Research group: Functional Materials for Medicine
Functional Materials have played more and more critical role in development of novel treatment methods for different diseases. Our group focus on designing all kinds of functional materials, at different scales, to solve clinical and biological problems. We have broad collaborations with hospitals, and most of our projects have clinical doctors involved and initial from a real-life clinical question. Our group is multidisciplinary, which interplay between physics, materials science, synthetic organic chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine. We aim that many of our designs could be clinical applicable in future, and to have a great social impact in treating diseases.
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Contact: hongbo.zhang@abo.fi
Master Students
Kanwal Mazhar:
Master BIMA (Abo Akademi, Turku, Finland enrolled).
MPhil Microbiology (Quaid i Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan).
Lecturer in Department of Microbiology Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan Public Sector University ( Since 2016- Till Date).
Lecturer Microbiology Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan (2012- 2016).
Sunanda Dey Brishty has completed her Bachelor's in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS). And now she is a Master’s student in Biomedical Imaging, at Abo Akademi University. His research is focused on the targeted delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for advanced liver cancer therapy.
Sinina Sattayakul, a master’s student at Uppsala University, is beginning her thesis work in Professor Zhang Hongbo’s lab at Åbo Akademi. Under the supervision of Li Wang and Lu Fan, her research will focus on developing multicomponent hydrogel microparticles integrated with functional nanoparticles that exhibit antimicrobial properties. These microparticles will be fabricated using a microfluidic chip.
Rida received her Bachelor’s and MS in Applied Chemistry in 2022 from the University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan. After that, she started her Master’s Program in Biomedical Imaging in 2024 at Abo Akademi University and began her internship in Hongbo Zhang’s research group in the MADNESS project, faculty of Science and Engineering, Abo Akademi University. Her training focuses on the synthesis of Nano-particles and their Applications.
Yuanyuan Liu received her bachelor‘s degree from Sichuan Agricultural University. Now she is in the second year of her master's in Drug Discovery and Development at the University of Turku, and doing her master’s thesis in Hongbo’s group mainly focusing on the effect of mineralized mitochondria transplantation on immune cells.
Others
Deependra Yadav received his master’s degree in molecular systems biology from the University of Turku. Currently, as a joint student, he performs some experimental works in Hongbo's group at Åbo Akademi University. His research mainly focuses on developing and optimizing a microfluidic platform for fabricating lignin Nanoparticles.​​
Kang Li is a doctoral student at Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, specializing in Chinese medicine. His expertise lies in the application of Chinese medicine for surgical diseases. He is honored to have the opportunity to visit Finland for academic exchange and study. Currently, he is researching the treatment of tumors using active ingredients derived from Chinese medicine.
Joni graduated from the University of Turku, with a bachelor's thesis focused on metals as a problem for fish, and with a master's thesis working on the study of transgenerational effects of combined crude oil exposure and heat shock on Daphnia magna. He started work as a research assistant in Prof. Hongbo Zhang's group in Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University and his work is focused on Business Finland-funded research on mitochondria.
Wang Teng-yu is a student from Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, majoring in Chinese Medicine. He specializes in pulse sensing and acupuncture. He has spent a year conducting cell experiments in his laboratory, focusing on cellular research related to the treatment of myasthenia gravis using active ingredients from Chinese medicine.
Wenhui Liu received her Master’s degree from Jiangsu University. She is pursuing further studies as a joint student in Hongbo’s group at Åbo Akademi University. Her research focuses on the targeted delivery of extracellular vesicles for advanced tumor therapy.
