Department of Zoology

• (Assistant Professor: (Academic/Research)(SF) 06.08.2026 to Till Now
• Post Doctoral Research Fellow/ Lecturer: (September 2024 to July 2026), College of Material Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University Xiamen 361021, PR China.
• Post Doctoral Research Fellow: (May 2024 to July 2024),Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202, Taiwan.
• Post Doctoral Research Fellow: (March 2022 to December 2023),Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, PR China.
• Post Doctoral Research Fellow: (December 2019  to  January 2022),Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, PR China.
• Full Time Researcher: (March 2019 to  September 2019) ,College of Biomedical Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 24341, Republic of Korea.

• World Top 2% Scientist: Recognized in the Stanford University-Elsevier/Scopus World’s Top 2% Scientists database in Polymers, Microbiology, Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry, and Biomedical Research, in both Career-Long and Single-Year Impact categories (2023, 2024 & 2025).
• Bronze Medal, National (China) Postdoctoral Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2025 - Recognized for excellence in postdoctoral research innovation and entrepreneurship.
• China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant, Grant No. 2022M721922, 2022-2023, for the project “Green Synthesis of Marine Polysaccharide-Mediated ZnO Nanocomposites and Investigation of Their Performance Against Helicobacter pylori Bacteria and Its Associated Gastric Cancer”, funded at ¥80,000 RMB (approximately ₹11.39 lakh).
• Frontiers in Nanotechnology 2021 Outstanding Review Editor Award (December-22,2021-https://blog.frontiersin.org/2021/12/22/frontiers-in-nanotechnology-2021-awards/)
• “Young Scientist Award- 2021 in the Field of Fisheries and Life sciences” selected by Society of Fisheries and Life Sciences, (College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India).(https://www.fishlifesciencejournal.com/Awards-08.08.2021).
• “Best Young Scientist Award in Nanobiotechnology”, National conference on SMART SUMMIT-2021 conducted by PEARL Foundation Maduari, Tamilnadu, India on 19.06.2021 through Online/ Video Conference.
• University First Rank Holder in M.Sc., Zoology.
• Department of Science and Technology (DST) awarded the “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)"INSPIRE Fellowship (Ref. No: IF140145), New Delhi, India.
• Outstanding reviewer award from various Elsevier journals.
• Top reviewers in Pharmacology and Toxicology - September 2019 (Publons)
• Top reviewers in Cross-Field - September 2019 (Publons)

PUBLICATIONS (Selected Publications only, Full list available in Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nSxDa8gAAAAJ&hl=en)

