Prajakta Gaikwad

Results-driven Senior Research Assistant with strengths in nutritional science and product development. Conducts extensive research to enhance diabetes management solutions, significantly impacting product efficacy. Formulates innovative nano-structures to optimize nutritional delivery systems. Motivated professional demonstrating strengths in research methodologies and data analysis. Collaborates effectively with diverse teams to advance research initiatives and improve project outcomes. Committed to driving innovative solutions in nutritional and behavioural sciences. With solid foundation in research methodologies and techniques, I bring strong analytical skills and knack for problem-solving to table. Excellent communication and teamwork abilities have consistently enabled effective collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders. I am adept at managing multiple tasks efficiently and maintaining high standards of accuracy and organisation throughout each project.

• Awards & Recognition:
• Cleared National Eligibility Test in Life Sciences - 2021.
• Cleared GATE in Life Sciences - 2021.
• Cleared ICAR in Veterinary Biochemistry and Animal Biochemistry - 2021
• Prajakta Gaikwad, Mahabaleshwar Hegde, Anand Zanwar. Nano emulsification of omega-3 enriched krill oil: Design, characterisation and stability assessment at 7th International Conference on Food, Nutrition, Health and Lifestyle 2025 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on 17th&18th Nov 2025 – Best Oral Presentation Award
• Prajakta Gaikwad, Mahabaleshwar Hegde, Anand Zanwar. Development, characterization and stability assessment of flaxseed oil-based nano-emulsions for food fortification at 56th Annual National conference of Nutrition Society of India 2024 held at Symbiosis International University, Pune during November 14-15, 2024 (Oral presentation)
• Gaikwad PS, Hegde MV, Zanwar AA. Bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acid-based nano-emulsion in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced experimental diabetes and normal healthy rats. Chronicle of Diabetes Research and Practice 4(1): S9. 10.4103/cdrp.cdrp_7_25 as oral presentation at 9th International Diabetes Summit held during 7th March to 9th March 2025, organised by Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune.
• Certificate course on Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Techniques from Edufabrica in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur.
• Participated online version of the IISER Pune Short Term Course "Biostatistics: A User's Perspective
• Represented Fergusson college (Department of Chemistry) in Late Prof. R J Gandhi Lecture
• Publications

1. Title: Type 3 Diabetes Mellitus,   Insulin Resistance, Alzheimer, and

Role of Alpha‑Linolenic Acid   in Blood–Brain Barrier Repair

Author: Anand A. Zanwar, Asavari A. Joshi, Prajakta S. Gaikwad, Mahableshwar V. Hegde

Name of Journal: Chronicle of Diabetes Research and Practice

European Food Research and   Technology. Volume: 3(2), Page: 64-71, Year: July, 2024.

2. Title: Omega-3 fatty acid- based nano-formulation stabilized using alpha lipoic acid and flaxseed lignan for food fortification: Development, characterization, and toxicity assessment.

Author: Prajakta Sadashiv Gaikwad, Pramod Dattatray Farde, Mahabaleshwar Vishnu Hegde, Anand Arvind Zanwar.

Name of Journal: European Food Research and Technology

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-025-04938-0.

3. Title: Krill Oil Nano-emulsions Stabilized with Alpha-Lipoic Acid for Improved Omega-3 Delivery and Functional Efficacy

Author: Prajakta Sadashiv Gaikwad, Pramod Dattatray Farde, Mahabaleshwar Vishnu Hegde, Anand Arvind Zanwar.

Status: Under review.

4. Title: Nano-emulsified flaxseed oil improves omega-3 incorporation and modulates tissue fatty acid metabolism in experimental animal model of type 2 diabetes.

Author: Prajakta Sadashiv Gaikwad, Pramod Dattatray Farde, Mahabaleshwar Vishnu Hegde, Anand Arvind Zanwar.

Name of Journal: Journal of Nutrition

Status: Under Review.

5. Title: Nanomedicines for Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Author: Abhishek Teli, Prajakta Gaikwad, Sakshi Chakave, Akshay Kane & Tuli Dey

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pvt Ltd

Year of Publication: 2022