Dr. Rohan Vijayanand Pai

Qualification              : M. Pharm., Ph.D.

Specialization            : Pharmaceutics

E mail                         : rohan.pai@nmims.edu

Phone                         : 022-42332000 (Extn.- 2140)

Experience                 : 7.8 Years (Industry - 1.8 years, Academics - 6 years)

He pursued his Ph.D. (Tech.) in Pharmaceutics from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, where he worked on the development of novel drug delivery systems for ophthalmic applications using computer-aided approaches. A part of his research dealt with applying computational methods to streamline the process of screening materials and systematically designing nanocarrier based drug delivery systems. Previously, he was employed in the Formulation and Development department of Rubicon Research Pvt. Ltd. as a Research Officer, where he was actively involved in the development and evaluation of a polymer and a polymeric delivery system based on their platform technology. His research interests include Nano Drug Delivery Systems, Experimental Designs and Computer-Aided Formulation Development.

Interest areas

• Nano Delivery Systems - Formulation and characterization aspects of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers, Microparticles, Liposomes, Cylcodextrins and Nanofibers.
• Formulation Development - Formulation aspects of Ophthalmic, Pulmonary, Intranasal and Mucoadhesive.
• Experimental Designs – Development of delivery systems with application of Quality by Design (QbD) and Design of Experiments (DoE) approaches.
• Computer-Aided Formulation Development - Simulations and screening of excipients using computer-based approaches.

Research

• Publications – 19 (International- 18, National- 01)
• Book Chapters- 06
• Presentations- 6 (International- 1, National- 5)

Conferences/Workshops/Seminars attended- 30

Academic activities

He has guided 15 M. Pharm. students for their research projects and 3 candidates are registered for Ph.D under his supervision. 

 Awards

• Best Preclinical Research Paper Award – 2019 awarded for the Research paper titled "Exploring molecular dynamics simulation to predict binding with ocular mucin: An in silico approach for screening mucoadhesive materials for ocular retentive delivery systems” at the National Workshop on Animal Pharmacology and Toxicological Studies (APTS 2019) organized by Baptala College of Pharmacy on 27-28^th December 2019.
• Awarded UGC-SAP JRF and SRF fellowships for Ph.D. (Tech) specialization in Pharmaceutics at the Institute of Chemical Technology during 2014-2019.
• Awarded 2^nd place for a poster titled "Chitosan Based Microparticles For Inhalation Delivery of Rifampicin and Rifabutin” at the 5th Symposium on Nasal & Pulmonary Drug Delivery, Mumbai, November 2011.
• Recipient of UGC JRF fellowship for M.Pharm. specialization in Pharmaceutics at Bombay College of Pharmacy during 2009-2011.
• Awarded 2^nd place for an oral presentation on "Novel Methods for Emulsification of Paints” at the Young Innovators Choice Competition by the Technological Association of the University Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, in 2010.

Professional Memberships

• Registered Pharmacist, Pharmacy Council of India (Maharashtra State Branch; Registration No. 125451).

Recent Publications

1. Chaudhari, N., Khude, H., & Pai, R. (2026). Design, Optimization and In Vitro Neuroprotective Assessment of Rasagiline Mesylate-loaded PLGA Microspheres for the Parkinson’s Disease Management. Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, 21(4), 362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12247-026-10578-y (Impact Factor - 2.7)
2. Palan, F., Pai, R., Chatterjee, B., Bose, A., & Das, D. (2026). Cubosomes–A novel approach to taste masking using ibuprofen as a model drug. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, 47(4), 618-628. https://doi.org/10.1080/01932691.2024.2417691 (Impact Factor - 1.9)
3. Prajapati, M. K., Bishnu, A., Rojekar, S., Pai, R., Ray, P., & Vavia, P. R. (2025). Deciphering the Impact of Hyaluronic Acid Grafting Density and Molecular Weight on Paclitaxel Liposome in CD-44 Receptor Targeting. Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, 20(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12247-024-09899-7 (Impact Factor - 2.7)
4. Godani, N., Mudaliar, S., Pai, R., & Sharma, S. (2024). Leveraging principles of QbD for analytical method development and validation for the estimation of eltrombopag olamine in tablet dosage forms by HPLC. Chromatographia, 87(10), 635-648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-024-04356-6 (Impact Factor - 1.3)
5. Rojekar, S., Abadi, L. F., Pai, R., Prajapati, M. K., Kulkarni, S., & Vavia, P. R. (2022). Mannose-anchored nano-selenium loaded nanostructured lipid carriers of etravirine for delivery to HIV reservoirs. AAPS PharmSciTech, 23(7), 230. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-022-02377-8 (Impact Factor - 4.0)
6. Prajapati, M. K., Pai, R., & Vavia, P. (2021). Tuning ligand number to enhance selectivity of paclitaxel liposomes towards ovarian cancer. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 66, 102809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102809 (Impact Factor - 4.9)
7. Rojekar, S., Pai, R., Abadi, L. F., Mahajan, K., Prajapati, M. K., Kulkarni, S., & Vavia, P. (2021). Dual loaded nanostructured lipid carrier of nano-selenium and Etravirine as a potential anti-HIV therapy. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 607, 120986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120986 (Impact Factor - 5.2)
8. Rojekar, S., Abadi, L. F., Pai, R., Mahajan, K., Kulkarni, S., & Vavia, P. R. (2021). Multi-organ targeting of HIV-1 viral reservoirs with etravirine loaded nanostructured lipid carrier: An in-vivo proof of concept. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 164, 105916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105916 (Impact Factor 4.7)
9. Pai, R. V., & Vavia, P. R. (2020). Chitosan oligosaccharide enhances binding of nanostructured lipid carriers to ocular mucins: Effect on ocular disposition. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 577, 119095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119095 (Impact Factor - 5.2)
10. Pai, R. V., Monpara, J. D., & Vavia, P. R. (2019). Exploring molecular dynamics simulation to predict binding with ocular mucin: An in silico approach for screening mucoadhesive materials for ocular retentive delivery systems. Journal of Controlled Release, 309, 190-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.07.037 (Impact Factor - 11.5)