dr.Nuwanthi

Dr. Nuwanthi Katuwavila

Senior Lecturer / Dean

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Profile

Dr. Nuwanthi Katuwavila is a Senior Lecturer attached to the Faculty of Science with over 12 years of academic and research experience. She is a B.Sc. Chemistry special graduate from Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya and has obtained her PhD in the field of nanobiotechnology from University of Peradeniya with the collaboration of Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, Homagama. Her research focus is mainly in the fields of nanomedicine and pharmaceutical chemistry. She has won the presidential award for her research publications and the SUSRED award for her PhD study.

During her academic career, she has worked as a lecturer at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka’s Faculty of Applied Sciences and as an academic consultant at the Faculty of Computing and Technology, University of Kelaniya. She has also worked over two years as a post-doctoral researcher at the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology.

Research Interest

  • Research focus is mainly on the fields of nanomedicine and pharmaceutical chemistry. 

Journal Publications

  1. Kaushani, K.G., Rathnasinghe, N. L., Katuwawila, N., Jayasinghe, R.A., Nilmini, A.H.L.R. and Priyadarshana, G. (2022). Trends in Smart Packaging Technologies for Sustainable Monitoring of Food Quality and Safety, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 7(7). DOI: 51584/IJRIAS.2022.7702
  2. Kaushani, K.G., Priyadarshana, G., Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, Jayasinghe, R.A. and Nilmini, A.H.L.R. (2022). Recent Advances of Edible Packaging as an Alternative in Food Packaging Applications, Asian Journal of Chemistry, 34(10), pp.2523-2537. https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2022.23822
  3. Yasuri Amarasekara, Inoka C. Perera, Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, Ranga S. Jayakodi, Gehan A.J. Amarathunga and Laksiri Weerasinghe. (2022). Evaluation of novel nanocomposites for enhanced anticancer activity of XLAsp-P2 peptide, Journal of Molecular Structure, 1257 (132618). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.132618
  4. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, Yasuri Amarasekara, Vimukthi Jayaweera, Chamil Rajapaksha, Chinthika Gunasekara, Inoka C. Perera, Gehan A.J. Amarathunga, Laksiri Weerasinghe. (2020). Graphene oxide-based nanocomposite for sustained release of cephalexin, Journal of pharmaceutical Sciences, 109, pp.1130-1135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2019.09.022
  5. Nwokwu, Chukwumaobim Daniel Uzochukwuwulu, Samarakoon, Sameera Ranganath, Karunaratne, Desiree Nedra, Katuvawila, Nuwanthi P., Ediriweera, Meran Keshawa, Tennekoon, Kamani H. (2017). Chitosan Nano-Encapsulation Enhances Gedunin Cytotoxicity against Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NCI-H292) Cell Line, Drug Delivery Letters, 7(3), pp.219-226. DOI:2174/2210303107666170808110740
  6. Chukwumaobim Daniel Uzochukwuwulu Nwokwu, Sameera Ranganath Samarakoon, Desiree Nedra Karunaratne, Nuwanthi P Katuwavila, Geethi Kaushalya Pamunuwa, Meran Keshawa Ediriweera and Kamani Hemamala Tennekoon. (2017) Induction of apoptosis in response to improved gedunin by liposomal nano-encapsulation in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NCI-H292) cell line, Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 16 (9), pp.2079-2087. DOI: 4314/tjpr.v16i9.6
  7. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, A. D. L. C. Perera, Damayanthi Dahanayake, V. Karunaratne and D. Nedra Karunaratne. (2016) Alginate nanoparticles protect ferrous from oxidation: potential iron delivery system. International Journal of Pharmaceutics., 513, pp.404-409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.09.05
  8. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, A. D. L. Chandani Perera, Sameera R. Samarakoon, Preethi Soysa, Karunaratne, Gehan A. J. Amaratunga, and D. Nedra Karunaratne. (2016) Chitosan-alginate nanoparticle system efficiently delivers doxorubicin to MCF-7 cells. Journal of Nanomaterials. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3178904
  9. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, A. D. L. Chandani Perera, V. Karunaratne, Gehan A. J. Amaratunga, and D. Nedra Karunaratne. (2016). Improved Delivery of Caffeic Acid through Liposomal Encapsulation.Journal of Nanomaterials.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9701870
  10. A.S.K. Menikarachchi, K.A.N.P. Katuwavila, A. Ekanayake, V. Thevanesam, V. Karunaratne and D.N. Karunaratne. (2016) Release Behaviour of Amoxicillin from chitosan coated liposomes derived from egg.  J.Natn.Sci.Foundation, 44(2): pp.61-67. DOI: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v44i2.7997

