Personal profile
Biography
I have an extensive background in experimental studies and physico-chemical characterization of surfaces, interfaces, nanoscale layers and particle materials in close connection to material science, biophysics and nanotechnology. I received my PhD in 1999 from the Department of Physical Chemistry at Åbo Akademi University. After this I worked 10 years at KSV Instruments Ltd/Biolin Scientific Oy, a company providing high-tech, precision analytical instruments for nanoscale study of interfaces. In January 2010 I returned to academia as a senior researcher at University of Helsinki and held an Academy of Finland Research Fellow position between August 2010 - July 2015. In 2018 I obtained a university lecturer position in pharmaceutical technology at University of Helsinki, and since 1.9.2021 I have been appointed as a professor in New Drug Formulations (position shared between University of Helsinki and Åbo Akademi University). I am also a group leader of the Pharmaceutical Biophysics research group at the Faculty of Pharmacy at University of Helsinki and a member of the BioNanoMaterials group at Åbo Akademi University. My main research focus is to utilize model surfaces, living cells, nanoscience and –technology, and various physico-chemical label-free characterization techniques (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, quartz crystal microbalance and time-resolved Raman spectroscopy) and well-established tools in life sciences to improve the mechanistic understanding of drug and nanoparticle action and delivery.
External positions
Professor, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki
1 Sept 2021 → …
Docent in Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki
1 Sept 2020 → …
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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NAP4DIVE: Non-Animal Platform for Nanoparticle-Based Delivery Across the Blood-Brain Barrier Interface with Vehicle Evolution
Sahlgren, C. (Principal Investigator), Rosenholm, J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Zhang, H. (Co-Principal Investigator), Viitala, T. (Co-Principal Investigator), Lafond, S. (Co-Principal Investigator) & Baghirov, H. (Co-Investigator)
01/01/25 → 31/12/28
Project: EU
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Nordic Pharmaceutical Translation and Innovation
Rosenholm, J. (Principal Investigator), Viitala, T. (Co-Principal Investigator), Zhang, H. (Co-Principal Investigator), Salo-Ahen, O. (Co-Principal Investigator), Filppula, A. (Co-Principal Investigator), Wang, X. (Co-Principal Investigator), Bansal, K. (Co-Investigator), Kulkov, I. (Co-Investigator), Ahen, F. (Co-Investigator), Salminen, T. A. (Co-Principal Investigator), Airenne, T. (Co-Investigator), Lehtonen, J. (Co-Investigator), Södergård, B. (Co-Investigator) & Rosenberg, S. (Co-Investigator)
01/01/24 → 31/12/28
Project: Research
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PII: Printed Intelligence Infrastructure
Toivakka, M. (Principal Investigator), Xu, C. (Co-Principal Investigator), Bobacka, J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Viitala, T. (Co-Principal Investigator), Rosenholm, J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Österbacka, R. (Co-Principal Investigator), Anttu, N. (Co-Principal Investigator), Huynh, T. P. (Co-Principal Investigator), Peltonen, J. (Co-Principal Investigator), Wang, X. (Co-Principal Investigator), Zhang, H. (Co-Principal Investigator) & Wilen, C.-E. (Co-Principal Investigator)
01/01/24 → 31/12/28
Project: Research Council of Finland/Other Research Councils
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MADNESS: Centre of Excellence in Materials-driven solutions for combatting antimicrobial resistance
