Vidyasrilekha Sanapalli | Medicinal Chemistry | Excellence in Innovation Award

Published on by Chemical Scientist

Dr. Vidyasrilekha Sanapalli | Medicinal Chemistry | Excellence in Innovation Award

Assistant Professor| SVKM’S NMIMS University| India

Dr. Vidyasrilekha Sanapalli is a medicinal and process chemist whose expertise bridges synthetic organic chemistry, computational chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences, with a research focus on antibacterial agents, anticancer compounds, and diabetic wound therapeutics. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry as an AICTE National Doctoral Fellow from JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru (JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty) in 2021, where her work combined synthesis, structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies, and advanced computational approaches such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and 3D-QSAR modeling. Prior to this, she obtained her M.Tech (Pharma) in Process Chemistry from NIPER Hyderabad (2016–2018) with a perfect CGPA of 10/10, securing the gold medal for academic excellence, and completed her B. Pharm from Osmania University in 2016, also as a gold medalist. Dr. Sanapalli’s career reflects a strong integration of academic excellence, innovative research, and impactful teaching. She has served as an Assistant Professor at Marwadi University, NIMS University, and currently at NMIMS University, where she teaches medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, and related courses while mentoring students in cutting-edge research. Her research portfolio is extensive, with contributions in the design, synthesis, and computational evaluation of novel antibacterial scaffolds, the development of repurposed immune-stimulating and antidiabetic wound-healing agents, and the investigation of heterocyclic derivatives for therapeutic applications. She has published over 28 research papers in high-impact SCI-indexed journals, filed three Indian patents (two granted), and secured competitive fellowships and grants, including the prestigious AICTE National Doctoral Fellowship, NIPER Fellowship, and a Marwadi University Seed Grant. Dr. Sanapalli has also delivered invited lectures, such as her talk on structure-based drug design at RBVRR Women’s College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, highlighting her contributions to knowledge dissemination. Her outstanding research achievements have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Best Women Researcher Award (2021), Young Researcher Award (2020), and multiple gold medals for academic excellence during her M.Tech and B. Pharm studies.With strong expertise in organic synthesis, process optimization, green chemistry, purification techniques, and structural elucidation, coupled with advanced skills in computational drug design using Schrödinger, Maestro, and molecular modeling tools, Dr. Sanapalli brings a rare multidisciplinary perspective to pharmaceutical research. Her scientific vision is centered on developing novel chemical entities and innovative therapeutic strategies to tackle multidrug resistance, cancer, and chronic conditions such as diabetic wounds. As a life member of InSc and APTI and a registered pharmacist under the Telangana Pharmacy Council, she remains deeply engaged with both the scientific community and professional practice. Through her diverse body of work, Dr. Vidyasrilekha Sanapalli exemplifies the synergy of academic brilliance, research innovation, and translational impact in medicinal chemistry.

Profile: Google Scholar | ORCID 

Featured Publications

  1. Sanapalli BKR, Yele V, Singh MK, Krishnamurthy PT, Karri VVSR. Preclinical models of diabetic wound healing: A critical review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021;142:111946. Cited by 55

  2. Sanapalli BKR, Ashames A, Sigalapalli DK, Shaik AB, Bhandare RR, et al. Synthetic imidazopyridine-based derivatives as potential inhibitors against multi-drug resistant bacterial infections: A review. Antibiotics. 2022;11(12):1680. Cited by 31

  3. Yele V, Azam MA, Wadhwani AD. Synthesis, molecular docking and biological evaluation of 2‐Aryloxy‐N‐Phenylacetamide and N′‐(2‐Aryloxyoxyacetyl) benzohydrazide derivatives as potential … Chem Biodivers. 2021;18(4):e2000907. Cited by 29

  4. Singh MK, Pindiprolu SKSS, Sanapalli BKR, Yele V, Ganesh GNK. HER2 targeted biological macromolecule modified liposomes for improved efficacy of capecitabine in breast cancer. Int J Biol Macromol. 2020;150:631-636. Cited by 25

  5. Sanapalli BKR, Yele V, Singh MK, Thumbooru SN, Parvathaneni M, et al. Human beta defensin-2 loaded PLGA nanoparticles impregnated in collagen-chitosan composite scaffold for the management of diabetic wounds. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023;161:114540. Cited by 22

  6. Sanapalli BKR, Yele V, Jupudi S, Karri VVSR. Ligand-based pharmacophore modeling and molecular dynamic simulation approaches to identify putative MMP-9 inhibitors. RSC Adv. 2021;11(43):26820-26831. Cited by 22

  7. Singh MK, Pindiprolu SKSS, Sanapalli BKR, Yele V, Ganesh GNK. Tumor homing peptide modified liposomes of capecitabine for improved apoptotic activity and HER2 targeted therapy in breast cancer: In vitro studies. RSC Adv. 2019;9(43):24987-24994. Cited by 21

  8. Yele V, Sigalapalli DK, Jupudi S, Mohammed AA. DFT calculation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation study on substituted phenylacetamide and benzohydrazide derivatives. J Mol Model. 2021;27(12):359. Cited by 18

  9. Yele V, Pindiprolu SKSS, Sana S, Ramamurty D, Madasi JRK, et al. Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of indole triazole conjugates as microtubule targeting agents that are effective against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Anti-Cancer Agents Med Chem. 2021;18: [page numbers not provided]. Cited by 18

  10. Sanapalli BKR, Yele V, Kalidhindi RSR, Singh SK, Gulati M, Karri VVSR. Human beta defensins may be a multifactorial modulator in the management of diabetic wound. Wound Repair Regen. 2020;28(3):416-421. Cited by 16

  11. Yele V, Sanapalli BKR, Mohammed AA. Imidazoles and benzimidazoles as putative inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and P.1 (Gamma) variant spike glycoproteins: A computational approach. Chem Pap. 2022;76(2):1107-1117. Cited by 12

  12. Yele V, Mohammed AA, Wadhwani AD. Synthesis and evaluation of aryl/heteroaryl benzohydrazide and phenylacetamide derivatives as broad‐spectrum antibacterial agents. ChemSelect. 2020;5(34):10581-10587. Cited by 10