Dr. Gupta is a young researcher engaged in advancing the understanding of Candida biofilm structures and development.
She is also involved in developing nanocomposites and nanomaterials that resist colonization by these microbes
(either alone or in synergy with bacteria) to tackle implant and antifungal therapy failure in healthcare settings.
The following are the key research works in progress:
- Exploring the evolution of cell wall/membrane biogenesis, the molecular players that are responsible for drug
resistance
- Fabrication of bioactive molecules-laden biodegradable food packaging
- Formulating polymeric nanocomposites for sustained and effective drug delivery
- NMR-based metabolomics to understand the cross-talk in the biofilm community in clinical settings
- Engineering drug-encapsulated hydrogels for an antimicrobial transdermal substitute
She has published over 40 original research articles, 10 review articles, one national patent, and 10 Book chapters. She
has given invited lectures at reputed institutes like CSIR-IITR, CSIR CBMR, BITS Pilani, and Gujarat National Law
University, among others. Dr. Gupta is a Senior Editorial Board Member, Microbial Biotechnology, Wiley; Reviewing
Editor, Microbiology Spectrum, ASM; Review Editor of Biofilms, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, and an
invited reviewer of international scientific journals like ACS Omega, ACS Infectious Diseases, RSC, etc.
Research Area
- Fungal Pathogenesis (Biofilm and Microbiomes using Molecular and Omics Tools)
- Nanomaterials (Drug Delivery, Biomaterials)
- Active Food Packaging
Awards
- NPDF (April 2017–2019), funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India
- DST INSPIRE Fellowship (Jan 2012–2016), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
- DBT Research Associateship (July 2019–2023), funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
- International Travel Grant (November 2018), Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
- Qualified Uttarakhand State Eligibility Test (USET) in Biotechnology, 2012
- Young Scientist Award (2022) for Best Oral Presentation at the 5th International Conference organized by MIT School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research, Pune
- Young Scientist Award (February 2019) for Poster Presentation at the 9th International Conference of American Council of Medicinally Active Plants
- Young Scientist Award (December 2013) for Best Oral Presentation from Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology, India
- University Gold Medal (Batch 2009–2011) for excellent performance in M.Sc. Biotechnology at Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun
Professional Membership
- Life Member of The Biotech Research Society, India (LM 2272)
- Life Member of Translational Biomedical Research Society (LM0021)
- Life Member of Science Congress, India (L37681)
- Contributing Member of American Chemical Society (31873226)
- Member of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (104584)
- Annual Member of ESCMID (456512)
- Elected Member of Pharmacologia – The Asian Society for Pharmacology and Toxicology
Research Detail
- Gupta, P., Gupta, S., Sharma, M., Kumar, N., Pruthi, V., & Poluri, K. M. (2018). Effectiveness of phytoactive molecules on transcriptional expression, biofilm matrix, and cell wall components of Candida glabrata and its clinical isolates. ACS Omega, 3, 12201–12214.
- Gupta, P., Goel, A., Singh, K. R., Meher, M. K., Gulati, K., & Poluri, K. M. (2021). Dissecting the anti-biofilm potency of kappa-carrageenan capped silver nanoparticles against Candida species. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 172, 30–40.
- Gupta, P., Pruthi, V., & Poluri, K. M. (2020). Mechanistic insights into Candida biofilm eradication potential of eucalyptol. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 131, 105–123.
- Gupta, P., Meena, R. C., & Kumar, N. (2020). Functional characterization of Candida glabrata ORF, CAGL0M02233g for its role in growth and virulence. Microbial Pathogenesis, 149, 1–5.
- Gupta, P., Mishra, P., Mehra, L., Rastogi, K., Prasad, R., Mittal, G., & Poluri, K. M. (2021). Eugenol-acacia gum based bifunctional nanofibers as potent anti-fungal transdermal substitute. Future Science Nanomedicine, 16(25).
- Gupta, P., & Poluri, K. M. (2022). Elucidating the eradication mechanism of perillyl alcohol against Candida glabrata biofilms: Insights into synergistic effect with azole drugs. ACS BioMed and Chem Au, 2(1), 60–72.
- Gupta, H., Gupta, P., Kairamkonda, M., & Poluri, K. M. (2022). Molecular investigations on Candida glabrata clinical isolates for pharmacological targeting. RSC Advances, 12, 17570–17584.
- Kumar, A., Yadav, E., Yadav, B., Nanda, D., Meena, A. S., Singh, S. P., Poluri, K. M., & Gupta, P. (2025). Farnesol functionalized chitosan-gold nanocomposites for disruption of fungal biofilms. Materials Today Chemistry, 49, 103079.
- Yadav, B., Verma, N., Kumar, A., Poluri, K. M., & Gupta, P. (2025). Perillyl alcohol-inclusion complex encapsulated electrospun gum arabic/PVA nanofiber for active food packaging. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 52, 101620.
- Kumar, A., Yadav, B., Ankita, Mishra, P., Poluri, K. M., & Gupta, P. (2025). Biochemical insights into synergistic Candida biofilm disintegrating ability of p-cymene inclusion complex and miconazole. European Journal of Pharmacology, 993, 177365.
- Delivered an invited talk on “Microbial Biofilms: Drivers of Antimicrobial Toxicity and Evolution of Clinical Resistance” at the International Toxicology Convention (EARTH-2025), CSIR-IITR, Lucknow (Nov 12–15, 2025)
- Delivered invited online lectures on “Recombinant DNA Technology and Biosimilars” at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (May 30 and June 07, 2025)
- Delivered an invited talk on “Bioactive Molecules Encapsulated Nanoscaffold to Mitigate Fungal Infection” at BITS Pilani (Jan 17–18, 2025)
- Delivered invited online lectures on “Biotherapeutics and Regulatory Challenges” at Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (April 07 and 14, 2024)
- Delivered a Young Faculty invited talk on “Insights into Lactic Acid Tolerance in Candida glabrata Vaginal Isolates: A Metabolomic Approach” at SCANMR & NMRSI Meeting, CBMR, SGPGI, Lucknow (Feb 02–05, 2024)
- Delivered an invited talk on “Phytoactive Molecules Encapsulated Nanofibers as Transdermal Substitute” at Mahayogi Gorakhnath University, Gorakhpur (Dec 15–17, 2023)
Total Number of Publications : 46
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