Conference Publications

  1. Kaushani, K.G., Rathnasinghe, N. L., Katuwawila, N., Jayasinghe, R.A., Nilmini, A.H.L.R. and Priyadarshana, G. (2022). Trends in Smart Packaging Technologies for Sustainable Monitoring of Food Quality and Safety, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 7(7). DOI: 51584/IJRIAS.2022.7702
  2. Kaushani, K.G., Priyadarshana, G., Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, Jayasinghe, R.A. and Nilmini, A.H.L.R. (2022). Recent Advances of Edible Packaging as an Alternative in Food Packaging Applications, Asian Journal of Chemistry, 34(10), pp.2523-2537. https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2022.23822
  3. Yasuri Amarasekara, Inoka C. Perera, Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, Ranga S. Jayakodi, Gehan A.J. Amarathunga and Laksiri Weerasinghe. (2022). Evaluation of novel nanocomposites for enhanced anticancer activity of XLAsp-P2 peptide, Journal of Molecular Structure, 1257 (132618). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.132618
  4. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, Yasuri Amarasekara, Vimukthi Jayaweera, Chamil Rajapaksha, Chinthika Gunasekara, Inoka C. Perera, Gehan A.J. Amarathunga, Laksiri Weerasinghe. (2020). Graphene oxide-based nanocomposite for sustained release of cephalexin, Journal of pharmaceutical Sciences, 109, pp.1130-1135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2019.09.022
  5. Nwokwu, Chukwumaobim Daniel Uzochukwuwulu, Samarakoon, Sameera Ranganath, Karunaratne, Desiree Nedra, Katuvawila, Nuwanthi P., Ediriweera, Meran Keshawa, Tennekoon, Kamani H. (2017). Chitosan Nano-Encapsulation Enhances Gedunin Cytotoxicity against Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NCI-H292) Cell Line, Drug Delivery Letters, 7(3), pp.219-226. DOI:2174/2210303107666170808110740
  6. Chukwumaobim Daniel Uzochukwuwulu Nwokwu, Sameera Ranganath Samarakoon, Desiree Nedra Karunaratne, Nuwanthi P Katuwavila, Geethi Kaushalya Pamunuwa, Meran Keshawa Ediriweera and Kamani Hemamala Tennekoon. (2017) Induction of apoptosis in response to improved gedunin by liposomal nano-encapsulation in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NCI-H292) cell line, Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 16 (9), pp.2079-2087. DOI: 4314/tjpr.v16i9.6
  7. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, A. D. L. C. Perera, Damayanthi Dahanayake, V. Karunaratne and D. Nedra Karunaratne. (2016) Alginate nanoparticles protect ferrous from oxidation: potential iron delivery system. International Journal of Pharmaceutics., 513, pp.404-409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.09.05
  8. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, A. D. L. Chandani Perera, Sameera R. Samarakoon, Preethi Soysa, Karunaratne, Gehan A. J. Amaratunga, and D. Nedra Karunaratne. (2016) Chitosan-alginate nanoparticle system efficiently delivers doxorubicin to MCF-7 cells. Journal of Nanomaterials. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3178904
  9. Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, A. D. L. Chandani Perera, V. Karunaratne, Gehan A. J. Amaratunga, and D. Nedra Karunaratne. (2016). Improved Delivery of Caffeic Acid through Liposomal Encapsulation.Journal of Nanomaterials.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9701870
  10. A.S.K. Menikarachchi, K.A.N.P. Katuwavila, A. Ekanayake, V. Thevanesam, V. Karunaratne and D.N. Karunaratne. (2016) Release Behaviour of Amoxicillin from chitosan coated liposomes derived from egg.  J.Natn.Sci.Foundation, 44(2): pp.61-67. DOI: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v44i2.7997

Book Chapters

  • Nanoformulations and their therapeutic advantages. D. Nedra Karunaratne, Thusini D. Wijeratne, Nuwanthi P. Katuwavila, Geethi K. Pamunuwa. (2022) Nanotherapeutic for the treatment for the hepatocellular carcinoma, Bentham Science publishers, Pp:123-165 (43) Doi: 2174/9789815039740122010005

Ongoing Research

  1. Alginate based green edible packaging material enriched with an antioxidant for minimally processed fresh like food
  2. Enhanced anticancer activity of Annona muricata loaded nanoformulations 3. Lipid nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery