Prabhuraj D. Venkatraman

About

My expertise lies at the intersection of textile chemistry and the physical characterisation of material performance for advanced applications. I explore the potential of new biopolymers, such as alginates and other natural materials, as alternatives to fossil fuel-based fibres, and investigate their industrial applications. Additionally, I have worked on encapsulating novel components, such as essential oils, within biopolymers to enhance functional properties, particularly in antimicrobial assessments and healthcare applications.

I have also researched using plant-based herbs to formulate nano-emulsions for various textile finishes, assessing their potential for different fabrics and garments. Moreover, I am interested in embedding sensors within textile structures to monitor healthcare issues, such as preventing diabetic foot ulcers in socks, as well as environmental concerns like microfiber pollution.

Finally, I am passionate about reducing environmental and societal impacts. I aim to mitigate end-of-life textile waste by upcycling and recycling it into high-end functional products, embracing circularity. I also focus on monitoring lifecycle analysis and using sustainable natural materials, such as Ugandan barkcloth. Exploration of Ugandan barkcloth as a sustainable fashion textile, its healing potential and healthcare applications

1. Using a carbon dioxide laser as an environmentally friendly alternative to the mechanical finishing of denim materials
2. Plant-based nano-emulsions as an antibacterial and antifungal agent replacing synthetic chemicals for organic cotton and denim fabrics
3. Upcycling end-of-life PVC flex banners into fashionable accessories, evaluating their environmental impact using lifecycle analysis (LCA), and determining their carbon footprint.
4. Colour characterisation of natural dyes for regenerated cellulose fibres using a novel spin dyeing process that uses significantly less water and lower energy than the conventional method.
5. Wet spinning of cellulose fibres and electrospinning of biopolymers for medical and hygiene applications
6. Development of radio-frequency sensors for real-time detection of microfibre pollution from post-consumer clothing use across various media (water/air).
7. Design, development, and prototype production of smart sensing socks incorporating conductive and sensing elements to prevent diabetic foot ulcers.
8. Development of wearable thermal systems using conductive threads for technical and functional applications, such as heated pads for muscle relief and face coverings for sanitising in healthcare.
9. Encapsulation of essential oils in natural biopolymers such as alginate with improved antibacterial properties for medical wound dressings.
10. Development of conductive textiles using coating techniques with electromagnetic shielding (EMI) to overcome radiation (from phones and other appliances) exposure.
11. Measurement of the interface pressure applied by sports compression garments and the use of virtual fit technologies.

I teach sustainable product design and development to undergraduate and postgraduate students across various academic units. However, my involvement goes beyond the classroom; I am deeply committed to mentoring research students embarking on their MPhil, PhD, and MSc projects at MMU. I have a proven track record of working on externally funded projects, industry-funded KTPs, and consulting projects, and of successful supervision, having guided six PhD students and four Master's by Research candidates as the primary supervisor. I currently supervise two PhD scholars.

In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I served as a Doctoral College Department Lead (DCDL). I supported new postgraduate applicants in crafting their research proposals and assembling appropriate supervisory teams, while actively recruiting local and international candidates. I also engage with the academic community as a reviewer for numerous scholarly journals, research funding projects, and book publications. My leadership experience includes serving as Programme Leader for BSc Fashion Materials and Technology from 2012 to 2015, Research Cluster Leader for Innovative Materials and Product Development from 2015 to 2019, and Admissions Tutor and Coordinator from November 2020 to May 2021.

Employment

• Manchester Metropolitan University Senior Lecturer
  2010 - Present

Education

Education history is unavailable.

Projects & Funding

• SMOP AKT Innovate UK
  2024 - 2025
• Digital Health: 'Socksess' - Smart Sensing Socks For Monitoring Diabetic Feet And Preventing Ulceration Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  2022 - 2024

Publications

Publications are unavailable.