Dr. Sarika Wairkar

Qualification              : M. Pharm., Ph.D.

Specialization            : Quality Assurance

E mail                          : Sarika.wairkar@nmims.edu

Phone                         : 022-42332000

Experience                 : 21 Years 6 months

                                     (Industry – 6 Years and 4 Months, Academics- 15 Years and 2 Months)

Dr. Sarika Wairkar is an accomplished academician and researcher and her career is marked by a strong integration of industry-oriented research, academic leadership, and innovation in drug delivery systems. With over 21+ years of professional experience spanning both industry and academia, she has significant expertise in formulation development, NDDS, and technology transfer. Her industry experience includes extensive work in the development of solid dosage forms, scale-up and successful commercialization. Dr. Sarika’s research focuses on nanotechnology, topical and nasal drug delivery, and advanced pharmaceutical formulations. She has contributed to multiple funded research projects in collaboration with industry and international partners. Her academic contributions include numerous high-impact research publications, supervision of Ph.D. scholars, and active involvement in research mentorship. She has been recognized among the top 2% of scientists globally, reflecting her significant impact in pharmaceutical research. She is also an innovator with an Indian patent for a novel Mupirocin topical-foam formulation.

Interest areas:

• Nanoformulations
• Topical and Nasal drug delivery
• Particle Engineering

Research

• Publications – 100 (International- 96, National- 4)
• Books- NA
• Book Chapters- 08
• Patents- 03
• Presentations- 19 (International- 14, National- 5)

Government-funded projects – 4

• Completed
  1. Novel intranasal delivery of Antiparkinson agents (Co-PI), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)- Extramural Research Division, Govt. of India, Rs. 20 lakhs during 2014-2017.
  2. Topical formulations of Garcinia indica extract for treatment of allergic contact dermatitis (Co-PI), Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission, Govt. of Maharashtra, India, 15.18 lakhs during 2022-2025.
  3. Research project titled "Assessment of the Neuroprotective Effects of Edaravone in Stroke Patients: Determination of Formulation Parameters to Enhance Brain Permeation in an Integrated Blood Brain Barrier- Neuronal Model” (as a supervisor) by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship Program (OVDF) with Purdue University, USA in the year 2023-24 for 18 lakhs.
• Ongoing
  1. Development of functionalized coloaded colloidal carrier for pulmonary targeting in battling lung fibrosis (PI), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Govt. of India, Rs. 41 lakhs
  2. Intranasal formulation of siRNA-conjugated nanosponges for brain targeting in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (Co-PI). Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Govt. of India, Rs. 29.52 lakhs

Seed grants

1. "Inhalation therapy of antifibrotic agent and flavonoid for pulmonary fibrosis” (Principal Investigator) by SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai of 2 lakhs during year 2023-2024.

2. "Lung targeted delivery of antifibrotic agent for pulmonary fibrosis in post-covid-19 complications” (Principal Investigator) by SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai of 90,000/-during year 2021-2022.

3. "Formulation Development of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers of Cyclosporine for Topical Treatment of Psoriasis” (Principal Investigator) by SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai of 80,000/-during year 2016-2017.

Industry projects

• Completed

1. Formulation and development of Generic products” (For the US market) by Intelliscend Pvt. Ltd during 2016-2017. Rs. 4,00,000/-.
2. Formulation Development of Water-soluble Granules by Alivira Animal Healthcare, Mumbai received during 2020-2022. Rs. 1,22,130 /-
3. Characterization of excipient by VAV Lipids Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, received in during 2022-2024. Rs. 29,854 /-
4. Study of liposome formulation by VAV Lipids Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, during 2022- 2023. Rs. 21,712 /-
5. Study of excipients characterization and compression behaviour by Rutika Lifescience Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, during 2023-24. Rs. 16,284 /-

• Ongoing

1. Pharmacokinetic study of oral formulations by Scitech Ltd, Mumbai, during 2022-26, Rs. 2.5 lakhs
2. Analysis of curcumin compositions by the University of Central Lancashire, UK, Rs. 4,50,416 during the years 2024-2026.

Conferences/Workshops/Seminars attended- 42

Academic activities

She has guided 75 M.Pharm students for their research projects.                                                          

She has guided 1 PhDs successfully and 5 candidates are currently registered under her supervision.