1. Sekar Vijayakumar*, Zaira I. Gonz´alez-S´anchez, Mani Divya, Esteban F. Duran-Lara, Kanchanlata Tungare, Sugumaran Josephin, Yonggang Peng, Ying Yu, Viswanathan Kalaiselvi, Palanisamy Yasotha, Mingchun Li: Honey bee propolis-capped CuO nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, biomedical applications, and their ecotoxicity assessment, Inorganic ChemistryCommunications,08/2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2026.117433 ELSEVIER: Impact factor:5.9). (* First and corresponding author).
2. Sekar Vijayakumar*, Zaira I. Gonz´alez S´anchez, Mani Divya, Esteban F. Dur´an-Lara, Kanchanlata Tungare, Samiksha Garse, Yonggang Peng, Ying Yu, Thandapani Gomathi, Kumar Netha,Viswanathan Kalaiselvi, Palanisamy Yasotha, Mingchun Li:MgO nanoparticles formulated from konjac glucomannan and its therapeutic potential, Bioorganic Chemistry,01/2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2026.109575, (ELSEVIER: Impact factor:5.1). (* First and corresponding author).
3. Sekar Vijayakumar*, Zaira I. Gonz´alez-S´anchez, Periasamy Anbu, Mani Divya, Jegatheeswaran Sonamuthu, Mangaiyarkarasi Rajkumar, Esteban F. Dur´an-Lara,Yonggang Peng, Ying Yu, Mingchun Li: Asafoetida gum-wrapped ZnO nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer potential against gastric carcinoma, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 09/2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147597, ELSEVIER: Impact factor:8.5).
4. Sekar Vijayakumar*, Zaira I. Gonz´alez-S´anchez, Mani Divya, Esteban F. Dur´an-Lara,Kanchanlata Tungare, Mustansir Bhori, Yonggang Peng, Ying Yu, Mingchun Li: Locust bean gum capped gold nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and their biomedical applications, Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 06/2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115161, ELSEVIER: Impact factor:5.4). (* First and corresponding author).
5. Sekar Vijayakumar *, Zaira I. González Sánchez , Mohammed Amanullah, Jegatheeswaran Sonamuthu, Mangaiyarkarasi Rajkumar, Mani Divya, Esteban F. Durán-Lara, Mingchun Li : Shark chondroitin sulfate gold nanoparticles: A biocompatible apoptotic agent for osteosarcoma, , International Journal of Biological Macromolecules,12/2024;DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138793  ELSEVIER: Impact factor 7.7). (* First and corresponding author).
6. Sekar Vijayakumar*, Jingdi Chen, Zaira I. Gonzalez-Sanchez, Kanchanlata Tungare, Mustansir Bhori, Harshavardhan Shakila, K.S. Sruthi, Mani Divya, Esteban F. Duran-Lara, Gomathi Thandapani, Periasamy Anbu; Biomedical and ecosafety assessment of marine fish collagen capped silver nanoparticles, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules,01/2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129324.(ELSEVIER: Impact factor 8.2). (* First and corresponding author).
7. Sekar Vijayakumar*, Jingdi Chen, Viswanathan Kalaiselvi, Kanchanlata Tungare, Mustansir Bhori, Zaira I. Gonzalez-Sanchez, Esteban F. Duran-Lara: Marine polysaccharide laminarin embedded ZnO nanoparticles and their based chitosan capped ZnO nanocomposites: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment. Environmental Research 06/2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113655. (Elsevier: Impact factor 8.431). (*First and Corresponding author)
8. Sekar Vijayakumar*, Jingdi Chen, M. Amarnath, Kanchanlata Tungare, Mustansir Bhori, Mani Divya, Zaira I. Gonzalez-Sanchez, Esteban F. Duran-Lara, Baskaralingam Vaseeharan; Cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity, and photocatalytic assessment of biopolymer cellulose-mediated silver nanoparticles. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 11/2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127270. (Elsevier: Impact factor 4.539). (*First and Corresponding author)
9. Sekar Vijayakumar1*, Jingdi Chen, Viswanathan Kalaiselvi, Mani Divya,Zaira I.Gonzalez-Sanchez,Esteban F. Duran-Lara, Baskaralingam Vaseeharan; Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of marine polysaccharide laminarin formulated gold nanoparticles: An ecotoxicity and cytotoxicity assessment. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 08/2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105514. (Elsevier: Impact factor 4 .3). (*First and Corresponding author)

CONTRIBUTIONS IN BOOK 

1.Mani Divya & Sekar Vijayakumar*(*Corresponding author):Traditional Herbal Therapy for the Human Immune System –Azamal Husen(Ed).(Chapter-9-Traditional South Indian Herbal Plants for a Strong Immune System)2021;10.(CRC Press (Taylor&Francis),ISBN number: 9781003137955,https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003137955

2.Mani Divya & Sekar Vijayakumar*(*Corresponding author): Biopolymeric Nanomaterials Fundamentals and Applications-Micro and Nano Technologies.Shamsher Kanwar(Ed), Ashok Kumar(Ed), Tuan Anh Nguyen(Ed),Swati Sharma(Ed) and Yassine Slimani(Ed).(Chapter-1- Biopolymeric nanomaterials: design, synthesis, and applications).2021;1-12.(Elsevier,ISBN number: 978-0-12-824364-0,https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824364-0.00004-6).

3.Mani Divya, Sekar Vijayakumar and Baskaralingam Vaseeharan: Lectins.  Elumalai P., Lakshmi S. (Eds). (Chapter :( Lectins in Diagnostic Tools and Therapeutic Agents).2022; 273-284. (Springer, ISBN number: 978-981-16-7462-4, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7462-4_12).

4. S. Jayashree, K. Sonia, G. Mayakkannan,S. Shruthi, S. Aruna Sharmili, and Sekar Vijayakumar: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity of Flavonoids- Edited by Jen-Tsung Chen(Ed).(chapter-8- Isoflavonoids As Bioactive Molecules against SARS‑CoV‑2).2024.(CRC Press (Taylor&Francis),ISBN number: 9781003433200. 

