Prabhakar Busa
Dr. Prabhakar busa holds a doctorate in nanomedicine from National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan. His doctoral research focused on developing well-engineered mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to overcome drug-resistant cancers through innovative drug repurposing, antioxidant and traditional medicine delivery, and combination therapies. His work addressed doxorubicin (DOX) resistance by designing MNSs co-loaded with cisplatin and curcumin, targeting mitochondrial membrane permeability, inhibiting P-glycoprotein efflux, and reducing ATP production through chemo-photodynamic combination therapy. He also investigated the natural 16-hydroxycleroda-3,13-dien-15,16-olide (HCD) for overcoming DOX-resistant lung cancer by targeting the autophagy mechanism in in vitro and in vivo studies, utilizing western blot, flow cytometry, PCR, and molecular docking analysis. In addition to cancer research, he explored neuropathic pain management in diabetes-induced (STZ) models and morphine tolerance (PSNT and CCI surgery models) using melatonin, GLP-1, and DPP-4 inhibitors to modulate spinal cord microglial cell activation through intrathecal drug delivery. Dr. Prabhakar Busa’s postdoctoral research work focused on polymer and pro-drug based external stimuli and receptor-mediated sciatic nerve drug delivery (perineurium) strategies for prolonged and on-demand local anesthesia for post-operative and cancer pain management using capsaicinoids, tetrodotoxin, and other local anesthetics.
In 2025, he joined Professor Kumar’s lab, where his research focuses on the development of polyester polymer-based peroral drug delivery systems. His work aims to target drug transport across the gut-blood and gut-lymph barriers through receptor-mediated transcytosis, enhancing the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of various treatments. His research focuses on addressing complex diseases such as lupus, acute kidney injury, eye disease, diabetes, and metronomic chemotherapy, along with their comorbidities. He integrates cellular and molecular techniques with pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic (PD-PK) studies to translate preclinical findings into clinical applications.
Education
2021 Ph.D. in Nanomedicine, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan
2012 M. Pharmacy-Pharmacology, JNTU, Hyderabad, India
2010 B. Pharmacy, Kakatiya University, Warangal, India
E-mail: pbusa@ua.edu
Phone: 659-239-1176
Publications
Vitamin D Reduces Pain and Cartilage Destruction in Knee Osteoarthritis Animals Through Inhibiting the Matrix Metalloprotease (MMPs) Enzymes Expression, Prabhakar Busa, Niancih Huang, Yaswanth Kuthati and Chih-Shung Wong*, Heliyon 2023, DOI:10.2139/ssrn.4309861.
Carnosine Alleviates Knee Osteoarthritis and Promotes Synoviocyte Protection via Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway: An In-Vivo and In-Vitro Study. Prabhakar Busa, Sing-Ong Lee, Niancih Huang, Yaswanth Kuthati and Chih-Shung Wong*, Antioxidants 2022, https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11061209.
Diterpene promptly executes a non-canonical autophagic cell death in doxorubicin-resistant lung cancer, Wei-JunChiu, Chun-ShuLin, Prabhakar Busa, HuiLong, Yaw-Syan Fu, Ching-Feng Weng*, Biomedicine & pharmacology 2002, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113443.
New Advances on Pathophysiology of Diabetes Neuropathy and Pain Management: Potential Role of Melatonin and DPP-4 Inhibitors. Prabhakar Busa, Yaswanth Kuthati, and Chih-Shung Wong*, Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022, http://DOI/10.3389/fphar.2022.864088.