Awards

• Listed in "TOP 2% Scientist in the world”, published by Standford University & Elsevier in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
• Research Grant-Excellence award towards the organization at NMIMS University day and Cash Prize of 15,000/ in Jan, 2026.
• Recipient of Best research output for SPPSPTM, NMIMS, Mumbai for the year 2024-2025
• Received the "Best research project” awards in the convocation ceremony to students under the guidance of Dr. Sarika Wairkar for years 2024-2025 (Ms. Priti Yadav- Pharm. Technology), 2023-24 (Ms. Komaldeep Kaur- Pharmaceutics; Ms. Anju Sharma- Pharm. Technology); 2021-22 (Mr. Varunesh Tambe- Pharm. Technology); 2018-19 (Mr. Vignesh Mohan- Industrial Pharmacy); 2011-12 (Mr. Dipen Shah-Quality assurance)
• Recipient of ICMR travel grant 1.5 lacs for presenting a research paper in "The 44th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Controlled Release Society” at Boston, USA, July, 2017
• Recipient of Best Faculty (Teaching) for SPPSPTM, NMIMS, Mumbai for the year 2017-2018
• Secured First Rank (Gold medalist) at B. Pharm examination, Shivaji University, Kolhapur
• Secured Second Rank at M.Pharm, in the merit list of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune
• Recipient of ‘Best outgoing student award’ Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur, year 2002
• Recipient of prestigious ‘Prof. M. L. Khorana Award and Merit Certificate for standing first in Shivaji University, Kolhapur (B. Pharm)
• The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (Maharashtra state branch) recognition certificate and medal for standing first in the B.Pharm Examination of Shivaji University
• Qualified "GATE examination” conducted by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, in 2002.

Professional Memberships

• Life Member, Association for Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (MA-LM-2085)
• Life Member, Indian Pharmaceutical Association (MAH/BOM/LM-1426)

Recent Publications

1. Mirikar, D. and Wairkar, S., Next-Generation Mupirocin Hydrogel Dressings for Superior Antimicrobial Action. Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation, 21(2), p.193. (Impact Factor: 2.7)
2. Gautam, A.J. and Wairkar, S., DoE-based Development of Transdermal Risedronate-laden Cubosomes: In Vitro Characterization, Drug Deposition, and In Vivo Permeation in Rats. AAPS PharmSciTech, 27(3), p.130. (Impact Factor: 4.0)
3. Kaur, K., Kulkarni, Y.A. and Wairkar, S., Improved Oral Bioavailability and Brain Distribution of Hesperidin via Cochleate Formulation: Statistical Optimization and Pharmacokinetic Study. AAPS PharmSciTech, 27(1), p.59. (Impact Factor: 4.0)
4. Sangai, S., Patel, D. and Wairkar, S., Biotechnology-based therapies for mitigation of pulmonary fibrosis: an update. Drug Discovery Today, p.104570. (Impact Factor: 7.5)
5. Gautam, A.J. and Wairkar, S., Transdermal delivery of risedronate via spanlastics for osteoporosis: formulation optimization, skin deposition, and pharmacokinetic assessment. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, pp.1-15. (Impact Factor: 3.1)
6. Narang, B., Barve, K. and Wairkar, S., Thermosensitive, mucoadhesive brivaracetam nasal gel: a promising strategy for targeted relief of epilepsy. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 398(10), pp.14301-14313. (Impact Factor: 3.1)
7. Aralelimath, K., Sahoo, J. and Wairkar, S., Luliconazole bilosomal gel for treating fungal infection: development, optimization and antifungal activity. Therapeutic Delivery, 16(8), pp.733-743. (Impact Factor: 2.2)
8. Patel, D. and Wairkar, S., Lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles of morin: An approach to improve pharmacokinetics and brain disposition in rats via nose-to-brain pathway. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 66, p.102823. (Impact Factor: 4.6)
9. Mishra, T. and Wairkar, S., Pathogenesis, attenuation, and treatment strategies for keloid management. Tissue and Cell, 94, p.102800. (Impact Factor: 2.5)
10. Patel, D. and Wairkar, S., Hyaluronate-incorporated edaravone nanostructured lipid carriers for nose-to-brain targeting-biphasic DoE optimization, pharmacokinetic, and brain distribution studies. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 310, p.143236. (Impact Factor: 8.5)