Dube Lab UWC · IDNM
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Publications

Recent papers.

A public record of the group’s work, newest first. This is not an exhaustive CV — see Prof Dube’s ORCID for the full list.

2026

2026

Exploring the impact of nutrition and autophagy on infectious diseases to inform the development of homeostatic-nanomedicines for HIV-TB coinfections

Maphasa, R.E., Rambharose, S., Chigorimbo-Murefu, N., Fielding, B.C. and Dube, A.

Discover Nano, 21, 443.
2026

Understanding Mycobacterium tuberculosis host immune responses and identifying synergistic autophagy-inducing compounds as potential nanomedicines for tuberculosis treatment

Centane, A., Maphasa, R. E., and Dube, A.

Nanomedicine, 21(16), 2411–2426.
2026

Engineered artificial bacterial nanovesicles displaying CHIKV multi-epitope antigens elicit potent protective immunity

Song, M., Wu, B., Wang, H., Dai, H., Yao, C., Sun, R., Xu, F., Dube, A., Cao, Y. and Wang, C.

Nano Today, 70, 103099.
2026

Chitosan–hyaluronic acid engineered polycaprolactone nanoparticles enhance curcumin antiplasmodial activity and preserve blood–brain barrier integrity

Mwajombe, J., Ahmed, R., Maphasa, R. E., Rubaka, C., Yongolo, N. M., Mohammed, M., Tumbo, A., Okobi, E., Sauli, E., Willemse, C., Fisher, D., Swai, H and Dube, A.

Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 1–30.
2026

Phyto-mediated synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles from Eucalyptus camaldulensis and their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiplasmodial activities

Daniel, A.I., Gara, T.Y., Tijani, J.O., Oselusi, S.O., Ameh, A.E., Gokul, A., Nkomo, M., Dube, A., Keyster, M. and Klein, A.

Results in Chemistry, 27, p.103502.
2026

Heparin-functionalized chitosan-poly (ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles loaded with quinine for selective targeting of infected erythrocytes and enhanced antiplasmodial efficacy

Amos, Y., Ahmed, R., Sauli, E., Rubaka, C., Tambwe, M.M., Tumbo, A., Swai, H. and Dube, A.

Nanomedicine, pp.1-14.
2026

Advances in the treatment of mycetoma: the emerging role of nanomedicine

Ahmed, R., Saeed, A.A., Fahal, A.H. and Dube, A.

Nanomedicine, pp.1-11.
2026

Protein-based nanoparticles in the treatment of respiratory infectious diseases: current progress and future directions

Kadare, P., Chikukwa, M.T., Aucamp, M. and Dube, A.

Nanomedicine, pp.1-16.
2026

Introduction to antiviral nanomaterials: Mechanisms and applications

Ahmed, R., Akinnawo, C.A., Chikukwa, M.T., Fielding, B.C. and Dube, A.

In Nanotechnology and Antivirus Nanomaterials for Combating COVID-19 (pp. 41-94). Elsevier.

2025

2025

Vitamin D3 loaded polycaprolactone nanoparticles enhance the expression of the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin in macrophages

Dlozi, P.N., Ahmed, R., Khoza, S. and Dube, A.

Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 53(1), pp.207-219.
2025

Formulation and clinical translation of inhalable nanomedicines for the treatment and prevention of pulmonary infectious diseases

Ahmed, R., Tewes, F., Aucamp, M. and Dube, A.

Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 15(9), pp.2967-2993.
2025

Advanced Therapeutic Technologies for Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV Infection and Neglected Tropical Diseases

Dube, A., G. Laverty and M. Balogun.

Advanced Therapeutics, 2500115.
2025

Nanomedicine Solutions for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Critical Review of Therapeutic Nanoparticle Strategies

Tutubala, T.E., Egunlusi, A.O., Fisher, D., Dube, A. and Joubert, J.

ACS Omega, 10(45), pp.53633-53657.
2025

Immunomodulatory Nanoparticles Induce Autophagy in Macrophages and Reduce Mycobacterium tuberculosis Burden in the Lungs of Mice

Bekale, R.B., Maphasa, R.E., D’Souza, S., Hsu, N.J., Walters, A., Okugbeni, N., Kinnear, C., Jacobs, M., Sampson, S.L., Meyer, M. and Morse, G.D., Dube, A.

ACS Infectious Diseases, 11(3): 610-625.
2025

Synthesis of immunomodulatory biomimetic lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles and application of zebrafish larvae in immunomodulation screening

Irabin, A.F., Ollewagen, T., Smith, C., Ahmed, R., Reineke, J., Reijnders, R., Sampson, S.L., du Plessis, N. and Dube, A.

