The group.

Rami Ahmed is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Infectious Disease Nanomedicine Research Laboratory (Dube Lab), School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacy from the University of Khartoum and an MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology, both in Sudan. He obtained his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UWC. His research focuses on nanomedicine, advanced drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical formulation, pulmonary drug delivery, and targeted therapies for infectious diseases — including nanoparticle- and microparticle-based platforms, immunomodulatory therapies, and the clinical translation of inhalable nanomedicines.

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Retsepile Ephraim Maphasa is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Infectious Disease Nanomedicine Research Group. Originally from Cape Town, he holds a BSc and BSc Honours in Biotechnology, an MSc in Nanoscience (Nanobiomedical Sciences), and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of the Western Cape, along with an introductory MBA certificate from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He also held a one-year postdoctoral position at Stellenbosch University. He is a multidisciplinary scientist with a strong interest in homeostatic nanomedicines as a treatment option for both infectious and non-infectious diseases through immune modulation.

Dr Nwabuife is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Infectious Disease Nanomedicine Research Group and currently acts as Head of Microlab. He was previously Head of the Nano Drug Delivery Unit in the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, and lectured honours students in drug delivery. He has served as a visiting researcher in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2023–2026) and as a co-supervisor to honours, master’s and PhD students at UKZN and UFS. He obtained his PhD in Pharmaceutics from UKZN in 2023, and has published in Q1 journals including JCR, ADDR, IJN and JDDST. Internationally, he mentors students through the Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship of the American Society for Microbiology (2024–2026).

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Dr Zimvo Obasa is a researcher at Stellenbosch University and a research affiliate at the University of the Western Cape. She is a recipient of a VALIDATE Fellowship, awarded in collaboration with Professor Admire Dube. Her research focuses on Curdlan–PLGA nanoparticle-based vaccine delivery systems for Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. Her current project investigates the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of antigen-loaded nanoparticles in a mouse model of tuberculosis, with the aim of advancing vaccine platforms that enhance antigen presentation and immunity.

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Z’nita Lori’an Young is a PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape and a researcher within the Infectious Disease Nanomedicine Research Group. She holds a BSc in Medical Biosciences and an MSc in Nanosciences, specialising in Nanobiomedical Sciences, from UWC. Her academic and research experience spans nanoscience, nanomedicine, medical microbiology and biomedical research. Her current work focuses on nanomedicine-based approaches for infectious diseases, with particular interest in antimicrobial strategies, targeted drug delivery, and nanotechnology-based therapeutics.

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Sisipho Sathula is a PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. Originally from eLibode in the Eastern Cape, she holds a BSc in Genetics and Microbiology from the University of the Free State, a BSc Honours in Medical Bioscience from UWC, and an MSc in Nanoscience (Nanobiomedical Sciences) from UWC. During her honours year she received Golden Key recognition. Her research interests developed around neurological research, with particular focus on the challenges of central nervous system infections.

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Pamela Kadare is pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. Her academic background includes a BPharm (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe, an MPharm in Pharmacoeconomics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and an MSc in Drug Delivery from Aston University, Birmingham. Throughout her graduate training she developed a keen interest in infectious diseases and nanomedicine, with particular focus on inhalable formulations.

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Lindiwe holds a BSc in Human Anatomy & Physiology and Genetics from the University of Cape Town and a BSc (Hons) in Medical Physiology from Stellenbosch University, where she graduated cum laude and received the Top Achiever of the Class Award. She is pursuing a PhD in Medical Physiology at Stellenbosch University, in collaboration with UWC, following an upgrade from her MSc. Her research investigates Rooibos-enriched, mitochondria-targeted nanoparticles in breast cancer. She has received the Best Research Project Presentation Award and is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

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Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Ezintle is a PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences. She holds a BSc in Medical Bioscience from the University of the Western Cape, a BSc Honours in Anatomical Pathology from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and an MSc in Nanoscience from UWC. She has researched tuberculosis since her honours year and is currently working on nanomedicine approaches to curb TB.

