Team Members | Precision Nanomaterials Group

Nonappa Nonappa

Associate Professor
Material Chemistry, specifically Nanochemistry
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
+358504728897
nonappa@tuni.fi

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6804-4128

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About me

I lead a multidisciplinary team of researchers at the intersection of Chemistry, Materials Science, and Biomedical Sciences. My scientific journey has taken me across various disciplines, from organic and supramolecular chemistry to nanoparticle self-assembly, cryogenic electron microscopy, and the design of extracellular matrices for breast cancer models. This diverse background enables me to connect ideas and techniques in unconventional ways, often leading to discoveries that bridge chemistry, biology, and medicine. Our mission is to design, characterize, and engineer advanced materials, devices, and systems that enable precise control and manipulation at the molecular and cellular levels. One of my notable achievements is the development of a 3D hydrogel-based patient-derived breast cancer tissue culture model, which has been validated using over 1,000 patient samples. This innovation is paving the way for next-generation diagnostic tools and drug discovery platforms. We are also developing lab-on-a-chip technologies to model site-specific cancer metastasis, study disease progression, and enable real-time detection of biomarkers. Beyond biomedical applications, our team has pioneered biopolymer optical fibers for short-distance communications, including the first-ever demonstration of quantitative environmental sensing using such fibers. By effectively utilizing material stock and flow, creating a new value chain, and driving innovation in good health and well-being, our research activities support climate-neutral policies, the circular economy, the European Union's Green Deal, the UN´s Sustainable Development Goals, and Europe´s Beating Cancer Plan. For more information, see our Research Page and Publications.

Field of expertise

Breast cancer disease and diagnostic models
Bio-based materials for optics and photonics
Precision nanomaterials
Advanced transmission electron microscopy

Research unit

Material Science and Environmental Engineering

Research career

Current position

03.08.2020-Present: Associate Professor (tenure track) in Nanochemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.

Academic degrees and titles

19.10.2018: Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale (ASN), CHIM/07-Fondamenti Chimici delle Tecnologie, MIUR, Italy.
26.05.2017: Title of Docent in Soft Matter Microscopy, School of Science, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Finland
13.12.2008: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
10.11.2020: Executive Master of Business Administration, Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington D.C., USA.

Previous research experience

26.05.2017-31.07.2020: Research Fellow and Docent, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, Finland
01.08.2012-25.05.2017: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, Finland.
15.02.2009-31.07.2012: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Project links

Selected publications

Own links

Latest publications

Biosynthetic optical waveguide interface integration using biomimetic - de novo design ELP for optoelectronic applications

Seisto, A., Hokkanen, A., Damlin, P., Pylkkänen, R., Kiiveri, K., Borisova, A. S., Kvarnström, C., Cheng, X., Sun, Z., Nonappa & Mohammadi, P., tammik. 2026, julkaisussa: Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal. 33, s. 13-23 11 Sivumäärä

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Effect of Silicon Nitride Substrate Thickness and Surface Treatment on Thermal Transport and Local Heating of Gold Nanoparticles under Electron Beam Irradiation

Zulfiqar, A., Honkanen, M., Vippola, M. & Nonappa, 5 maalisk. 2026, julkaisussa: Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 130, 9, s. 3458-3471 14 Sivumäärä

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Superhydrophobic Coatings by Suspension Flame Spraying for Outdoor Conditions

Alikhanifaradonbeh, R., Jafari, R., Zohrevand, M., Nonappa & Koivuluoto, H., helmik. 2026, julkaisussa: Journal of Thermal Spray Technology. 35, 1, s. 465-480 16 Sivumäärä

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Atomically precise noble metal nanoclusters for engineering self-assembled two-dimensional materials

Sethumadhavan, V. & Nonappa, 2025, julkaisussa: Dalton Transactions. 54, 31, s. 11770-11789

Tutkimustuotos: Katsausartikkeli › vertaisarvioitu

Bimetallic Nanocluster-Based Light-Emitting Diodes With High External Quantum Efficiency and Saturated Red Emission

Rival, J. V., Chand, S., Jana, A., Nonappa, Biju, V., Pradeep, T., Rajamalli, P. & Shibu, E. S., syysk. 2025, julkaisussa: Advanced Materials. 37, 35, 2507893.

