Thiruvananthapuram: Dr. Jeladhara Sobhanan, a native of the city and Postdoctoral Associate at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, is gaining international recognition in the field of nanotechnology with her pioneering research that spans life sciences, environment, health and safety, and industrial technology.
An alumna of Kendriya Vidyalaya Pattom, she earned her Master’s in Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, and began her research at the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, and the University of Hyderabad. She later completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Materials Science at Hokkaido University, Japan, earning multiple research awards.
Her work, with over 400 citations, includes the development of a nanodevice that combined cancer‑targeting, light‑activated molecules with an ultra-sensitive oxygen sensor. This was a major advancement in light-enabled cancer therapy, with her sensor showing a nearly 270-fold increase in light sensitivity compared to existing sensors. With cancer causing over 10 million deaths globally each year, this patent-pending technology offers a path toward more effective cancer therapy by enabling real-time monitoring of treatment response and more selective killing of cancer cells.
Another problem in cancer treatment is the challenge of detecting cancer early. To solve this, she developed a liquid biopsy platform capable of detecting as few as 1-10 circulating tumor cells per milliliter of blood. For this work, the Japanese Photochemistry Association awarded her the prestigious JPPA Chemistry Presentation Prize. Dr. Sobhanan was selected for the honor from a pool of among 260 researchers from around the world.
She is also known for her major contributions to advancing nanotechnology safety and environmental standards. In a study showcased on the cover of the prestigious journal Nanoscale, Dr. Sobhanan highlighted how certain nanomaterials used in electronics and medical imaging can break down under light to release toxic heavy metals. The study highlighted the serious implications this could have on human health and safety, and the environment. Her findings are helping guide safety standards for the design and disposal of these materials.
Dr. Sobhanan’s nanotechnology research work has also been very multi-disciplinary spanning advanced drug delivery systems, improving the stability of perovskite nanocrystals for energy and display technologies, improving water treatment and developing frameworks for the safe use of nanomaterials in industry. Her expertise is reflected in publications in ACS Nano, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, The Chemical Record, and other leading journals.
“Growing up in Thiruvananthapuram nurtured my curiosity and respect for nature,” she said. “That foundation drives me to create nanotechnologies with real‑world impact in health, safety, and sustainability.”
With two patents, multiple awards, and international collaborations, Dr. Sobhanan continues to translate advanced materials science into solutions for healthcare, environment, and industry.
