The Pürblack Advisory Council is a scientific advisory board composed of physicians, researchers, and specialists in virology, biomaterials, integrative medicine, toxicology, Ayurvedic medicine, and Oriental medicine. Each member brings deep domain expertise to bear on the questions that matter most to supplement safety, formulation integrity, and the science of bioactive compounds — including shilajit, peptides, and silver-based therapeutics. Their peer-reviewed research spans hundreds of indexed publications across disciplines directly relevant to Pürblack's products and mission. As a brand committed to expert-reviewed supplements and transparent science, Pürblack works with Advisory Council members to ensure that educational content, product development, and quality standards reflect the current state of biomedical research. When you choose Pürblack, you are choosing a product line informed by scientists and clinicians who have dedicated their careers to understanding how compounds interact with the human body at the cellular level.
How the Pürblack Advisory Council Works
Advisory Council members provide ongoing scientific and clinical consultation across three core areas: review of educational and research content for scientific accuracy, expert input on ingredient selection and formulation standards, and quality consultation informed by their respective fields of peer-reviewed research.
Engagement is continuous rather than ceremonial — council members are consulted as new products are developed, as emerging research becomes relevant, and as Pürblack's educational library is expanded and updated.
Their recommendations directly influence Pürblack's approach to product development, including the formulation of its Coated Silver® line, which has been the subject of co-authored peer-reviewed research between council members and the Pürblack team.
This structure ensures that every product bearing the Pürblack name has been shaped, at least in part, by scientists and clinicians who have staked their professional reputations on the quality and integrity of the science behind it.
Dr. Svitlana D. Zahorodnia, PhD
Scientific Advisor — Virology & Molecular Biology
Dr. Svitlana D. Zahorodnia is a virologist and biomedical researcher at the D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, where she has spent decades investigating virus biology, antiviral compounds, and host–pathogen interactions. Her research spans Epstein–Barr virus, influenza, adenovirus, nucleoside analogues, and the antiviral and antimicrobial properties of silver, gold, titanium dioxide, and other nanoparticle systems. She has authored and co-authored more than 70 indexed publications across journals including Scientific Reports, ACS Applied Bio Materials, Journal of Virus Eradication, and Antiviral Research.
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Zahorodnia serves on the Scientific Advisory Council, reviewing scientific content and research references for accuracy and ensuring that educational materials reflect current biomedical and molecular-level understanding of bioactive compounds — including Pürblack's Coated Silver® product line, on which she has co-authored peer-reviewed research directly with the Pürblack team.
Key Publications:
Antiviral Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Against the Influenza A Virus Journal of Virus Eradication, 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jve.2023.100330
Effect of Coated Silver Nanoparticles on Cancerous vs. Healthy Cells Journal of Toxicology, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1519104
In vitro and In silico Studies of the Antiviral Activity of Polyhydrated Fullerenes Against Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Scientific Reports, 2023 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38128-3
Researcher Profiles:
SciProfiles: https://sciprofiles.com/profile/181373
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22Zahorodnia+S%22%5BAuthor%5D
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0892-772X
Dr. Luis Jesús Villarreal Gómez, PhD
Biomaterials, Drug Delivery & Tissue Engineering
Dr. Luis Jesús Villarreal Gómez is a professor-researcher at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology (FCITEC) at the Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico, and a Level 2 member of Mexico's National Researchers System (SNII-SECIHTI). With over 58 indexed publications and more than 1,590 citations in Scopus, his research spans biomaterials, drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, silver nanoparticle therapeutics, and biotechnology, with a focus on improving treatment outcomes in pediatric patients. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Revista de Ciencias Tecnológicas (RECIT) and serves on the editorial boards of Current Drug Delivery, Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, and MDPI. He is a member of the Scientific Research Honour Society Sigma Xi and the Mexican Materials Society.
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Villarreal Gómez provides research consultation on biocompatibility, drug delivery science, and nanoparticle-based therapeutics — areas directly relevant to Pürblack's Coated Silver® line and peptide formulations. He has co-authored peer-reviewed research on silver nanoparticle safety and efficacy alongside fellow Advisory Council member Dr. Valenzuela-Salas.