European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 207, p.107037.
2025

Targeting Myeloid Cells with Platelet-Derived Extracellular Vesicles to Overcome Resistance of Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy

Yao, C., Ma, Q., Wang, H., Wu, B., Dai, H., Xu, J., Bai, J., Xu, F., Dube, A. and Wang, C.

Biomaterials, p.123336.
2025

Curcumin and Curcumin-loaded poly (caprolactone) nanoparticles restore mitochondrial function in an in vitro Parkinson’s disease model

Buck, A.C., Smith, L., Dube, A., Bardien, S. and Maarman, G.J.

Phytomedicine Plus, p.100893.
2025

Mitochondria targeted nanoparticles for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction-associated brain disorders

Buck, A.C., Maarman, D.G.J., Dube, A. and Bardien, S.

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 13, p.1563701.

2024

2024

Clinically Relevant Metallic Nanoparticles in Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Therapy

Akinnawo, C.A. and Dube, A.

Advanced Therapeutics, p.2400189.
2024

Minimum Information for Conducting and Reporting In Vitro Intracellular Infection Assays

Subramaniam, S., Joyce, P., Ogunniyi, A.D., Dube, A., Sampson, S.L., Lehr, C.M. and Prestidge, C.A.

ACS Infectious Diseases, 10(2), 337-349.
2024

Inhalational Delivery of β-glucan-chitosan-poly (lactic co-glycolic) acid Nanoparticles Enhance Alveolar Macrophage Rifampin Concentrations for the Treatment of Tuberculosis

Kutscher, H.L., Tamblin, M., Karki, S., Chaves, L., Baird, M., Parvin, A., Smith, E., Dube, A., Zhang, Z., Chakraborty, S. and Kenney, P.

Advanced Therapeutics, p.2400057.
2024

Selenium Nanoparticle Activity against S. mutans Biofilms as a Potential Treatment Alternative for Periodontitis

Hamman, N., Ramburrun, P. and Dube, A.

Pharmaceutics, 16(4), p.450.
2024

Green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide using Persea rabicna mill. Extract: Characterization, oxygen reduction reaction and antibacterial application

Zikalala, N.E., Azizi, S., Mpeta, L.S., Ahmed, R., Dube, A., Mketo, N., Zinatizadeh, A.A., Mokrani, T. and Maaza, M.M.

Diamond and Related Materials, p.111560.
2024

Ionome mapping and amino acid metabolome profiling of Phaseolus vulgaris L. seeds imbibed with computationally informed phytoengineered copper sulphide nanoparticles

Botha, N.L., Cloete, K.J., Šmit, Ž., Isaković, K., Akbari, M., Morad, R., Madiba, I., David, O.M., Santos, L.P., Dube, A. and Pelicon, P.

Discover Nano, 19(1), p.8.

2023

2023

Nanophytomedicines as Therapeutic Agents for Parkinson’s Disease

Burns, J., Buck, A.C., D’Souza, S., Dube, A. and Bardien, S.

ACS Omega, 8(45), pp.42045-42061.
2023

Investigation and Evaluation of the Transdermal Delivery of Ibuprofen in Various Characterized Nano-Drug Delivery Systems

Myburgh, J., Liebenberg, W., Willers, C., Dube, A. and Gerber, M.

Pharmaceutics, 15(10), p.2413.
2023

Synthesis, Characterization, Cytotoxicity, and Antibacterial Studies of Persea rabicna Mill.(Avocado) Seed Husk Mediated Hydronium Jarosite Nanoparticles

Botha, N.L., Cloete, K.J., Matinise, N., David, O.M., Dube, A. and Maaza, M.

Applied Sciences, 13(15), p.8963.
2023

Biosensors as early warning detection systems for waterborne Cryptosporidium

Siwak, A.M., Baker, P.G. and Dube, A.

Water Science & Technology, 88(3), pp.615-630.
2023

Comparative study on the topical and transdermal delivery of diclofenac incorporated in nano-emulsions, nano-emulgels, and a colloidal suspension

Louw, E.V., Liebenberg, W., Willers, C., Dube, A., Aucamp, M.E. and Gerber, M.

Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 13(5), pp.1372-1389.
2023

Chitosan-coated liposomes of Carrisa spinarum extract: synthesis, analysis and anti-pneumococcal potency

Rubaka, C., Gathirwa, J.W., Malebo, H.M., Swai, H., Sibuyi, N.R.S., Hilonga, A., Dube, A.

Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, p. 1-12.

Earlier papers — including work on malaria nanoformulations, PEGylated PLGA, pentamidine BBB transport, and the South African nanomedicine landscape — are listed in Prof Dube’s ORCID record.

ORCID 0000-0002-5684-6094