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Harrison Abrahams is a PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. Born and raised in Cape Town, he graduated with a BSc in Biotechnology from UWC, a BSc Honours in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from Stellenbosch University, and an MSc in Nanoscience (Nanobiomedical Sciences) from UWC. His interests include modulating the immune system and treating tuberculosis using nanoparticle delivery systems, and understanding the mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell-wall lipoglycans.

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Sohair Mohmmedali is a PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours from Ahfad University for Women and an MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology with First Class Honours from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology. She is also a lecturer in Pharmaceutics at Ahfad University for Women. Her research focuses on pharmaceutical nanotechnology and advanced drug delivery systems for infectious diseases.

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Athembile Centane is a PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. Born in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, she holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Rhodes University and a PGDip in Biotechnology from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Witnessing the burden of tuberculosis on families in her village became a driving force in her academic work, and deepened her interest in host-directed therapies as a potential treatment for infectious diseases.

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Chesney Adonis is an MSc candidate in Nanoscience, specifically NanoBiomedicine, at the University of the Western Cape. She completed a BSc in Medical Bioscience (cum laude) and a BSc Honours in Medical Bioscience at UWC. Driven by a commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance, her honours research investigated an adjuvant against resistant bacterial strains. Her master’s work sits at the intersection of nanomedicine and microbiology: nanocarrier delivery systems as alternative therapeutics to antibiotics, and the eradication of persistent bacterial biofilms.

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Tabassum Logday is an MSc candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. Originally from Cape Town, she holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (cum laude) from UWC and is a qualified pharmacist, after completing her internship (2022) in the private healthcare sector and community service at a local tertiary hospital. During her postgraduate studies she developed a strong research focus on cancer therapeutics and specialised paediatric formulations.

Simamkele Tempi is a master’s candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from UWC. Her postgraduate research focuses on the green synthesis and characterisation of silver nanoparticles using Artemisia afra, with particular interest in antimycobacterial activity and cytotoxicity. She has developed a strong interest in nanomedicine, medicinal plant research, and nanotechnology for infectious diseases.

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Rotondwa Ligege is an MSc Nanoscience student in the Biomedical Nanoscience stream at the University of the Western Cape. She holds a BSc in Physiology and Chemistry and a BSc Honours in Physiology from Nelson Mandela University. Her current research focuses on multilayered nanoparticles for tuberculosis drug delivery. She previously worked as an analytical chemist in the quality-control laboratory at Aspen Pharmacare, and has received multidisciplinary training through the DSTI nanoschool programme — nanoparticle technologies, bioconjugation, point-of-care diagnostics, lateral flow devices, and biosensor manufacturing.

Nokuthula Lukhele is a master’s candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from UWC. Her current research explores nanotechnology-based topical drug delivery systems, with the aim of improving drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes.

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Muneiwa Mudau is an MSc candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. Originally from Venda (Ha-Kutama, Muduluni) in Limpopo, she holds a BSc in Physical Sciences from Sol Plaatje University and a BSc Honours in Chemistry from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. Her research focuses on nanoparticle-based drug delivery for drug-resistant mycobacteria.

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Tsima Thapelo Caroline is an MSc candidate in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. She is originally from Groblersdal Motetema, Limpopo. She completed a BSc in Molecular and Life Sciences and an honours degree in Physiology at the University of Limpopo. Her research project focuses on multidrug resistance in colorectal cancer using in vitro models.

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Nokulunga Nkululeko Ngwenya is an MSc Nanoscience candidate at the University of the Western Cape, specialising in Biomedical Sciences. She holds a BSc Honours in Forensic Genetics from the University of the Free State. Her postgraduate research sits at the intersection of nanoscience, neurobiology, genetics and drug-delivery research, with a particular focus on the blood–brain barrier. Her current work uses bEnd.5 mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells as an in vitro BBB model to investigate PLGA-based nanoparticles under healthy and LPS-induced inflammatory conditions — including cell viability, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokine responses, barrier integrity and permeability.

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