Key Publications:
Biocompatibility Evaluation of a Dexamethasone Mucoadhesive Nanosystem: Preclinical and Preliminary Clinical Evaluations Current Drug Delivery, 2025 https://doi.org/10.2174/0115672018356821250323083549
Antimicrobial Effect of Electrospun Nanofibers Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles: Influence of Ag Incorporation Method Journal of Nanomaterials, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9920755
Antiproliferative and Antitumour Effect of Nongenotoxic Silver Nanoparticles on Melanoma Models Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4528241
Researcher Profiles:
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.do/citations?user=66un34UAAAAJ
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luis-Villarreal-Gomez
Dr. Lucia Margarita Valenzuela Salas, DMV, MPH, PhD
Scientific Advisor — Veterinary Medicine, Toxicology & Biocompatibility Research
Dr. Lucia Margarita Valenzuela Salas is a full-time professor, researcher, and Head of the Animal Facility at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico. She holds a Doctorate in Chemical Sciences and Engineering, a Master's Degree in Public Health, and her foundational degree in Veterinary Medicine — all from UABC. Over more than 15 years leading the university's animal facility, she has specialized in toxicological and biocompatibility evaluations using murine models, with her research cited more than 83 times across 8 indexed publications. She is a member of the National Researchers System, the CONACYT International Nanotechnology Network, and holds certification as an Authorized Veterinarian from Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Valenzuela Salas provides expert review on the toxicological safety and biological compatibility of ingredients and delivery systems used in Pürblack formulations, bringing direct preclinical research experience to the brand's commitment to product safety and transparency.
Key Publications:
Biocompatibility Evaluation of a Dexamethasone Mucoadhesive Nanosystem: Preclinical and Preliminary Clinical Evaluations Current Drug Delivery, 2025 https://doi.org/10.2174/0115672018356821250323083549
New Protein-Coated Silver Nanoparticles: Characterization, Antitumor and Amoebicidal Activity, Antiproliferative Selectivity, Genotoxicity, and Biocompatibility Evaluation Pharmaceutics, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13010065
Antiproliferative and Antitumour Effect of Nongenotoxic Silver Nanoparticles on Melanoma Models Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4528241
Researcher Profiles:
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lucia-Valenzuela-Salas
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=oif3CgkAAAAJ
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2226-0431
Dr. Calin V. Pop, MD
Medical Advisor — Integrative & Functional Medicine
Dr. Calin V. Pop is a board-certified physician, author, lecturer, and internationally recognized voice in integrative medical thought. Originally from Transylvania, he founded Unique HealthCare Solutions, a medical center that bridges conventional and integrative approaches to chronic health conditions. He is the author of the Dr. Pop's Secrets of Health series and The Symbolic Message of Illness, and advocates nutrition and lifestyle change as primary therapeutic tools. He actively works as a physician, nutritional supplement designer, consultant, and speaker, with a focus on creating holistic, wellness-centered healthcare. Dr. Pop has co-authored peer-reviewed research on the effects of silver nanoparticles on human cells in collaboration with the Pürblack team.
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Pop provides integrative medicine perspective on Pürblack's product formulations and educational content, and has collaborated directly with Pürblack in peer-reviewed research examining the safety profile of Coated Silver® nanoparticles on healthy versus cancerous cells.
Key Publications:
Effect of Coated Silver Nanoparticles on Cancerous vs. Healthy Cells Journal of Toxicology, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1519104
Antiviral Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Against the Influenza A Virus Journal of Virus Eradication, 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jve.2023.100330
Selected Publication (PMC): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10319835/
Practice & Writing:
https://uniquehealthcaresolutions.com
Dr. Sunil Pai, MD
Medical Advisor — Holistic Integrative Medicine
Dr. Sunil Pai is a board-certified physician in both Family Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, and one of the first Fellowship-trained integrative medicine physicians in the United States, having trained at the University of Arizona under Dr. Andrew Weil. He has since trained with Dr. Deepak Chopra, completed Ayurvedic training at the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda, and earned board certification in Medical Acupuncture at Stanford University. He is the founder of Sanjevani Integrative Medicine Health & Lifestyle Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Vice President of the Neuro-Acupuncture Institute, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and author of the critically acclaimed book An Inflammation Nation. He is published in all five editions of David Rakel's Integrative Medicine (Saunders) and in Integrative Medicine: Principles in Practice (McGraw-Hill).
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Pai provides integrative clinical perspective on Pürblack's educational content and supplement protocols, bringing evidence-based integrative medicine insight to the brand's approach to inflammation, nutrition, and whole-body wellness.
Key Publications & Writing:
An Inflammation Nation: The Definitive 10-Step Guide to Preventing and Treating All Diseases through Diet, Lifestyle, and the Use of Natural Anti-Inflammatories https://aninflammationnation.com
Chapter: "Peripheral Neuropathy" — in Integrative Medicine, all five editions (Saunders/Rakel)
Chapter: "Ayurvedic Medicine" — in Integrative Medicine: Principles in Practice (McGraw-Hill)
Practice:
https://sanjevani.net
Dr. Michael Borkin NMD
Scientific Advisor — Naturopathic Endocrinology & Life Extension
Dr. Michael Borkin is widely regarded as the "Father of Naturopathic Endocrinology," having established the board specialty and authored the first National Board in Endocrinology for the American Naturopathic Medical Certification & Accreditation Board in Washington, D.C. With over 40 years in professional practice, he is Director of Research for the National Institute of Endocrine Research and co-founder of Sabre Sciences, a leading laboratory for salivary hormone and electrolyte analysis. His research interests focus on life extension, anti-aging, endocrine and neurotransmitter regulation, and transdermal delivery systems — areas in which he holds patents and has formulated over 70 successful supplements. In 2002 he was inducted into the Alternative Medicine Hall of Fame as its youngest-ever honoree.