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Biopolymer Optical Fibers for High-Sensitivity Quantitative Humidity Monitoring

Patrakka, J., Hynninen, V., Huttunen, P. & Nonappa, 3 syysk. 2025, julkaisussa: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 17, 35, s. 49816-49828 13 Sivumäärä

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Using In-Situ Polymerized Gold Nanocluster Assemblies

Bera, D., Mahata, S., Biswas, M., Kumari, K., Rakshit, S., Nonappa, N., Ghosh, S. & Goswami, N., 2025, julkaisussa: Small. 21, 1, 2406551.

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Guided Heterostructure Growth of CoFe LDH on Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for Durably High Oxygen Evolution Activity

Sheng, J., Kang, J., Jiang, P., Meinander, K., Hong, X., Jiang, H., Nonappa, Ikkala, O., Komsa, H. P., Peng, B. & Lv, Z. P., 2025, julkaisussa: Small. 21, 3, 2404927.

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Morphology-Preserved Alloying in Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles Using Atomically Precise Nanoclusters

Chakraborty, A., Manna, S., Mondal, B., Bodiuzzaman, M., Nagar, A., Chowdhury, S., Nayak, T., Nonappa, N. & Pradeep, T., lokak. 2025, julkaisussa: Small. 21, 43, 2410784.

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Nanocluster reaction-driven in situ transformation of colloidal nanoparticles to mesostructures

Bose, P., Srikrishnarka, P., Paatelainen, M., Nonappa, N., Kini, A. R., Som, A. & Pradeep, T., 2025, julkaisussa: Nanoscale. 17, 2, s. 803-812

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Jani Patrakka

Grant Holder, Doctoral Research
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
+358504215234
jani.patrakka@tuni.fi

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9204-1318

Venishaa Sethumadhavan

Doctoral Researcher
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
+358504085163
venishaa.sethumadhavan@tuni.fi

Alisa Aalto

Research Assistant
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
alisa.aalto@tuni.fi

Burcu Firatligil Yildirir

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
burcu.firatligilyildirir@tuni.fi

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8716-542X

More information

About me

In my current role as a postdoctoral researcher in the Precision Nanomaterials Group, I have been working on breast cancer metastasis and developing different 3D culture models to understand how breast cancer initiates and how and why its organ-specific metastasis develops.

In addition to focusing on research, I actively train and supervise students from diverse backgrounds for their bachelor`s (BSc) and master's (MSc) theses.

Field of expertise

I have over 10 years of experience developing 3D in vitro models and microfluidic platforms to identify molecular, mechanical and biochemical changes promoting the formation of breast cancer metastasis using cell, tissue and patient-derived samples.

I use my expertise in in situ contactless rheology to create dynamically responsive soft materials that model breast cancer tissue at both primary sites and secondary metastatic target sites, taking into account not only the genomic events in individual cancer cells but also the composition of the surrounding environment.

Selected publications

Firatligil-Yildirir, B., Bati-Ayaz, G., Nonappa, Pesen-Okvur, D., & Yalcin-Ozuysal, O. (2024). Invasion/Chemotaxis- and Extravasation-chip models for breast cancer bone metastasis. PLOS ONE.

Laakko, T., Korkealaakso, A., Yildirir, B. F., Batys, P., Liljeström, V., Hokkanen, A., Nonappa, N., Penttilä, M., Laukkanen, A., Miserez, A., Södergård, C., & Mohammadi, P. (2024). Accelerated Engineering of ELP‐based Materials through Hybrid Biomimetic‐De Novo Predictive Molecular Design. Advanced Materials.

Firatligil-Yildirir, B., Yalcin-Ozuysal, O., & Nonappa, N. (2023). Recent advances in lab-on-a-chip systems for breast cancer metastasis research. Nanoscale Advances.

Firatligil‐Yildirir, B., Bati‐Ayaz, G., Tahmaz, I., Bilgen, M., Pesen‐Okvur, D., & Yalcin‐Ozuysal, O. (2021). On‐chip determination of tissue‐specific metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. Biotechnology and Bioengineering.

