Photo: Parvaneh Helisaei
In her doctoral dissertation, M.Sc. (Tech.) Sonya Ghanavati developed bioglass scaffolds that release therapeutic agents on demand when illuminated with near-infrared (NIR) light. Her work introduces multifunctional “biophotonic scaffolds” that can deliver therapeutic molecules with spatiotemporal precision. The study demonstrated that multifunctional scaffolds, either bioresorbable or bioactive, can be loaded with upconversion crystals to enable light-triggered release of therapeutic molecules. Ghanavati used nitric oxide as a model molecule, released under NIR light. This platform can be adapted to deliver other light-sensitive therapeutic agents, providing a versatile platform for controlled, on-demand drug delivery. This opens new possibilities for personalized regenerative therapies.
The doctoral dissertation of M.Sc. (Tech.) Sonya Ghanavati, in the field of Biomedical Engineering, titled Biophotonic Glass Scaffolds for Controlled Active Agent Release Under Light Stimulation, will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University on 8 October 2025.
The Opponent will be Professor Enrico Bernardo from University of Padova, Italy. The Custos will be Professor Jonathan Massera from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University.