research in the Budhathoki-Uprety lab encompasses at the interface between chemistry, biology and material science utilizing the principles of organic and polymer synthesis, chemical biology, and nanotechnology. Her research team focuses on developing novel polymers, macromolecules, and nanomaterials, and their applications in biomedical field and environment in collaborative approach.

Specific research areas include:

• Rational Polymer Design and Synthesis
• Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine
• Bio-sensors Development and Applications
• Smart Biomedical Textiles

Academic Degrees

• Postdoctoral Fellow , Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY,
• Ph.D. Chemistry, North Carolina State University,
• M.S. Chemistry, Western Carolina University,
• M.Sc Organic Chemistry, Tribhuvan University,
• B.Sc Chemistry and Biology, Tribhuvan University,

Publications

Harnessing nanotechnology to expand the toolbox of chemical biology

Williams, R. M., Chen, S., Langenbacher, R. E., Galassi, T. V., Harvey, J. D., Jena, P. V., … Heller, D. A. (2021), NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-020-00690-6

Glutathione-S-transferase Fusion Protein Nanosensor

Williams, R. M., Harvey, J. D., Budhathoki-Uprety, J., & Heller, D. A. (2020), NANO LETTERS, 20(10), 7287–7295. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02691

Synthetic molecular recognition nanosensor paint for microalbuminuria

Budhathoki-Uprety, J., Shah, J., Korsen, J. A., Wayne, A. E., Galassi, T. V., Cohen, J. R., … Heller, D. A. (2019), NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11583-1

Quantitative self-assembly prediction yields targeted nanomedicines

, (2018). Nature Materials. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-017-0007-z

The secondary structures of PEG-functionalized random copolymers derived from (R)- and (S)- families of alkyne polycarbodiimides

, (2018). Polymer Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8py00282g

A Carbon Nanotube Optical Reporter Maps Endolysosomal Lipid Flux

, (2017). ACS Nano. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.7b04743

A Carbon Nanotube Optical Sensor Reports Nuclear Entry via a Noncanonical Pathway

, (2017). ACS Nano. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.7b00176

A carbon nanotube optical reporter maps endolysosomal lipid flux

Jena, P. V., Roxbury, D., Galassi, T. V., Akkari, L., Horoszko, C. P., Iaea, D. B., … Heller, D. A. (2017, May 6). , (Vol. 5). Vol. 5. https://doi.org/10.1101/134999

Control of Carbon Nanotube Solvatochromic Response to Chemotherapeutic Agents

, (2017). ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b12015

Polymer cloaking modulates the carbon nanotube protein corona and delivery into cancer cells

, (2017). J. Mater. Chem. B. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7tb00695k

View All Publications

Grants

Synthesis of a hydrophobic cotton finish using cottonseed oil

Cotton, Inc.(1/01/21 - 12/31/21)

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Synthesis of a hydrophobic cotton finish using cottonseed oil

Sponsor: Cotton, Inc.

Start Date: 1/01/21

End Date: 12/31/21

Abstract

Cotton, an indispensable material in textiles industry, is prone to moisture absorption and retention. Moisture has been found root cause for wrinkles in fabrics during wet-dry process and microbial growth that causes malodor in fabrics. Besides, a hydrophobic character is increasingly required for high-performance technical textiles to attain effective liquid repellence, self-cleaning, uni-directional liquid transport, or to create barrier coatings on fiber surfaces. Therefore, one of the major challenges is to protect cotton products from water absorption and associated adverse effects. Here, we propose to develop hydrophobic finish from cottonseed oil, which could be chemically bound to cotton surface to impart water repellency on cotton fabrics.

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Organizations

• American Chemical Society
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Electrochemical Society
• Nepal Chemical Society
• Materials Research Society

Teaching

• PCC 106 - Polymer Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability , Spring 2020
• PCC 461 - Chemistry of Polymeric Materials , Fall 2020
• TC 561 - Organic Chemistry Of Polymers , Fall 2020