Nnamdi Ikemefuna Okafor

Pharmaceutical Scientist with expertise in nanomedicine, advanced drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical formulation, biomaterials, and translational nanotechnology. Experienced in the design, synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of nanocarrier systems for neurological, infectious, and inflammatory diseases. Proven record of securing competitive research funding, publishing in peer-reviewed international journals, supervising postgraduate research, teaching undergraduate pharmacy courses, and collaborating across multidisciplinary research teams. Passionate about translating innovative pharmaceutical technologies into clinically relevant therapies.

• Richard, Beteck Mbi, Professor of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 25159194@nwu.ac.za, +27721480920, Northwest University, South Africa
• Nnaemeka Joshua, Nnaji, Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, joemeks4u@yahoo.com, +27 63 869 8465, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Abakaliki, Nigeria, Postdoctoral research fellow, North-West University, South Africa.
• Xavier Siwe, Noundou, Professor of pharmaceutical sciences, xavier.siwenoundou@smu.ac.za, +27787075306, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa

National Research Foundation (NRF), Wits University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Award: Worth R370,000: 2026, National Research Foundation (NRF), Wits University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Award Worth: R225,000, and Wits University Research Committee (URC): Award Worth: R75,000: 2025, Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Early Career Conference Grant: Award worth: £1,900: 2024, National Research Foundation (NRF), Postdoctoral Award; Worth R200,000, and Wits University Research Committee (URC): Award Worth: R75,000: 2024, Royal Society/Academy of Science FLAIR fellowship award, through the University of the Western Cape, South Africa: Award Worth: R75,000: 2019 – 2022, National Research Foundation (NRF) Grant via Rhodes University Unit, South Africa: Award Worth: R30,000: 2018

• St’ John’s Anglican Church Choir, Member, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa, 2019, 2023, Member St’ John’s Anglican Church Choir, Bellville, Cape town, South Africa, 2019 – 2023 with an award of recognition for my services from the Bishop, Anglican Communion, Cape Town
• Rhodes University, Practical demonstrator, Grahamstown, South Africa, 2017, 2019, Practical demonstrator, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa high school Open day, 2017 – 2019
• Khanya Maths and Science Club, Tutor/demonstrator, Grahamstown, South Africa, 2017, 2018, Tutor/demonstrator (Khanya Maths and Science Club) for high school learners from underdeveloped communities across Grahamstown, South Africa, 2017 – 2018
• St’ Michael and St’ Georges Cathedral Choir, Member, Grahamstown, South Africa, 2017, 2019, Member St’ Michael and St’ Georges Cathedral Choir, Grahamstown, South Africa, 2017 – 2019

• Member Pharmaceutical Science Students Association (PSSA), South Africa (till date)
• Member South African Chemical Institute (SACI) (till date)

