Faculty membersPrimana Punnakitikashem, Ph.D.
- Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington / University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- M.Sc., Industrial Engineering in Logistic, University of Texas at Arlington
- B.Sc., Biochemistry, Chulalongkorn University
Office : 1021 Srisavarindira Bldg. 10th Fl. Department of Biochemistry. Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital , Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700
Laboratory : Srisavarindira Bldg. 9rd Fl.
Phone : (02) 419-9133
E-Mail : primanap@gmail.com
My research interests are in the area of drug delivery system, nanomedicine, and nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticles and nanofibers. The drug delivery system employing nanomaterials has been widely explored as a cutting-edge technology. Nanomaterials are materials in nanoscopic scale, which can be made of metal, polymer, and so on. Therefore, nanomaterials confer advantages over current materials in various medical applications, including diagnosis, therapeutic, and targeting efficacy. In the past decade, various types of nanomaterials have been discovered and developed as a drug-carrier, organ replacement, and implantable material. Nanoparticles are one of the most promising candidates for nanocarriers in drug delivery system, which can encapsulate, absorb, or conjugate drugs. In addition to chemical drugs, nanoparticles can also carry growth factors, proteins, antibiotics, and DNA and deliver these cargos to specific sites. Furthermore, this strategy also provides a precise, efficient, and controllable release manner at the target sites. Nanoparticles can be chemically synthesized using various materials and each type has its own advantages and applications, for example, on cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Like nanoparticle, nanofiber is another potential candidate as a scaffold for delivering therapeutic agents to specific locations. Nanofibers can be produced by electrospinning technique to obtain a polymeric membrane in nanoscale dimensions, which entraps or incorporates therapeutic agents. Based on these features, nanomaterial in drug delivery system has inspired me to pursue this field to develop alternative therapeutic regime for many diseases such as cancer, skin, and cardiovascular diseases.
| 1. | Xie, Z., Paras, C. B., Weng, H., Punnakitikashem, P., Su, L. C., Vu, K., Tang, L., Yang, J., & Nguyen, K. T. (2013). Dual growth factor releasing multi-functional nanofibers for wound healing. Acta biomaterialia, 9(12), 9351–9359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2013.07.030 |
| 2. | Punnakitikashem, P., Truong, D., Menon, J. U., Nguyen, K. T., & Hong, Y. (2014). Electrospun biodegradable elastic polyurethane scaffolds with dipyridamole release for small diameter vascular grafts. Acta biomaterialia, 10(11), 4618–4628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2014.07.031 |
| 3. | Ravikumar, P., Menon, J. U., Punnakitikashem, P., Gyawali, D., Togao, O., Takahashi, M., Zhang, J., Ye, J., Moe, O. W., Nguyen, K. T., & Hsia, C. C. W. (2016). Nanoparticle facilitated inhalational delivery of erythropoietin receptor cDNA protects against hyperoxic lung injury. Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine, 12(3), 811–821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2015.10.004 |
| 4. | Xu, C., Kuriakose, A. E., Truong, D., Punnakitikashem, P., Nguyen, K. T., & Hong, Y. (2018). Enhancing anti-thrombogenicity of biodegradable polyurethanes through drug molecule incorporation. Journal of materials chemistry. B, 6(44), 7288–7297. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TB01582A |
| 5. | Ngamcherdtrakul, W., Sangvanich, T., Goodyear, S., Reda, M., Gu, S., Castro, D. J., Punnakitikashem, P., & Yantasee, W. (2019). Lanthanide-Loaded Nanoparticles as Potential Fluorescent and Mass Probes for High-Content Protein Analysis. Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland), 6(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering6010023 |
| 6. | Akarajarasrod, P., Dechkunakorn, S., Tantivitayakul, P., Punnakitikashem, P., Wichai, W., Whitis, P. P., & Anuwongnukroh, N. (2021). Antibacterial Effect of Experimental Orthodontic Adhesives Containing Gold Nanoparticles against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus In Key Engineering Materials (Vol. 904, pp. 301–308). Trans Tech Publications, Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.904.301 |
| 7. | Traitanon, N., Dechkunakorn, S., Tantivitayakul, P., Punnakitikashem, P., Wichai, W., Whitis, P. P., & Anuwongnukroh, N. (2021). Antibacterial Effect of Gold Nanoparticles Coated Dental Floss Against Cariogenic Bacteria. In P. S. Wei, & Y. Z. Xi (Eds.), Advanced Materials and Engineering Materials X - Selected peer-reviewed full text papers from the 10th ICAMEM and 7th ICMSSM, 2021 (pp. 293-300). (Key Engineering Materials; Vol. 904 KEM). Trans Tech Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.904.293 |
| 8. | Pho-Iam, T., Punnakitikashem, P., Somboonyosdech, C., Sripinitchai, S., Masaratana, P., Sirivatanauksorn, V., Sirivatanauksorn, Y., Wongwan, C., Nguyen, K. T., & Srisawat, C. (2021). PLGA nanoparticles containing α-fetoprotein siRNA induce apoptosis and enhance the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin in human liver cancer cell line. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 553, 191–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.03.086 |