Sarigil, O., Anil‐Inevi, M., Firatligil‐Yildirir, B., Unal, Y. C., Yalcin‐Ozuysal, O., Mese, G., Tekin, H. C., & Ozcivici, E. (2020). Scaffold‐free biofabrication of adipocyte structures with magnetic levitation. Biotechnology and Bioengineering.

Ilhan, M., Kucukkose, C., Efe, E., Gunyuz, Z. E., Firatligil, B., Dogan, H., Ozuysal, M., & Yalcin-Ozuysal, O. (2020). Pro-metastatic functions of Notch signaling is mediated by CYR61 in breast cells. European Journal of Cell Biology.

Srikrishnarka Pillalamarri

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
+358503367687
srikrishnarka.pillalamarri@tuni.fi

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5187-6879

More information

Field of expertise

Experience in the fabrication of sensors, and expertise in electrospinning for various applications such as face masks, surface coatings, and substrates for cell culture. Hands-on with various optical and electron microscopes (SEM) and used high-speed cameras for various experiments.

Project links

INTENSE

Top achievements

Mission statement

Latest publications

Nanocluster reaction-driven in situ transformation of colloidal nanoparticles to mesostructures

Bose, P., Srikrishnarka, P., Paatelainen, M., Nonappa, N., Kini, A. R., Som, A. & Pradeep, T., 2025, julkaisussa: Nanoscale. 17, 2, s. 803-812

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Optical Fiber Sensor with Dynamically Responsive Cladding for Real-Time Breath Pattern Monitoring

Pillalamarri, S., Patrakka, J., Sun, Z. & Nonappa, 30 syysk. 2025, julkaisussa: ACS Omega. 10, 38, s. 44528-44540 13 Sivumäärä

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Wearable Sensors for Physiological Condition and Activity Monitoring

Srikrishnarka, P., Haapasalo, J., Hinestroza, J. P., Sun, Z. & Nonappa, heinäk. 2024, julkaisussa: Small Science. 4, 7, 2300358.

Tutkimustuotos: Katsausartikkeli › vertaisarvioitu

Secondary ligand-induced orthogonal self-assembly of silver nanoclusters into superstructures with enhanced NIR emission

Sugi, K. S., Sandra, A. P., Nonappa, Ghosh, D., Mohanty, J. S., Paulthangam Kannan, M., Sooraj, B. S., Srikrishnarka, P., Roy, J., Dar, W. A. & Pradeep, T., 23 kesäk. 2023, julkaisussa: Nanoscale. 15, 28, s. 11927-11934 8 Sivumäärä

Tutkimustuotos: Artikkeli › Tieteellinen › vertaisarvioitu

Nayanika Chakraborty

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Tampere University
+358504081684
nayanika.chakraborty@tuni.fi

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7989-2221

More information

About me

As a postdoctoral research fellow at Tampere Institute for Advanced Study (2025-27), I lead MechanoTargeting, a multidisciplinary project at the nexus of nanotechnology, chemical biology, and cancer mechanobiology. This research addresses a critical challenge in oncology: how matrix stiffness in the tumor microenvironment contributes to drug resistance and alters nanocarrier uptake. Using advanced 3D hydrogel models of breast cancer, the project investigates the biomechanical basis of lipid nanoparticle interactions and their therapeutic efficacy.

This project aligns with global priorities in precision oncology and nanomedicine, offering innovative strategies for matrix-informed therapeutic design and targeted drug delivery.

Field of expertise

My research focuses on designing nanoscale therapeutics with spatiotemporal precision to modulate the nano–bio interface. I develop polymeric and hybrid nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, evaluating their efficacy and safety through microbiological, cellular, and in vivo models.These platforms are specifically engineered to investigate and overcome drug resistance-whether in the form of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or chemoresistance in cancer. Through light-activated therapies such as photothermal and photodynamic approaches, I’ve demonstrated synergistic wound healing and anti-infective effects. Now I'm translating these approaches to investigate how the interplay between micromechanics and cancer stage contributes to chemoresistance in solid tumours.

