

Nonappa Nonappa
About me
I am a passionate researcher, dedicated teacher, and inspiring mentor. I have a diverse background spanning multiple fields, including organic and supramolecular chemistry, nanoparticle self-assembly, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and extracellular matrix design for breast cancer tissue culture. What truly inspires me is the remarkable ability of nature to design structures with unparalleled precision and efficiency across different length scales. I lead a team of talented researchers from various disciplines, including Chemists, Physicists, and Biologists. Our research is at the intersection of materials science and biomedical sciences. We focus on developing multifunctional and biocompatible nanomaterials with the highest precision in structure, function, and interaction. We employ cutting-edge nanotechnological characterization techniques, including material fabrication, microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chip platforms, 3D hydrogel scaffolds, and state-of-the-art electron microscopy to achieve our objectives. Our ultimate goal is to develop promising bio-based optical sensors, advanced imaging to study nanoscale dynamics, and in vitro sustainable breast cancer disease models as diagnostics and therapeutic tools. Visit our research page to learn more about our exciting work.
Fields of expertise
- Precision Nanomaterials
- Biopolymer-based optics and photonics
- In vitro breast cancer models
- Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and electron tomography
Research unit
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 Nationale (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.
- 24.05.2003: Master of Science (M.Sc. in Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, Mangalore University, Karnataka, India.
- 19.06.2001: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. in Chemistry, Botany, and Pharmacognosy as equal options), Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College, Ujire, Karnataka, India.
- 10.11.2020: Executive Master of Business Administration, Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington D.C., USA.
- 04.05.2019: Fundamentals of Business, 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.
- 15.08.2008-14.02.2009: Visiting Ph.D. student, SITRA fellowship, Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- 23.09.2007-22.03.2008: Visiting Ph.D. student, CIMO fellowship, Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Selected publications
Visit our research group page for more details: https://research.tuni.fi/png/
- Bioinspired Functionally Graded Composite Assembled Using Cellulose Nanocrystals and Genetically Engineered Proteins with Controlled Biomineralization. P.Mohammadi, J.-A. Gandier, Nonappa, W. Wagermaier, A. Miserez, M. Penttilä, Adv. Mater. 2021, 33, 2102658 [Link]
- Luminescent Gold Nanocluster‐Methylcellulose Composite Optical Fibers with Low Attenuation Coefficient and High Photostability. V. Hynninen, S. Chandra, S. Das, M. Amini, Y. Dai, S. Lepikko, P. Mohammadi, S. Hietala, R. H. A. Ras, Z. Sun, O. Ikkala, Nonappa, Small 2021, 17, 2005205 [Link]
- Nanocellulose: Recent fundamental advances and emerging biological and biomimicking applications. K. Heise, E. Kontturi, Y, Allahverdiyeva, T. Tammelin, M. B. Linder, Nonappa, O. Ikkala. Adv. Mater. 2021, 2004349 [Link].
- DNA Origami Templated Growth of Multilamellar Lipid Assemblies. S. Julin, Nonappa, B. Shen V. Linko M. A. Kostiainen, Angewandte. Chem. Intl. Ed. 2021. [Link]
- Luminescent gold nanoclusters for bioimaging applications. Nonappa, Beil. J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 533–546 [Link].
- Atomically Precise Nanocluster Assemblies Encapsulating Plasmonic Gold Nanorods, A. Chakraborty, A. C. Fernandez, A. Som, B. Mondal, G. Natarajan, G. Paramasivam, T. Lahtinen, H. Häkkinen, Nonappa, T. Pradeep. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 6522-6526 [Link].
- Polymer Nanowires with Highly Precise Internal Morphology and Topography, Théophile Pelras, Clare S Mahon, Nonappa, Olli Ikkala, André H Gröschel, Markus Müllner, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 12736-12740 [Link]
- Hydrogen bonding directed colloidal self-assembly of nanoparticles into 2D crystals, capsids, and supracolloidal assemblies. Nonappa, O. Ikkala, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2018, 28, 1704328 [Link].
