Category: Biography

Prof. Dr. Sunil Bajpai: Visiting Professor at Govt. Model Science College, India

Article Details

The article “Performance analysis of efficient and cost-effective hydrogels for thermal regulation strategy” was published in Discover Polymers, Volume 3, Article 4, on 23 February 2026. Co-authored by A. Katulkar, D.K. Kosta, S. Tiwari, M. Bajpai, and S.K. Bajpai, it presents a systematic study on sodium acrylate-based hydrogels crosslinked with methylene bisacrylamide. The work examines swelling behavior, kinetic modeling, anti-dehydration performance, and practical thermal regulation, including real-world testing on smartphone panels.

Novelty

The study introduces a new approach to rapid thermal regulation using polymer hydrogels loaded with salts or glycerol, which can adhere to surfaces and reduce heat effectively in seconds. Unlike conventional hydrogels, these materials combine anti-dehydration behavior with strong mechanical endurance, creating a hybrid system for smart thermal management that had not been previously reported.

Impact

The hydrogels demonstrated practical cooling capability, reducing a smartphone panel from 60–70 °C to 25.5 °C within 20 seconds compared to over 720 seconds in air. This high performance shows direct applicability to consumer electronics, wearable devices, and portable cooling systems, highlighting the societal and technological impact of the research.

Originality

The originality lies in the systematic design of hydrogels with variable monomer ratios and crosslinking, combined with salt or glycerol loading for anti-dehydration. The integration of thermal testing on electronic devices and the combination of mechanical and thermal properties is a unique experimental design that advances hydrogel applications beyond traditional biomedical or environmental uses.

Experimental Rigor

The study employed quantitative swelling ratio measurements, kinetic modeling (Power, First-order, and Scott models), and anti-dehydration assessments. The mechanical properties, including folding endurance and tensile strength, were systematically measured. The experiments were replicated with multiple hydrogel compositions and loading conditions, demonstrating robust and reproducible experimental methodology.

Sustainability Impact

The hydrogels are composed of cost-effective and environmentally compatible materials (sodium acrylate, methylene bisacrylamide, glycerol, and common salts), requiring low energy for synthesis and operation. Their reusability and efficient thermal regulation support energy conservation in electronics, contributing to sustainable cooling solutions with minimal environmental footprint.

Applicability

The research demonstrates direct real-world applications, including smartphone cooling, wearable electronics, and portable thermal management systems. The hydrogels’ strong adhesion, mechanical endurance, and rapid heat dissipation make them suitable for consumer devices, biomedical cooling patches, or smart material surfaces, bridging laboratory research with practical technology deployment.

Research Portfolio

Dr. Sunil Kumar Bajpai, born on 25th October 1958, is a distinguished Indian chemist and polymer scientist with over four decades of academic and research experience. He has served as a Professor of Chemistry at Govt. Model Science College, Jabalpur, and has guided 16 Ph.D. scholars while mentoring several postgraduate students. His work spans polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, and biomedical materials, with a focus on smart hydrogels, nanoparticle-loaded fabrics, and environmentally responsive polymers. He has authored multiple books, monographs, and high-impact journal articles, and has been recognized internationally for his pioneering contributions to drug delivery systems and polymer-based environmental remediation.

Online Profile

Google Scholar Profile

Since 2021, Dr. Sunil Kumar Bajpai’s research has continued to gain significant global recognition. He has amassed a total of 8,834 citations, with 2,877 citations received since 2021 alone, reflecting the high relevance and impact of his work in polymer science, nanotechnology, and biomedical applications. His overall h-index is 46, demonstrating the sustained influence of his publications, while his i10-index stands at 130, with 75 publications cited more than ten times since 2021. These metrics underscore his consistent contribution to high-quality research and his international recognition in the scientific community.

Dr. Bajpai maintains an extensive online academic profile through publications indexed in Google Scholar and other research platforms, highlighting his collaborations with institutions in India and abroad. His work is widely cited in the fields of polymer science, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering. Notably, his research achievements have been recognized by SCI (U.K.) and featured in international press releases, including coverage by the BBC, which demonstrates the global relevance and impact of his work. He continues to engage with the scientific community through editorial responsibilities and peer review for numerous high-impact journals.

