Ashok M. Raichur

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Ashok M. Raichur is an Indian materials scientist and nanotechnologist who works as a professor in the Department of Materials Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore. He is known for using nanotechnology in medicine and the environment, including drug delivery systems and water purification methods.

Education and career:
- He earned an engineering degree from Malaviya Regional Engineering College in 1990, an MS from the University of Kentucky in 1992, and a PhD from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1996.
- After postdoctoral work at the University of Nevada, Reno, he joined IISc as an assistant professor in 1997 and became a full professor in 2009.
- He has also been involved with the Bioengineering Program and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research at IISc, and has held roles at the Materials Research Center and the Center for Scientific and Industrial Consultancy.
- Raichur has served as a professor at the University of South Africa and was a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg from 2012 to 2014.

Research and achievements:
- His group develops polyelectrolyte capsules for gene and drug delivery, nanostructured multilayers for sensing, and methods to synthesize and disperse nanoparticles using biosurfactants.
- In 2014 his team created a biopolymer nanocapsule capable of delivering drugs to specific targets, such as cancer cells, with walls that can hold large amounts of drugs and release them in response to local cues.
- He has also devised catalytic nanoparticle methods for cleaning water by breaking down organic contaminants.

Awards and affiliations:
- 2003 DBT Biotech Process Development and Commercialization Award
- 2003 National Metallurgists Day Award
- 2005 Prof. Satish Dhawan Young Engineers Award (GoK)
- 2007 MRSI Medal
- 2009 National Bioscience Award for Career Development (N-BIOS Prize)
- Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2004–2005)
- Life member of the National Academy of Sciences, India; ASSET; and the Materials Research Society of India (MRSI)
- Member of the PI Committee of NPTEL (web-based learning program)