ISAJ Newsletter - Volume 9, Issue 1 (April 2024)

An Appeal: Be an Organizer of ISAJ Events!

The Indian Scientists Association in Japan (ISAJ) is a non-profit organization founded in 2008 to provide an organizational framework to promote greater interaction between Indian researchers working in Japan and the Japanese scientific community. ISAJ has been organizing Annual Symposiums since 2010, with the primary objective to promote interaction and exchange of ideas among Indian and Japanese scientists.

With the rapidly increasing number of Indian researchers in Japan, it is now possible to organize symposia in each part of Japan (Northern, Tohoku, Kanto/Tokyo, Kansai, and Kyushu) every year.

We call upon your initiative and dedication to organize ISAJ events in your area!

You can submit your proposals and ideas to the Chairman of ISAJ ([email protected]) for organizational support. We also invite you to join our organizing committee so that you can implement your ideas.

From the Editors’ Desk

Greetings and a warm welcome to this issue of ISAJ Newsletter in 2024!

In this issue, we present two research articles and an event report on the 14th Annual ISAJ Symposium 2023. The research articles cover “Visible-light active heteroaryl azo photoswitches for photopharmacology” and “Utilizing artificial intelligence-based technique to improve material strength.”

Under the Research Spotlight section, we present an article on the emerging field of photopharmacology, which lies at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and medicine. It explores the use of light to control the pharmacological activity of drugs, presenting future clinical translation possibilities.

The second research article discusses improvement in the mechanical strength of Ni-based superalloys using artificial intelligence techniques. Superalloys are used in extreme environments such as airplane engines and turbines. The author explains the working concept of the Monte Carlo tree search (MCTS) integrated with Materials Integration by network technology (MInt).

Research Spotlight: Photopharmacology - Shining Light for Drug Action

By Nusaiba M. Cheruthu, Hokkaido University

Introduction

Photopharmacology is an emerging field at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and medicine that explores the use of light to control the pharmacological activity of drugs. Traditional pharmacology relies on systemic drug administration, often leading to widespread effects and potential side effects. Photopharmacology seeks to overcome these limitations by introducing light-responsive molecules into drug formulations, allowing for precise spatial and temporal control over drug activity.

Key Principles

One of the key principles is the use of photoswitchable molecules, which can change their structure and properties in response to specific wavelengths of light. These molecules can exist in two or more states (active and inactive) and can be toggled between these states using light. This enables selective activation or deactivation of drug molecules at targeted locations within the body, minimizing off-target effects and enhancing therapeutic efficacy.

The Phototherapeutic Window

The phototherapeutic window refers to wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum particularly effective for therapeutic applications. For practical photopharmacology applications, light of wavelength 700-900 nm is best as this range consists of relatively low-energy photons compared to UV photons, hence not damaging to tissue.

Visible/Near-IR Active Photoswitches

Our recent development of novel photoswitches based on phenylazothiazole scaffold undergoes reversible isomerization by visible light. These photoswitches showed:

• Red-shifted absorption maximum wavelength up to 460 nm
• Well-separated absorption bands for trans and cis isomers
• Excellent photostationary distributions
• High thermal half-lives up to 6.6 hours

Promising Biological Applications

• Vision Restoration: Targeted light activation for visual system modulation
• Antibiotic Resistance: Selective activation of antimicrobial agents
• Chemotherapy: Combretastatin A-4 analogue shows 250-fold increased toxicity to cancer cells when activated by light
• Diabetes Treatment: Light-controlled insulin release systems

Research Highlight: Leveraging AI to Improve Material Strength

By Dr. Vickey Nandal, National Institute for Materials Science

Introduction

Superalloys, such as Ni-based alloys, are used in extreme environments due to their high-temperature strength, corrosion resistance, and fatigue resistance. Increasing their strength is vital for safety, efficiency, extended service life, and enhanced performance in critical applications.

AI-Based Algorithm Integration

We integrated Monte Carlo tree search (MCTS), an AI-based search algorithm, with the Materials Integration by network technology (MInt) simulation system to design non-isothermal aging (NIA) schedules. The approach involved:

1. Search Space: Total aging scheduling time of 10 minutes
2. Benchmark: Isothermal aging at 642°C yielding 784.48 MPa
3. Optimization: MCTS with 135 iterations identifying optimal schedules

Key Findings

• Identified 110 NIA schedules out of 1620 that outperformed the isothermal aging benchmark
• Top NIA schedules achieved 0.2% proof stress of ~789 MPa
• Optimal two-step aging process:
  • 1-minute isothermal aging at 700°C
  • Cooling to 555°C
  • 8-minute isothermal aging at lower temperature

AI-Inspired Expert Design

Based on AI discoveries, we developed a simplified two-step aging process that outperformed both the isothermal aging benchmark and AI-derived best NIA. This demonstrates how AI can inspire human experts to develop even better solutions.

Event Report: 14th ISAJ Annual Symposium 2023

The Indian Scientists Association in Japan organized its 14th Annual Symposium on “Integrated Science for a Sustainable Society” for the first time in northern Japan, at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, on November 10, 2023.

Symposium Highlights

Opening Session:

• Welcome by Dr. P.K. Hashim (Convener) and Dr. Sunil Kaul (ISAJ Chairman)
• Inaugural address by H.E. Mr. Sibi George, Ambassador of India to Japan (via video)
• Perspectives from Prof. Aya Takahashi (Executive Vice President) and Prof. Kuniharu Ijiro (Director, RIES)

Special Recognition: Prof. Nobuyuki Tamaoki of Hokkaido University received the ISAJ Mentorship Award for exceptional mentorship of numerous Indian students over two decades.

Scientific Program

The symposium featured:

• 3 Plenary Speakers
• 14 Invited Speakers (including many emerging young scientists)
• 43 Poster Presentations
• 100 Participants from institutions across Japan

Research topics included:

• Thermoelectric oxides
• Nutraceutical potential of honeybee propolis
• Next-generation mRNA vaccines
• Himalayan tectonics
• Artificial intelligence/machine learning applications
• Ultra-sensitive virus detection
• Alternative materials to plastics
• Visible-light photoswitches

Poster Awards

Recipients of the Best Poster Awards (20,000 yen each):

• Dr. Vickey Nandal (NIMS)
• Ms. Vanshita Sharma (Toyama Prefectural University)
• Ms. Nusaiba Madappuram Cheruthu (Hokkaido University)

Future Outlook

The symposium concluded with co-convener Dr. Abhijit Shrotri outlining plans for the next installment, setting the stage for future collaborations and advancements in science and technology.

About ISAJ

The Indian Scientists’ Association in Japan (ISAJ) is a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) aimed at networking and promoting Science and Technology Cooperation between India and Japan. Since 2008, ISAJ has been organizing annual symposia, interactive lectures, and seminars to strengthen research networks between the two nations.

For membership and information: [email protected] Newsletter subscription: [email protected] Website: www.isaj.org