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Borkin provides advisory expertise on endocrine regulation, anti-aging science, and nutraceutical formulation, helping ensure that Pürblack's protocols and educational content reflect the most current thinking in hormonal health, longevity, and bioavailability.
Key Publications & Writing:
Stress 101 (co-authored with William P. Stuppy, MD) https://drmichaelborkin.wordpress.com
Avoiding Problems with Progesterone https://drmichaelborkin.wordpress.com
Practice & Research:
https://doctorborkin.com
Dr. Bharat Vaydya BAMS, MD
Medical Advisor — Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery
Dr. Bharat Vaydya is a classically trained Ayurvedic physician who received his Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and advanced medical training in Mumbai, India, followed by an MD in Ayurvedic Medicine. He comes from a multi-generational family of healers with deep roots in the Ayurvedic tradition, and has brought that lineage to the United States through the co-founding of Ayurved Sadhana Vidyalaya — an Ayurvedic school and healing center based in Superior, Colorado, regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education and supervised by Prabhuram Ayurvedic Vidyalaya in Mumbai. He is a Registered Ayurvedic Doctor and Vaidya (AAPNA) and also leads an Ayurvedic medical facility in India that provides free herbal medicine to local communities.
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Vaydya contributes traditional Ayurvedic medical knowledge to Pürblack's educational framework, providing perspective on the classical applications of shilajit and other bioactive compounds within the Ayurvedic system — grounding modern formulation science in centuries of documented therapeutic tradition.
Practice & School:
https://www.ayurvedsadhana.com
Dr. Sergei Shaginyan
Medical Advisor — Acupuncture, Herbology & Integrative Neurology
Dr. Sergei Shaginyan holds a medical degree from Moscow Medical School (1981), with specializations in pediatrics, psychiatry, and adult and pediatric neurology, and completed a postgraduate PhD in Neurology and Electrophysiology in 1988. After relocating to the United States, he earned a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Samra University in Los Angeles and is nationally board-certified by the National Certification Commission in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). He is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in California, a faculty member at Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, and a former faculty member at Yo San University and the American University of Complementary Medicine. Dr. Shaginyan has published over 30 articles on alternative medicine and integrates Western neurology with acupuncture, herbology, medical qigong, nutrition, and energy work in his clinical practice.
Role at Pürblack:
Dr. Shaginyan provides advisory input bridging Eastern and Western medical traditions, contributing perspective on adaptogenic compounds, neurological wellness, and the role of holistic therapies in performance and recovery — areas closely aligned with Pürblack's core health protocols.
Practitioner Profile:
https://www.elotus.org/bio/sergei-shaginyan-lac
Practice:
https://sergei4health.com
FAQ
Yes. Members of the Pürblack Scientific Advisory Council review formulations, quality documentation, and scientific claims made in educational content published by Pürblack. Advisory Council members are consulted throughout the product development process — not only at launch — and their recommendations directly influence ingredient selection, formulation standards, and educational accuracy across the brand's product line, including its Coated Silver®️ and peptide formulations.
Yes. The Pürblack Scientific Advisory Council includes eight members — physicians, PhD researchers, and medical doctors from institutions including the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Autonomous University of Baja California, the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and Sanjevani Integrative Medicine Health & Lifestyle Center. Council members hold specializations spanning virology, biomaterials, toxicology, integrative medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, naturopathic endocrinology, and Oriental medicine.
Yes. Pürblack founder Nodari Rizun has co-authored peer-reviewed research alongside Advisory Council members, published in journals including the Journal of Toxicology (2022) and the Journal of Virus Eradication (2023). These studies examined the safety and efficacy of Coated Silver®️ nanoparticles — including differential effects on cancerous versus healthy cells and antiviral activity against influenza A. The full list of publications is available on the Advisory Council Publications page.
Pürblack ensures supplement quality through multiple independent layers: USA manufacturing with strict quality controls, NSF certification for its peptide products, six granted patents, and ongoing scientific consultation from the Advisory Council. Members provide expert input on ingredient selection, formulation standards, and the accuracy of health claims in published content. Certificates of Analysis are available directly on product pages so customers can independently verify purity and potency.
Advisory Council members hold doctoral degrees including MD, PhD, NMD, DMV, and BAMS credentials. Their combined published research spans hundreds of indexed, peer-reviewed publications in journals including Scientific Reports, Antiviral Research, Current Drug Delivery, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, and Pharmaceutics. Members hold active institutional affiliations, national research system memberships, and in several cases editorial board positions at peer-reviewed scientific journals.