Education

Dr. Bajpai completed his B.Sc. in 1977 and M.Sc. in 1979 from R.D. University, Jabalpur (M.P.), India, laying a strong foundation in chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. in 1997 in Polymer Chemistry from the same institution, focusing on the design, synthesis, and characterization of pH-sensitive and biodegradable hydrogels for biomedical applications. His doctoral research not only contributed to polymer science but also established a platform for his later work in drug delivery, nanoparticle applications, and advanced polymer composites.

Research Focus

His primary research interests encompass the design of pH-sensitive and enzymatically degradable hydrogels for site-specific drug delivery, nanoparticle-loaded antimicrobial fabrics, magnetic field-responsive polymers, and polymer-based systems for environmental toxin removal. His work integrates polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering, emphasizing translational applications such as wound dressings, colon-targeted therapeutics, and water purification. Dr. Bajpai also explores functional composites, such as fluorescent carbon-dot chitosan films, for advanced drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.

Experience

Dr. Bajpai has 29 years of postgraduate teaching experience and 16 years of dedicated research experience. During his tenure at Govt. Model Science College, Jabalpur, he supervised six registered Ph.D. candidates and guided sixteen Ph.D. graduates. He has successfully managed multiple major and minor research projects funded by UGC, BRNS, and MPCST, demonstrating leadership in experimental design, polymer synthesis, and characterization. His extensive experience includes mentoring students, developing innovative polymeric materials, and fostering international research collaborations.

Research Timeline & Activities

Over the past two decades, Dr. Bajpai has led projects on colon-targeted drug delivery systems, nanoparticle-loaded antimicrobial fabrics, and polymer-based membranes for hemodialysis. He has collaborated internationally with TrioMed AB, Sweden, on the development of Cu-chitosan adsorbents for peritoneal dialysis therapy. His research activities include synthesis and characterization of smart polymers, in-vitro drug release studies, fabrication of functional composites, and development of environmentally responsive polymer systems. He has also contributed as a peer reviewer for more than 15 international journals and authored multiple book chapters and monographs in polymer science.

Awards & Honors

Dr. Bajpai has been recognized in the top 2% of scientists worldwide by Stanford University in 2020 and 2022, based on publication impact and citations. His research on dynamic release from pH-sensitive hydrogels received global attention, with SCI (U.K.) issuing a press release and coverage by major news outlets including BBC. He has authored several key chapters and monographs, served as chief editor of an e-book on nanotechnology, and published extensively with international publishers, including Taylor & Francis, Bentham, and Lambert. These accolades reflect his sustained contribution to polymer science and biomedical research.

Strengths for the Innovative Researcher Award

1. Pioneering Research in Smart Polymers and Hydrogels
   Dr. Bajpai has consistently developed novel polymeric systems, including pH-sensitive, enzymatically degradable, and thermally responsive hydrogels. His work bridges fundamental polymer chemistry with practical applications such as targeted drug delivery, antimicrobial fabrics, and smart thermal management, demonstrating originality and translational impact.

2. Integration of Experimental Rigor with Real-World Applications
   His research combines careful experimental design, reproducible methodology, and mechanical/thermal characterization with real-life testing, such as smartphone cooling and peritoneal dialysis applications. This ability to translate lab findings into usable technologies highlights his innovation in applied science.

3. Global Recognition and High Research Impact
   With over 8,800 citations, an h-index of 46, and numerous publications in high-impact journals, Dr. Bajpai’s work is widely cited and respected internationally. Recognition by SCI (U.K.) and coverage by BBC underscore the global significance of his contributions to polymer science and nanotechnology.

4. Sustainability-Oriented and Cost-Effective Solutions
   His research emphasizes environmentally compatible materials and energy-efficient processes, such as cost-effective hydrogels using sodium acrylate, salts, and glycerol. The focus on sustainable materials with practical applications demonstrates his foresight in combining innovation with social and environmental responsibility.

5. Mentorship and Collaborative Leadership
   Dr. Bajpai has guided 16 Ph.D. students, supervised postgraduate research, and collaborated internationally (e.g., TrioMed AB, Sweden). His leadership in major projects and editorial roles reflects his capacity to foster innovation, build interdisciplinary teams, and mentor the next generation of researchers.