Group Members

Principal Investigator

Prof. Santosh Aryal, Ph. D.
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health outcomes
The Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy
The University of Texas at Tyler

Senior Research Scholars

Viswanathan Sundaram. Ph. D.
Postdoctoral Associate (2023 - Present)
Education: Ph.D (Biotechnology)
Research Project: Design and development of advanced nanomedicine, including liposomes, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and hybrid biomimetic nanoparticles.
Hometown: Tamil Nadu, Inda
Publications: View Publications
Email: vsundaram@uttyler.edu; viswasundaram90@gmail.com
Hobbies: Cooking, Travel

Cesar B. Aparicio-Lopez, Ph.D.
Research Assistant (2025 - Present)
Education: Physiology, PhD.; Biotechnology, MS; Chemistry, BS
Research Project: Design and development of cisplatin prodrugs; design and development of lipid-based nanoparticles for large and small molecule targeted delivery; and study of the mechanisms of drug and nanoparticle uptake by cellular models.
Hometown: Guanajuato, Mexico
Publications: View Publications
Email: capariciolopez@uttyler.edu
Hobbies: Volleyball, Driving.

Graduate Students

Anayya Jernigan
Graduate Student (2026 - Present)
Education: B.S. Biology - University of Texas at Tyler (2021-2025)
Research Project: Effects of surface charge on liposomal drug delivery
Hometown: Marshall, Texas
Email: ajernigan2@patriots.uttyler.edu or ajernigan@uttyler.edu
Hobbies: Reading and Cooking

Madeleine Harris
Graduate student (2025 - Present)
Major: PharmD.
Research Project: Extracellular vesicles application in wound healing
Hometown: Grapevine, TX
Email: madeleineharris@uttyler.edu

Colin Ferrel
Graduate Research Assistant (2025 - Present)
Education: MPH (Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases)
Research Project: Design and development of advanced nanomedicine, specifically liposomes for targeting and treating Tuberculosis.
Hometown: Burlingame, Kansas
Email: cferrel@uttyler.edu
Hobbies: Cooking, Skiing and Hiking

Sudishna Khanal
Graduate Student (2026 - Present)
Major: Doctor of Pharmacy Program
Research Project: Maximizing drug delivery to tumor
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Email: skhanal2@patriots.uttyler.edu
Hobbies: Painting, Photography, and Travelling

Undergraduate Students

Israel Joshua Santhosh
Graduate Student (2023 - 2026)
Pursuing M.D. at Baylor College of Medicine (Class of '30)
Education: B.S. Biochemistry - The University of Texas at Tyler (2022 - 2026)
Research Project: Enhancing drug delivery via Re-eingineered Cell-Based Drug Delivery Systems.
Hometown: Brampton, ON, Canada
Email: isanthosh@uttyler.edu; israel.j.santhosh@gmail.com
Hobbies: Reading One Piece, reading sci-fi novels, watching movies, lifting

Graduating Student (2024 - 2026)
Pursuing M.D. at Baylor College of Medicine (Class of '30)
Education: B.S. Chemistry, B.S. Biochemistry - The University of Texas at Tyler (2022 - 2026)
Research Project: Optimizing PEGylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Nanoparticles for Enhanced Anticancer Effect.
Hometown: Lindale, Texas
Email: tdane@uttyler.edu; tdane1437@gmail.com
Hobbies: Watching college sports, video games, gym

Alisha Upreti
Undergraduate Student (2025 - Present)
Research Project: Enhancing nanoparticle tumor delivery
Major: Premed
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Email: aupreti@uttyler.edu
Hobbies: Professional speaking, cooking and driving