WADDP Research Team Innovating new Drug (or bioactive) Delivery Systems interfaced with Nanomedicine, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, and supported by Smart Biomaterials to design Patient-Centric therapies.
WADDP Research Team Innovating new Drug (or bioactive) Delivery Systems interfaced with Nanomedicine, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, and supported by Smart Biomaterials to design Patient-Centric therapies.
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Research Team

Professor Yahya E. Choonara (BPharm; MPharm; PhD; FAAS; MASSAf; FTWAS; MPS)
  • Director and Principal Researcher of WADDP
  • Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Contract Research
  • South African DSI/NRF Research Chair: Prototyping 21st-Century Therapeutics in Advanced Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine, Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
  • E-mail: yahya.choonara@wits.ac.za
Professor Lisa C. du Toit (BPharm; MPharm; PhD; MASSAf; FAAS)
Professor Pradeep Kumar (BPharm; MPharm; PhD; MASSAf)
Associate Professor Thashree Marimuthu (BSc. Chem; MSc; PhD)
Dr Gillian Mahumane (BPharm; MPharm; PhD)
Dr Mershen Govender (BPharm; MPharm; PhD)
Dr Poornima Ramburrn (BPharm; MPharm; PhD)
Dr Hillary Mndlovu (BSc; MSc; PhD)
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr S. Adeyemi

Intracellular Drug Transport, Precision Nanoparticles

Dr H. Onohuean

Infectious Diseases in the Brain

Dr K. Somandi

Extracellular Vesicles, Nanosomes, Nanomedicine

Dr N. Okafor

Stimuli-Responsive Nanoparticles

Dr N. Singh

Secrotome Therapeutics

Dr N. Ngqinayo

Peptide and Protein Therapeutics

PhD Candidates
PhD Candidate PhD Project Keywords
O. Uwaezuoke Protein Resistant Biomaterials, Ocular Intervention, Biomaterials
F. Takalani Nanoparticles, Virus Eradication, Female Reproductive Tract, ARVs
S. Mavuso Geo-Implants, Anti-Thrombotic Agents, Site-Specific Delivery
M. Mphaphuli 3D-Bioprinting, Bone Tuberculosis, Osteomimetism, Bioactive Targeting
Y. Mahjoub Ocular Cancer, Surface Active Biopolymers, Nanolipids
A. Abdelgarder Genitourinanry Syndrome, IUD, Targeted Bioactives
M. Ali Skin Cancer, Precision Nanomedicine, Magnetic Hyperthermia
N. Sikhosana Ocular Gene Therapy, Blindness, Nano-Targeting
B. Karithi Glioblastoma Muliforme, 3D Bioprinting, Neuromaterials
F. Peer Dental Biomaterials, Root Canal, Dental Pulp
L. Khoza Nanomedicine, TB , Targeted Lung Delivery, Host Directed Therapy
K. da Silva NeuroTrauma, Artificial ECM, 3D Bioprinting, Nanofibers
D. Essa Injectable Nanoparticles, Prostate Cancer, Targeting
L. Leratholi CNS Drug Delivery, Network Pharmacology, Modelling
Masters Candidates
 Masters Candidate  Keywords
Z. Cassim Probiotics, Localised Action, Intravaginal
H. Cassimjee Proteosaccharide, 3D Scaffold, Tissue Engineering
T. Sarwan Thermo-Responsiveness, Injectable, Wound Healing
F. Mutingwende Nanogel Carrier, Antidepressants, Oral Therapeutics
V. Chivere Biopolymers, Oral Drug Delivery, Anti-Cancer Molecule
C. Lynch Nanoparticles, Anti-Virals, Ocular Drug Delivery
K. de la Harpe 3D Monofilaments, Biosutures, Microvascular Surgery
T. Moqejwa Rectal Colloids, Nanoliposomes, Cannabis, Pain Management 
J. Lekoloane Bioresponsive, Injectable Ocugel, Cataract
A. Nana Magnetic Nanowires, Site Specific, Testicular Cancer
E. Cohen Copolymers, NanoDots, Parkinson's disease
K. Naik Vitreous Substitutes, Intracocular Drug Resevoir
K. Moodley Decalcified Blood Vessels, Site-Specific Gels
A. Suleman Osteosarcoma, Osteomimetic Biomaterials, Scaffolds
M. Lategan Neural Tissue Engineering, Traumatic Brain Injury
S. Ayodele TB Pericarditis, Tissue Targeted Nanocontainers
V. Singh Metal-Complexation, Drug Bioavailability
WADDP Lab Alumni
 Postdoctoral Fellow  Research Area
Dr Pavan Walvekar Protein-Charged Nanosystems and Gene Therapy
Dr P. Ubanako Cell-Nanoparticle Communication
Dr M. Ogunrombi Pharmaceutical Biomaterials
Dr N. Chirwa Cancer Treatment using Ligand-Based Nanotechnology
Dr V. Ndesendo Nanostructures for Neuro-Nanopharmaceuticals
Dr O. Adeleke Cytotoxicity and Biocompatibility of Polyamides
Dr  L. Tomar Oral Delivery of Cytokines
Dr C. Tyagi Electrospinning and 3D Drug Delivery Constructs
Dr D. Bijukumar Chronotherapeutic Technologies
Dr J. Mulla Drug Delivery Systems for Genetic Disorders
Dr D. Chejara Microfluidics in Drug Delivery
Dr M. Mabrouk Polymer Signaling for Switchable Drug Delivery
Dr R. Badhe Polypeptide Synthesis
Dr A. Chakraborty Mechanical Deformation of Biomedical Systems
Dr P. Pradeep Synthesis of Neuroactive Molecules
Dr P. Ramburrun Vascular Tissue Engineering
Dr O. Akilo  Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery
Dr S. Mdanda Transdermal Peptide Delivery
Dr S. Indermun Electroactive Smart Biomaterials
Dr M. Govender Probiotic Drug Delivery, Microbiome Interactions
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