Biographical note

Prof. Mahendra Rai is a UGC Basic Science Research Faculty Fellow and former Head of the Department of Biotechnology at Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, India. He is currently a senior visiting professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Brazil. His areas of expertise include microbial biotechnology and nanobiotechnology, focusing on the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using fungi and their applications as nanoantimicrobials against pathogenic microbes. His research is interdisciplinary, integrating microbial biotechnology with nanotechnology. Professor Rai has received several prestigious awards, including the Father T.A. Mathias Award from the All India Association for Christian Higher Education and the Medini Award from the Government of India. He has participated in multiple international collaborations and has held visiting positions at various institutions, including the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Debrecen University (Hungary), and Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland). Shagufta Khan is Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Borgaon, India. Her areas of research are the development of drug loaded nanocarriers, nasal drug delivery for brain targeting, stability enhancement of hygroscopic and photosensitive drugs, oral controlled drug delivery systems and rapid disintegrating tablets. Aarti Belgamwar is Assistant Professor in the in Shri Vile Parle Kelvani Mandal’s Institute of Pharmacy, Dhule. India. Her research interests are nasal drug delivery for brain targeting, solubility enhancement, polymer modification,oral controlled drug delivery systems, and development of multi-particulate drug delivery system.