| 9. | Chiraphapphaiboon, W., Luangwattananun, P., Panya, A., Jirapongwattana, N., Punnakitikashem, P., Chieochansin, T., Junking, M., & Yenchitsomanus, P. T. (2022). Cytotoxic T Cells Activated by Self-differentiated Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells Against Multiple Myeloma Cells. Anticancer research, 42(4), 1785–1799. https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.15655 |
| 10. | Alam, I., Lertanantawong, B., Sutthibutpong, T., Punnakitikashem, P., & Asanithi, P. (2022). Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Amyloid Fibril-Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Ultrasensitive Detection of Tryptophan. Biosensors, 12(5), 291. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12050291 |
| 11. | Rodponthukwaji, K., Pingrajai, P., Jantana, S., Taya, S., Duangchan, K., Nguyen, K. T., Srisawat, C., & Punnakitikashem, P. (2023). Epigallocatechin Gallate Potentiates the Anticancer Effect of AFP-siRNA-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland), 14(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14010047 |
| 12. | Nonsuwan, P., Niwetbowornchai, N., Insawang, K., Kunwong, N., Srichan, K., Srisawat, C., Dana, P., Saengkrit, N., Nguyen, K. T., & Punnakitikashem, P. (2025). Synergistic anticancer activity of resveratrol-loaded polymeric nanoparticles and sunitinib in colorectal cancer treatment. Royal Society open science, 12(4), 241817. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241817 |
| 13. | Rodponthukwaji, K., Khowawisetsut, L., Limjunyawong, N., Kunwong, N., Duangchan, K., Sripinitchai, S., Sathornsumetee, S., Nguyen, T., Srisawat, C., & Punnakitikashem, P. (2025). Enhanced Anticancer Effects Through Combined Therapeutic Model of Macrophage Polarization and Cancer Cell Apoptosis by Multifunctional Lipid Nanocomposites. Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A, 113(3), e37886. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.37886 |
| 14. | Leeyaphan, C., Punnakitikashem, P., Suiwongsa, B., Komesmuneeborirak, P., Chongtrakool, P., Kulthanachairojana, N., Limphoka, P., Hutachoke, T., Saengthong-Aram, P., Kobkurkul, P., Wongdama, S., Pongkittilar, B., Matthapan, L., Panyawong, C., Prasong, W., Plengpanich, A., Kunwong, N., Rodponthukwaji, K., & Bunyaratavej, S. (2025). Efficacy, Safety, and Cost-effectiveness of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Whitfield's Spirit Solution for Treating Superficial Fungal Foot Infections: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Dermatology and therapy, 15(2), 351–365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-025-01340-2 |
| 15. | Aroonthongsawat, P., Manocheewa, S., Srisawat, C., Punnakitikashem, P., & Suwanwong, Y. (2025). Enhancement of the in vitro anti-leukemic effect of the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin using Poly-(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles as a drug carrier. European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 207, 107043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2025.107043 |
| 16. | Nonsuwan, P., Niwetbowornchai, N., Insawang, K., Kunwong, N., Srichan, K., Srisawat, C., Dana, P., Saengkrit, N., Nguyen, K. T., & Punnakitikashem, P. (2025). Synergistic anticancer activity of resveratrol-loaded polymeric nanoparticles and sunitinib in colorectal cancer treatment. Royal Society open science, 12(4), 241817. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241817 |
1.
Punnakitikashem P,Ravikumar P,Wu J,Nguyen KT, Connie C. Hsia, and Yi Hong. Extracellular matrix coating of polymeric nanoparticles enhances the efficiency of inhalational gene delivery to the lung. Lung Repair and Regeneration Consortium (LRRC), September 2015, Bethesda MD.
2.
Punnakitikashem P,Truong D,Menon JU, Nguyen KT,Hong Y. Drug-releasing biodegradable elastomeric fibers for vascular engineering. The Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES), March 2014, Arlington TX.
3.
Primana Punnakitikashem, Ravikumar P,Wu J, Nguyen KT , Hsia CC, Hong Y. Extracellular matrix coating enhances uptake of nanoparticles by lung epithelial cells. Lung Repair and Regeneration Consortium (LRRC), September 2014, Bethesda MD.
4.
Thakore D, Punnakitikashem P, Tran R,Yang J,Nguyen KT. Urethane doped polyester (UPE) base nanoparticle scaffolds for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), October 2014, San Antonio TX.
5.
Xie Z, Paras CB, Weng H, Punnakitikashem P, Su LC, Vu K, Tang L, Yang J,Nguyen KT. Antibacterial nanofibrous mesh- a wound healing device for complex wound treatment. The Annual Celebration of Excellence by Students (ACES), March 2013, Arlington TX.
6.
Su LC, Iyer R, Xu H, Sundaresan V, Punnakitikashem P, Yang J, Banerjee S, Nguyen KT. Drug delivery strategies employing angioplasty balloons for treatment of atherosclerosis. American Heart Association session (AHA), November 2013, Dallas TX.
7.
Punnakitikashem P, Truong D, Menon JU, Nguyen KT, Hong Y. Electrospun biodegradable elastic polyurethane fibers with dipyridamole release for vascular engineering. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), September 2013, Seattle WA.
8.
Holden M, Sundaresan V, Punnakitikashem P, Su LC, Prabhakarpandian B, Nguyen KT.Optimization of novel multifunctional nanoscaffolds for re-endothelialization in situ. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), September 2013, Seattle WA.
9.
Xie Z, Paras CB, Weng H, Punnakitikashem P, Su LC, Vu K, Tang L, Yang J, Nguyen KT. Antibacterial nanofibrous mesh- a wound healing device for complex wound treatment. Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), September 2013, Seattle WA.