Supervised Master's Thesis:
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24.Sinina Sattayakul: GelMA@ZIF-8@Van/HA Microspheres forAntibacterial Therapy in Wound Healing. Uppsala University (2025)
23. Misbah Saleem: Synthesis of CuZn MOF MXenecomposite for application as anantibacterial coating on contact lens. Master’s Degree Program, Åbo Akademi University (2025)
22. Yuanyuan Liu: Biomineralized mitochondrial transplantation correctsmacrophage behaviour to suppress osteoporosis underbreast cancer susceptibility. Master’s Degree Program, University of Turku (2025)
21. Kanwal Mazhar: DNAzyme- Based Nanoparticle With Cell DivisionInhibition Ability For E.coli Target Treatment. Master’s Degree Program, Åbo Akademi University (2025)
20. Jouni Vuorinen: The Cerberus nanoparticle for the treatment of choroidal melanoma, Master’s Degree Program, Åbo Akademi University (2024)
19. Jessica Salo: Intracellular delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid with Zif-8 nanocarrier to liver cancer cells, Master’s Degree Program in Biomedical Imaging, Åbo Akademi University (2023)
18. Elie Char: Delivery of Decorin mRNA by nano-vehicle for cancer therapy, Master’s Degree Programme in Pharmaceutical Science, Umeå University (2023)
17. Doroteja Bednjanec: Targeted Sequential Delivery Platform with ROS-Response for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis, Master’s Degree Program in Biomedical Imaging, Åbo Akademi University (2021)
16. Brajesh Shrestha: Synthesis of CuS@MSN@SpAcDEX for Tacrolimus Delivery to Treat End Stage Renal Disease, Master’s Degree Program in Biomedical Imaging, Åbo Akademi University (2021)
15. Cassandre Rouanet: "Biocompatibility study of guar gum based material", Erasmus, IUT de LAVAL, Département Génie Biologique (2021).
14. Jiaqi Yan, "Preparation of drug delivery system based on different carriers for antitumor research by using prodrug technology". Exchange student from China, Faculty of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University (2020)
13. Alexandra Manea, " In vitro evaluation of nanoantibiotics", MSc Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development, University of Turku (2020)
12. Tzu-Chen Rautio, "Effects of Nanomaterial-Delivered Protein Kinase A on Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells." Master’s Degree Program in Biomedical Imaging, University of Turku (2020).
11. Oliver Koivisto, "Delivery of Cas9/sgRNA system using functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle system". Master´s Degree Programme in Physiology and Genetics, University of Turku (2020).
10. Tokic Dado, "Synthesis of Mesoporous silica nanoparticles using microfluidics". University of Turku, Master’s Degree Program in Biomedical Imaging, University of Turku, (2020).
9. Deependra Yadav, "Developing and optimizing microfluidics platform for fabricating lignin nanoparticles", Master’s Degree Program in Molecular Systems Biology, University of Turku, (2020).
8. Xiaodong Ma, “Synthesis and Anti-cholinesterase Activities of 2-Phenylthiazole Derivatives”, Exchange student from China, Jiangsu Ocean University (2019)
7. Md. Rifahul Abrar Taiseer, " Identifying the issues concerning zeta potential measurements of polymer nanoparticles". MSc Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development, University of Turku (2019)
6. Mariam Gouda, "Protein-encapsulated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the treatment of bacterial biofilms", MSc Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development, University of Turku (2019)
5. Wali Inam, “Optimization of microfluidic encapsulation with nanoprecipitation for controlled drug delivery”, MSc Degree Programme in Drug Discovery and Development, University of Turku (2018)
4. Laura Leenesonne, “Personalized drug platform using rollable thin film with 3D printing and microfluidics: a conceptual study”, Erasmus, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ghent (2019)
3. Korbinian Weisensee: "Fabrication of Advanced Drug Delivery Nanoparticles with Microfluidics", Erasmus, Ulm University, Germany (2018)
2. Dhayakumar Rajan Prakash: "Versatile syringe based microfluidic platform for bio-pharmaceutical and biomedical applications”, Exchange student from India, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Sastra Deemed to Be University, India (2018)
1. Bram Bogaert: "Optimising microfluidic encapsulation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with acetalated dextran for controlled drug delivery", Erasmus, University of Ghent, Belgium (2017)