Rosenholm, J. (Principal Investigator), Porres Paltor, I. (Co-Principal Investigator), Bansal, K. (Coordinator), Lafond, S. (Co-Principal Investigator), Uppstu, P. (Co-Principal Investigator), Viitala, T. (Co-Principal Investigator), Wang, X. (Co-Principal Investigator), Wilen, C.-E. (Co-Principal Investigator), Xu, C. (Co-Principal Investigator), Zhang, H. (Co-Principal Investigator), Lu, Z. (Co-Investigator), Verma, J. (Co-Investigator), Kumar, V. (Co-Investigator), Frejborg, F. (Co-Investigator), Wang, S. (Co-Investigator), Ran, M. (Co-Investigator), Ma, X. (Co-Investigator), Yang, W. (Co-Investigator), Liang, S. (Co-Investigator), Zhang, Y. (Co-Investigator), Fan, L. (Co-Investigator), Chen, Y. (Co-Investigator), Wang, L. (Co-Investigator), Zhuang, P. (Co-Investigator), Rajan Prakash, D. (Co-Investigator), Howaili, F. (Co-Investigator), Gulshan, R. (Co-Investigator), Yadav, D. (Co-Investigator), Pathak, C. (Co-Investigator), Mustafa, R. (Co-Investigator), DarzianRostami, L. (Co-Investigator), Jafari Dargahlou, M. (Co-Investigator), Nygård, A. (Co-Investigator), Samrat, S. R. (Co-Investigator) & Rexha, H. (Co-Investigator)
01/01/24 → 31/12/28
Project: Foundation
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3D Printing for Personalized Medicine and Customized Drug Delivery
Viitala, T. (Principal Investigator), Rosenholm, J. (Co-Principal Investigator) & Xu, C. (Co-Principal Investigator)
01/05/23 → 31/10/25
Project: Industry/Business Finland
Publications
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Nanocrystals: Optimization Techniques, Solubility Considerations, and Stability Issues
Junnila, A., Espo, E., Emam, M. F., Namli, I., Myöhänen, E., Karttunen, A.-P., Viitala, T. & Peltonen, L., 2026, Nanocrystal Technologies in Biomedical Sciences: Advances in crystal development, characterization and targeted drug delivery. Mehra, N. K. & Bansal, K. K. (eds.). Singapore: Springer, p. 87-126 40 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
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Novel adenovirus vaccine vectors lacking thrombosis-associated interactions with platelet factor 4
Sallard, E., Pembaur, D., Ciancaglini, M., Manov-Bouard, L., Weklak, D., Hamdan, F., Chan, C. K., Jönsson, F., Chabot, E., Musielak, C., Scurti, E., Feola, S., Schellhorn, S., Beaude, N., Schröer, K., Sarkar, D., Koukou, G., Wang, X., Schmidt, N. & Bayer, W. & 12 others, , 16 Jan 2026, In: iScience. 29, 1, 114329.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)5 Downloads (Pure) -
Assessment of a Semi-solid Extrusion Based Compounding System Solution for Personalized Ondansetron Dosage Forms Combined with Raman Spectroscopy Analysis
Bahman, M., Zini, J., Lahtinen, J., Hassinen, N., Verma, S., Laaksonen, T., Airaksinen, S., Topelius, N. S. & Viitala, T., Sept 2025, In: Pharmaceutical Research. 42, 9, p. 1631-1645 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)3 Downloads (Pure) -
Cell-based surface plasmon resonance approach for monitoring the inhibitory effect of Evasin-3 on Interleukin-8
Zhao, Y., Hadavi, D., Scurti, E., Viitala, T., Dijkgraaf, I. & Honing, M., 15 Jul 2025, In: Analytica Chimica Acta. 1359, 6 p., 344091.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)14 Downloads (Pure) -
Functional enzyme delivery via surface-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles in 3D printed nanocomposite hydrogels
Mahran, A., Howaili, F., Bhadane, R., Mathiyalagan, R., Viitala, T., Wang, X. & Rosenholm, J. M., 1 Aug 2025, In: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 211, 107132.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (Scopus)19 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
- 4 Hosting an academic visitor
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Usama Jamshaid
Rosenholm, J. (Host) & Viitala, T. (Host)
1 Sept 2024 → 6 Dec 2024Activity: Hosting a visitor › Hosting an academic visitor
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Metin Yildirim
Viitala, T. (Host)
2 Jul 2024 → 27 Sept 2024Activity: Hosting a visitor › Hosting an academic visitor
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Maxim Bril’kov
Viitala, T. (Host)
17 Apr 2023 → 17 May 2023Activity: Hosting a visitor › Hosting an academic visitor
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Aryane Vigato
Rosenholm, J. (Host) & Viitala, T. (Host)
1 Sept 2022 → 31 Mar 2023Activity: Hosting a visitor › Hosting an academic visitor