5.Geethalakshmi Sundararamana, Sekar Vijayakumar, Sakthivel Manoharena, Esteban F. Durán Larac and Lavanya Gunamalai: Advances in Probiotic Delivery Systems Strategies for Enhanced Viability, Targeted Delivery and Efficacy- Edited by Tanmay Sarkar (Ed),Ayan Chatterjee (Ed), Anirudha Dutta(Ed) (Chapter 12 - Nanotechnology in oral probiotic delivery,2025;307-328(Academic Press, ISBN number: 978-0-443-27594-4, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-27594-4.00002-4)

6.Mani Divya, Sekar Vijayakumar: Native Crops in India (Biochemical, Processing, and Nutraceutical Aspects) Edited By Devina Lobine, B. Dave Oomah (chapter 5: Anti-COVID-19 Agents from Native Indian Crops,2025,16- (CRC Press (Taylor&Francis), ISBN number: 9781003352341, https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003352341.

7.Geethalakshmi Sundararaman, Sekar Vijayakumar: Nanotechnology and Antivirus Nanomaterials for Combating COVID-19-(Strategies against SARS-CoV-2 Variants in the Post-pandemic Era; Micro and Nano Technologies) Edited by: Jen-tsung Chen; (Chapter 7 - Nanomaterial-based therapeutic drugs for SARS-CoV-2 variants: Recent findings, limitations, and prospects; 2025,183-199)(Elsevier, ISBN number:978-0-443-33002-5: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-33002-5.00005-1.

Research Papers Presented/ Participated in Symposia/ Seminar: International level (Selected only)

• Participated in the International Conference on “10th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA10)” organized by Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA), 28 August – 1 September 2017 The ANVAYA Beach Resort, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. And presented a paper on “EFFECT OF β-GBP-ZNO NPS ON IMMUNE RESPONSE OF TILAPIA”.
• Participated in the International Conference on “Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Conference and Exposition 2016 and 11th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum” (11th AFAF) organized by Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), Network of AquaPPPculture Centers in the Asia–Pacific (NACA), and the Department of Fisheries, Thailand. Bangkok 3-7th August 2016 and presented a paper on “Biosynthesis of Ag/ZnO nanocomposite using chitosan from shell waste of mud crab, Scylla serrata and its antibiofilm screening”.
• Participated in the International Conference on “International Conference on Potential impact of Pesticides on Environment and Human Health (ICPIPEHH-2017)” organized by Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering, and Dayananda sager University, Bangalore 560068, Karnataka, India. 2 – 4 November 2017 and presented a paper on “Ecotoxicity of chemically synthesized ZnO NPs on the fresh water micro crustacean Ceriodaphnia cornuta.”

• Participated in the World Congress on “Microscopy: Instrumentation, Techniques and Applications in Life Sciences and Material Sciences” (WCM 2015) organized by the International Unit on Macromolecular Science and Engineering (IUMSE), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, 9-11th October 2015 and presented a paper on “Synthesis, Characterization, Antibiofilm and Ecotoxicological Evaluation of Biopolymer based Silver nanoparticles”.

  RESOURCE PERSON/OVERSEAS EXPOSURE/VISITS  (Selected only)

1.Invited Guest Lecture on “From Bench to Bedside: Bioinspired and Green-Synthesized Nanoparticles in Modern Biomedicine” on June 18th 2026, Organized by School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing-102488, P.R. China.

2.Invited Keynote speaker on “Final Seminar of the FOVI 200019 Strengthening of International Network “Bio Nano Net” for the Research and Development of Nano-antibiotics Based on Nano and Biomaterials with Components of Natural Origin” held on March 13th, 2025, at the University of Talca, Chile.

3.Invited Guest lecture on “NANOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS IN MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE: ADVANCED MATERIALS DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPEUTICS” on 24th February 2025 December 2024, organized by University of Talca and the Doctoral Programs in Biomedical Sciences and in sciences with a mention in Research of Bioactive Products, Chile (South America) -(Online).

• Indian Science Congress Association-Life member
• The Association of Microbiologists of India(AMI)
• Indian Biophysical Society-Life member
• Society of Fisheries and Life Sciences, (College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India).- Life member
• Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) – Affiliate member (721328)
• ESF (European Science Foundation) College of Expert Reviewers (group of internationally recognized scientists who provide expert assessments and evaluations of research proposals and grant applications)
• Lifetime Member- Bactivac Network- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, UK