India’s authors behind the Top Cited Papers
Discover in-depth interviews with a selection of India’s most cited researchers – individuals whose research has not only received a Top Cited Paper award, but has also significantly impacted their respective fields.
See the full list of winners: Top Cited Papers from India
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Detecting Diseases Through the Analysis of Exhaled Breath with leading author Dr. Mrinal Pal
Professor Mrinal Pal, from the Functional Materials and Devices Division at CSIR-CGCR, is pioneering innovative solutions for painless and non-invasive disease detection through exhaled breath analysis.
Read their article: Review—Non-Invasive Monitoring of Human Health by Exhaled Breath Analysis: A Comprehensive Review
Congratulations on receiving the Top Cited Paper award from IOP Publishing! Could you please provide us with a brief summary of the paper?
Mrinal: Our paper is titled “Review—Non-Invasive Monitoring of Human Health by Exhaled Breath Analysis: A Comprehensive Review”. Currently, disease monitoring relies on traditional methods such as analyzing body fluids like blood, urine, sputum, and faeces which are labor-intensive and require specialized equipment and personnel. Our paper proposes an alternative approach: painless and non-invasive detection of diseases through exhaled breath analysis using cost-effective and durable chemiresistors. By focusing on volatile organic compounds and other gases present in exhaled breath, we can identify key biomarkers for disease monitoring. Our paper highlights several advantages of chemiresistors compared to costly, cumbersome, and expertise-dependent analytical gas detection techniques such as GC-MS, PTR-MS, SIFT-MS, etc. Additionally, our review delves into the future prospects of breath analysis.
What factors do you think contribute to the widespread recognition of your article?
Mrinal: In our division at CSIR-CGCRI, India, we’ve dedicated years to the study of breath analysis for disease detection, focusing on conditions like diabetes, renal failure, asthma, and COPD. Our observations indicate that breath analysis isn’t just a theoretical concept but a practical and effective alternative to current disease detection methods. However, the information is scattered, and there is not a truly comprehensive review that covers all the aspects of this subject. This lacuna, along with our extensive research background, prompted us to write a comprehensive review to attract the research community’s attention towards breath analysis using chemiresistors.
We believe our review gained widespread recognition within the scientific community for several reasons. Firstly, it meticulously covered a broad range of topics related to breath analysis, referencing key research in this field. We also believe that the structured discussion format, lucid language of the article, and depth of insight into the subject contributed to its recognition as the most-cited review article in 2023.
What projects are you currently engaged in, and What are your thoughts on the future of disease detection and its evolution?
Mrinal: Currently, we are in the process of developing novel nanomaterials tailored for detecting various ailments like diabetes, heart diseases, renal diseases, asthma, and COPD, through exhaled breath analysis. Looking forward, we see breath analysis becoming the future of point-of-care disease detection, utilizing advanced technologies like sensor arrays and artificial neural networking-based (ANN) for pattern recognition. This approach promises to be immensely beneficial in clinical settings in the foreseeable future.
Furthermore, we anticipate a paradigm shift towards synchronous disease detection from multiple bodily excreta—such as breath, urine, and faeces—using skin-mounted flexible chemiresistors and electrochemical sensors coupled with ANN-based pattern recognition. This integrated approach holds promise for personalized disease detection in home settings.
What guidance would you offer to fellow researchers and authors within your field of expertise?
Mrinal: We suggest that researchers prioritize materials engineering for developing novel nanomaterials for chemiresistive and electrochemical sensors. Sensors that are sensitive and selective to different disease biomarkers in breath, urine, and faeces will immensely improve the scope of disease detection. Also, researchers should work towards incorporating ANN-based pattern recognition into chemiresistor-based disease detection.
When writing articles, aim for comprehensive coverage without diluting the primary focus. Ensure clear, accessible language and insightful discussions, avoiding mere enumeration of references. This approach enhances reader understanding and engagement with the topic.
Additional Calibration of the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope on Board AstroSat with Dr. C. S. Stalin
Discover Dr Stalin’s full article here.
A Comprehensive Insight into the Mechanical Properties of Human Soft Tissues with Dr. Arnab Chanda
Dr. Arnab Chanda from the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Department of Biomedical Engineering, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi is engaged in the development and enhancement of artificial surrogates mimicking various types of human tissue.
Read his article: Mechanical properties of whole-body soft human tissues: a review
Congratulations on the recognition for your paper! Please share some aspects of this study that set it apart in the current landscape of research in this field.
Arnab: Thank you! Our paper “Mechanical properties of whole-body soft human tissues: a review” is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive review focused on the examination of soft tissue mechanics across the entire human body. It describes the linear and non-linear mechanical behavior of soft tissues and delves into tissue anisotropy – a property of biological tissues wherein their characteristics change depending on the direction or axis of measurement. Further, we have discussed characterization techniques and relevant models like the hyperelasticity model. This information is valuable for researchers in the field of biology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, biomechanics, medical device development, biofabrication, tissue engineering, biomaterials, and computational modelling of biosystems.
In your view, what is the primary contribution of your paper to the research community?
Arnab: Our paper serves as a one-stop solution for researchers seeking soft tissue mechanical properties for both experimental and computational projects, addressing a long-standing gap in the literature. Besides the paper’s initial success, I anticipate that it will provide enduring value to the healthcare field.
Can you briefly describe some of the research projects you are involved in?
Arnab: Certainly! My primary work focus lies in soft tissue biomechanics, particularly related to diseases and injuries. My team has developed a wide range of artificial tissues, including skin, brain, tongue, tonsil, liver, kidney, stomach, gallbladder, pelvic tissue, and heel. These artificial tissues serve as a valuable tool for studying injuries such as traumatic brain injury, burns, and ballistic trauma.
We have also developed tissue models using advanced finite element modeling (FEM) that can be employed to study the effect of blasts and vehicular crashes on the human body. FEM and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models also aid in-depth examination of diseases such as diabetic foot ulceration and cerebral aneurysm. So far, our research has led to the publication of 3 Books and over a hundred journal articles.
What advice do you have for other authors in your field of research?
Arnab: Based on my experience, research on trending topics often gets published in high-impact journals but does not receive adequate recognition or citations due to its lack of societal value. My advice to fellow researchers with healthcare background is to prioritize simplicity and focus on subjects that offer long-term value to public health and wellbeing.
How you can get involved
Visit our journal list and submit your next article if you are an Indian researcher looking for the opportunity to be awarded with one of our Top Cited Paper awards.