- Reversible supracolloidal self-assembly of cobalt nanoparticles to capsids and superstructures. Nonappa, J. S. Haataja, J. V. I Timonen, S. Malola, P. Engelhardt, N. Houbenov, M. Lahtinen, H. Häkkinen, O. Ikkala, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 6473-6477 [Link].
- Template-free supracolloidal self-assembly of atomically precise gold nanoclusters: From 2D colloidal crystals to spherical capsids. Nonappa, T. Lahtinen, J. S. Haataja, T. –R. Tero, H. Häkkinen, O. Ikkala, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 16035–16038 [Link].
Latest publications
Core‐Selective Silver‐Doping of Gold Nanoclusters by Surface‐Bound Sulphates on Colloidal Templates: From Synthetic Mechanism to Relaxation Dynamics
Chandra, S., Sciortino, A., Shandilya, S., Fang, L., Chen, X., Nonappa, N., Jiang, H., Johansson, LS., Cannas, M., Ruokolainen, J., Ras, R. H. A., Messina, F., Peng, B. & Ikkala, O., 2023, In: Advanced Optical Materials. 11, 1, 9 p., 2201901.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Crown Ether-Capped Gold Nanoclusters as a Multimodal Platform for Bioimaging
Obstarczyk, P., Pniakowska, A., Nonappa, Grzelczak, M. P. & Olesiak-Bańska, J., 2023, In: ACS Omega. 8, 12, p. 11503-11511 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Dissociative reactions of [Au25(SR)18]− at copper oxide nanoparticles and formation of aggregated nanostructures
Roy, J., Mondal, B., Vishwakarma, G., Nonappa, Vasanthi Sridharan, N., Krishnamurthi, P. & Pradeep, T., 2023, In: Nanoscale. 15, 18, p. 8225-8234Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Fibrin Stiffness Regulates Phenotypic Plasticity of Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells
Heilala, M., Lehtonen, A., Arasalo, O., Peura, A., Pokki, J., Ikkala, O., Nonappa, Klefström, J. & Munne, P. M., 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Gold Au(I)6 Clusters with Ligand-Derived Atomic Steric Locking: Multifunctional Optoelectrical Properties and Quantum Coherence
Chandra, S., Sciortino, A., Das, S., Ahmed, F., Jana, A., Roy, J., Li, D., Liljeström, V., Jiang, H., Johansson, L. S., Chen, X., Nonappa, Cannas, M., Pradeep, T., Peng, B., Ras, R. H. A., Sun, Z., Ikkala, O. & Messina, F., 2023, In: Advanced Optical Materials. 11, 8, 2202649.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Hydrogel Lasers Via Supramolecular Host-Guest Complexation
Paatelainen, M., Lahikainen, M., Berdin, A., Kuntze, K., Nau, W. M., Nonappa & Priimagi, A., 2023, In: Advanced Optical Materials. 11, 15, 8 p., 2300232.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
In Situ Depletion-Guided Engineering of Nanoshell-like Gold Nanocluster Assemblies with Enhanced Peroxidase-like Nanozyme Activity
Bera, D., Mukhopadhyay, A., Nonappa & Goswami, N., 2023, In: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 14, 32, p. 7299-7305 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Precision Nanocluster-Based Toroidal and Supertoroidal Frameworks Using Photocycloaddition-Assisted Dynamic Covalent Chemistry
Lakshmi, K. M., Rival, J. V., Sreeraj, P., Nambiar, S. R., Jeyabharathi, C., Nonappa & Shibu, E. S., 22 Jan 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Small.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Precision nanoengineering for functional self-assemblies across length scales
Nonappa, 2023, In: Chemical Communications. 59, 93, p. 13800-13819 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Recent advances in lab-on-a-chip systems for breast cancer metastasis research
Firatligil-Yildirir, B., Yalcin-Ozuysal, O. & Nonappa, 2023, In: Nanoscale Advances. 5, 9, p. 2375-2393 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › peer-review