Research topics

Mechanobiology of Chemoresistance using breast cancer 3D cell cultures
Nanocarrier Design for Targeted Drug Delivery
Stimuli-Responsive Nanomedicine Platforms

Research unit

Material Science and Environmental Engineering

Research fields

Chemistry, Nanomedicine and Cancer Mechanobiology

Research career

Current position

21.11.2024-Present: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.

Academic degrees and titles:

24.02.2024: Ph.D. in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, India and Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases Biology,CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India.
18.11.2017: Master of Science (M.Sc. in Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
30.05.2015: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. in Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.

Previous research experience

31.10.2023-31.03.2024: Project Associate-II, Nucleic Acid Research Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India

Funding

Mission statement

Selected publications

Nayanika Chakraborty, D.Jha, V.P.Singh, P.Kumar, N.K.Verma, H.K.Gautam, I.Roy, “White-Light-Responsive Prussian Blue Nanophotonic Particles for Effective Eradication of Bacteria and ImprovedHealing of Infected Cutaneous Wounds” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2023, 15, 50765.[Link]
(IF: 9.5, Citations: 6, press release and highlighted in LKC medicine newsletter, NTU, Singapore [Link])
Nayanika Chakraborty, D.Jha, I.Roy, P.Kumar, S.S.Gaurav, K.Marimuthu, O.-T.Ng,R.Lakshminarayanan, N. K.Verma, H.K. Gautam, “Nanobitics against antimicrobial resistance: harnessingthe power of nanoscale materials and technologies” J. Nanobiotechnol.,2022, 20, 375.
(IF:10.2, Citations : 72, Open Access)[Link]
Nayanika Chakraborty, D.Jha, H.K.Gautam, I.Roy, “Peroxidase-like behaviour and photothermal effect of chitosan-coated Prussian-blue nanoparticles: dual-modality antibacterial action with enhanced bioaffinity” Mater. Adv., 2020, 1, 774.[Link]
(IF: 5.5, Citations: 14, Open Access)
S.Sharma, Nayanika Chakraborty, D.Jha, H.K.Gautam, I.Roy, “Robust dual modality antibacterial action using silver-Prussian blue nanoscale coordination polymer”. Mater. Sci. Eng. C, 2020, 113, 110982. (I F :8.45, Citations: 26)[Link]
Oral presentations (* as Presenting author)
Nayanika Chakraborty*, I.Roy, H.K.Gautam. (2023) “Dual light responsive chitosan nanocatalyst for photodynamic antibacterial therapy", Rencontres du Vietnam -The First International Symposium of Nano Life Science:Nano Biotechnology, Biosensor, Computation (NanoBiocom2023), ICISE, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh province, Vietnam,17-19 September, 2023.
Granted: IUPAB Travel Award-2023
Poster presentations (* as Presenting author)
Nayanika Chakraborty*, D.Jha, H.K. Gautam, I.Roy. (2022) “Photo-enhanced singlet oxygengeneration of chitosan coated Prussian blue nano-assembly for white light activated photodynamic antibacterial therapy ", Recent Advances in NanoMedical Sciences (RANMS-2022), at Paintal Memorial
Golden Jubilee Auditorium, University of Delhi, 22-23 June, 2022.
Best Poster Award
Nayanika Chakraborty*, D.Jha, H.K. Gautam, I.Roy. (2020) “Photo-enhanced singlet oxygen generation of chitosan coated Prussian blue nano-assembly for white light activated photodynamic antibacterial therapy ", 2nd INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM via Virtual Platform on Functional
Nanomaterials in Industrial Applications: Academy –Industry –Clinicians Meet orgainsed by University of Central Lancanshire, 14-16 July,2020.
Nayanika Chakraborty*, S.Sharma, I.Roy. (2019) “Facile synthesis of photoactive silver Prussian Blue nanoparticle as antibiotic resistant agent” at International Conference on “6th worldcongress on Nanomedical Sciences-ISNSCON-2018, Chemistry-Biology Interface 2019”, 07 -10 January,2019.

members

Nonappa Nonappa

Jani Patrakka

Venishaa Sethumadhavan

Alisa Aalto

Burcu Firatligil Yildirir

Srikrishnarka Pillalamarri

Nayanika Chakraborty