{{ vm.tagsGroup }}
05 Jan 2026
6 Min Read
Dr Priya Madhavan (Academic Contributor), Nellie Chan (Editor)
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is one of the fastest-growing health challenges worldwide. By progressively damaging nerve cells and disrupting neural networks, it impairs cognitive functions far beyond what is expected from normal ageing. While research has revealed much about its underlying biology, current treatments offer only limited relief, underscoring the urgent need for more effective solutions.
At Taylor’s University, Dr Priya Madhavan and her team are developing Nanoflex, a nanotechnology-based formulation that delivers plant-derived compounds more effectively to the brain, enabling new ways to manage the condition at its source.
Dr Priya is an associate professor at the School of Medicine, specialising in microbiology and natural product biology. Together with collaborators such as Dr Naveen Kumar Hawala Shivashekaregowda from the School of Pharmacy, her latest project, Nanoflex, earned recognition at the 36th International Invention, Innovation, Technology Competition & Exhibition (ITEX 2025).
By using biodegradable nanocarriers to encapsulate plant-derived compounds, her approach demonstrates both scientific innovation and sustainability, showing that the future of medicine can be groundbreaking and green.
We spoke with her to learn more about the project, the discoveries that shaped it, and its potential impact on dementia care.
Q: How would you explain this project to someone outside your field?
A: Nanoflex is a nanotechnology-based formulation designed to reduce symptoms of dementia by overcoming long-standing limitations in plant-derived therapies, offering a more effective approach to supporting memory and broader cognitive health.
Q: What motivated you to pursue this project?
A: The project grew from personal experience. Many elderly people in our families and communities live with dementia, and witnessing their struggles—memory, decision-making, and declining independence—deeply motivated us. Seeing how these challenges gradually eroded their overall quality of life inspired us to pursue a better, brain-targeted solution, one that green nanotechnology could help deliver safely and sustainably.
Q: What problem does your innovation aim to solve, and who benefits most?
A: Current treatments for dementia mainly manage symptoms rather than targeting the processes that contribute to cognitive decline. Existing medications are often limited in effectiveness, partly due to poor brain penetration, and may require high doses that increase the risk of side effects. Nanoflex is designed to solve this problem by delivering natural, brain-protective compounds more safely and effectively. Those who benefit most include patients in the early to moderate stages of dementia, as well as healthcare providers seeking safer, more effective interventions.
Q: What were the biggest challenges in getting this project to its current stage?
A: The biggest challenge was achieving particle stability and reproducibility during scale-up, as early prototypes tended to aggregate and exhibited variable drug content. We addressed this by optimising the formulation to enhance stability, refining production processes to produce more uniform particles, and adopting methods that minimise solvent use to reduce batch-to-batch variability.
Another challenge was balancing environmental sustainability with pharmacological efficacy—ensuring biodegradability without compromising drug release—which we overcame through close collaboration with chemists, pharmaceutical scientists, and sustainability experts. Together, these efforts yielded a stable, reproducible formulation ready for preclinical validation.
Q: What discoveries did you make during the project?
A: Initially, we focused on improving the bioavailability of natural compounds using lipid carriers. However, we discovered that our formulation using nanoparticles not only enabled sustained release but also enhanced brain penetration. These effects shifted our focus towards developing a neurotherapeutic delivery system rather than a general nutraceutical enhancer.
Q: Are there common misconceptions about this area of research?
A: A common misconception is that natural compounds have little clinical value or that nanotechnology is inherently unsafe. In reality, with proper formulation, these compounds — which may be unstable on their own — can be converted into potent, bioavailable medicines, while the nanocarriers themselves have well-established safety profiles.
Another misconception is that sustainable formulation and high-performance drug delivery are incompatible. Nanoflex demonstrates that green chemistry principles can work seamlessly with advanced nanomedicine without compromising effectiveness. Through this project, we show how traditional plant-based knowledge translates into modern, evidence-based pharmaceuticals.
Q: Why is this innovation especially timely now?
A: As populations age and overall life expectancy increases in regions such as Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa, the number of individuals at risk of dementia is growing, creating greater demand for preventive and neuroprotective therapies. Nanoflex is especially timely because it meets this need by combining efficacy with sustainability in its design, positioning it at the intersection of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Q: What are the potential applications and implications of Nanoflex?
A: In the near term, Nanoflex could serve as an early-stage or adjunct therapy for dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, easing healthcare burdens and improving quality of life. Over the long term, its modular design allows adaptation for different poorly soluble neuroprotective agents, creating a versatile nanodelivery system capable of efficiently delivering therapies to the brain at scale. Environmentally, its biodegradable composition supports sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing, while socially, it increases access to healthcare by reducing reliance on costly synthetic drugs. Overall, Nanoflex has the potential to transform how natural compounds are developed for neurological applications.
Q: How has your background shaped your approach to Nanoflex?
A: My academic background, rooted in scientific innovation and sustainability, shaped my approach to Nanoflex. Collaborating with formulation scientists exposed me to the shifting standards in the field towards greener drug-development practices, while my research in natural product biology illuminated the ecological and socioeconomic considerations involved in sourcing natural compounds. These experiences reinforced my conviction that drug design must balance therapeutic efficacy with environmental responsibility. Nanoflex, therefore, emerged not only as a biomedical solution but also as a demonstration of how science can advance human and environmental well-being together.
Q: What’s one lesson this project has taught you?
A: One lesson I’ve taken from this project is that nature and science can work remarkably well together. By developing plant-derived compounds into scientifically informed therapies that are safe for humans, considerate of animals, and gentle on the environment, I’ve learned how a holistic approach to health can honour ecosystems while maximising the therapeutic potential they hold.
Q: Who or what have been key contributors to this project?
A: Key contributors to this project include my students, Dr Zhi Xin Phuna and Dr Shantini Vijayabalan, whose dedication during the COVID and post-COVID period was essential to its progress. Witnessing their growth throughout the project has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud that both have now graduated and are pursuing their chosen careers. I also wish to acknowledge Dr Bibhu Prasad Panda from the School of Pharmacy, whose early efforts in developing the nanoparticles were invaluable before he left Taylor’s University to continue his career elsewhere.
Leading the development of Nanoflex, Dr Priya combines the wisdom of nature with the precision of modern science to create therapies that are both effective and environmentally mindful. By delivering plant-derived neuroprotective agents directly to the brain, it advances treatment options for dementia patients while setting a new standard for sustainable drug design.
The next phase prioritises optimising the formulation, validating it in preclinical studies, and preparing it for scale as the project moves towards early-stage human trials. In parallel, her team will establish industry partnerships and regulatory pathways to support its translation from the laboratory to real-world application.
In seeking solutions for neurodegenerative diseases, Dr Priya’s work shows that scientific innovation can care for both people and the planet, offering possibility and responsibility in equal measure.