• Okafor N.I., Igbokwe N.N., Mbuso F., Choonara Y.E. Artificial Intelligence-Driven Development and Characterization of Nanomedicine. BioNanosci. 2026; 16(255). doi.org/10.1007/s12668-026-02476-x
• Okafor N.I., Igbokwe N.N., Nnolu-Orji N.F., Choonara Y.E. Polymer Lipid Nanosystems: An Emerging Advanced Therapeutic Tool. Adv Polym Tech 4707146 (2025). doi.org/10.1155/adv/4707146
• Okafor N.I., Ubanako P.N., Penny C., Choonara Y.E. Biomimetic palmitic acid functionalized polydopamine nanoparticles for targeted CNS delivery of the neurotransmitter dopamineinA172neuronalcells. NanoExpress. 2025 6; 035016. doi.org/10.1088/2632-959X/ae0351
• Okafor N.I., Nnaji N.J. The Preparation of Abacavir-Loaded Liposomes for Improved Solubility and Dissolution Rate. J. Pharm. Chem. 2025; 59(2). doi.org/10.1007/s11094-025-03385-1
• Okafor N.I., Nnaji P.C., Nnolum-Orji N.F., Choonara Y.E. Functionalized Polydopamine Nanoparticles: A Promising Drug Delivery Platform for the Treatment of Tuberculosis. Drug. Dev. Res. 2025; 86: e70109. doi.org/10.1002/ddr.70109
• Varughese T.P.K., Ramburrun P., Okafor N.I., van Vuuren s., Choonara Y.E., Design of a Foam-Actuated Nano-Emulgel for Periocuetic Drug Delivery: Formulation, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Efficacy. Gels 2025; 11(5), 373. doi.org/10.3390/gels11050373
• Okafor N.I., Omoteso O.A., Nnaji J.N., ‘Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles: Pharmaceutical and Diagnostic Applications’ in book: Multifunctional and Magnetic Nanoparticles in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry. RSC 2025; 297 – 328. doi:10.1039/9781837675357-00297
• Omoteso O.A., Okafor N.I., Odeniyi M., ‘Sterosome: An Advanced Non-Phospholipid Vesicular Drug Delivery System’. Trends in Nanomed. 2025, 1(1): 2. doi - 10.63224/tnm.2025.1.002
• Okafor N.I., Omoteso O.A., Choonara Y.E. ‘The modification of the conventional liposomes for targeted antimicrobial delivery to treat infectious disease’. Dis Nano. 2025; 20(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s11671-024-04170-x
• Hope Onuohean, Okafor N.I., Yahya E. Choonara, ‘Nanoparticles for Imaging of Lymphatic System: Challenges and Future Perspective’ (Book Chapter). Adv. Targ. Lymph. System. 2024; 311- 335, Springer Nature, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-64828-1_16
• Okafor N.I., "Microencapsulation in HIV Pediatric Formulations; Advances and Future Outlook" Adv. Pharmacol and Pharm. Sci. 2024; ID 5081655. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5081655
• Okafor N.I and Nnaji N.J, “Liposomes, Facilitating the Encapsulation and Improved Solubility of Zidovudine Antiretroviral Drug,” Bionanosci, 2024; 0123456789: 9–12. doi: 10.1007/s12668-024-01504-y.
• Onuoha O.C. and Okafor N.I., “Social Investment Programme and Livelihood of the Vulnerable: A Focus on Nigeria Post COVID-19 Pandemic,” Int. J. Business, Econ. Soc. Dev. 2023; 4(4): 204–217. doi: 10.46336/ijbesd.v4i4.474.
• Okafor N.I., C. I. Nkanga C.I., Waker R.B., Xavier S.N., and Krause R.W, “Encapsulation and physicochemical evaluation of efavirenz in liposomes,” J. Pharm Investig. 2019; 45:1-8. doi: 10.1007/s40005-019-00458-8.
• Okafor N.I., M. Ngoepe M, Noundou X.S., and Krause R.W., “Nano-enabled liposomal mucoadhesive films for enhanced efavirenz buccal drug delivery,” J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 2019;54. doi: 10.1016/j.jddst.2019.101312.
• Nkanga C.I, Bapolisi A.M., Okafor N.I., and Rui Werner Krause, “General perception of liposomes: formation, manufacturing and applications,” in IntechOpen, 2019;32:137–144 (Book chapter)
• Nnaji N.J, Okafor N.I., A. M. Ekwonu, O. U. Osuji, O. O. Okwukogu, O. Okoye, A. Anozie, S. C. Anene, R. C. Ehiri and T. U. Onuegbu“Cashew nut testa tannin resin–preparation, characterization and adsorption studies,” J. Taibah Univ. Sci.2021; 15(1):170–183. doi: 10.1080/16583655.2021.193071
• Okafor N.L., Yahya E. Choonara. Mannosylated-PVA stabilized Citrus Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Novel Nanosystem against Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Poster Presentation). South African Chemical Institute (SACI) Convention, Johannesburg, 2025
• Okafor N.L., Yahya E. Choonara. ‘’Palmitate surface modified mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles for targeted delivery of dopamine and treatment of Parkinson’s disease’’ and Artificial intelligence in precision drug delivery in the treatment of neurological diseases’ (poster presentation). International Pharmaceutical Federation World Congress, Cape town, 2024.
• Okafor N.L., Aucamp ME. ‘’Preparation of an amorphous dispersion of abacavir using spray drying’’ (Oral presentation). Annual research seminar of School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa, 2021.
• Okafor N.L., Aucamp ME. ’Physico-chemical and functional characterization of pea protein and rice protein isolates as pharmaceutical excipients’ (E-Poster presentation). International Hybrid Conference of American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences November – December 2020.
• Okafor NL., Delegate at the National Conference of the National Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 2019.
• Okafor N.L., Krause RW. ‘’Formulation of liposome for antiretroviral drug delivery’’ (Oral presentation), 43rd National Convention of the South African Chemical Institute, December 2018
• Okafor N.L., Krause RW. ‘’Formulation and evaluation of liposomal buccal film for antiretroviral drug delivery’’ (E-Poster presentation). The 17th Edition of the International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutics and Novel Drug Delivery Systems, Moscow, Russia, October 2018

I certify that all the information given here is correct and authentic: March 2026

Pharmaceutical development, Drug delivery, Nanomedicine and Solid- State Characterization.

• Nanomedicine
• Formulation development
• Drug delivery system
• Polymer lipid nanoparticles
• Polydopamine nanoparticles
• Nanostructured lipid carrier
• Lipid nanoparticles
• Nanoparticles:
• Liposomes
• Micelles
• Dendrimers
• In: Infectious diseases
• Regenerative diseases
• Neurological diseases

• ORCHID ID orcid.org/0000-0003-3104-9977
• Google Scholar Publication 16, Citation 236, h-index 5.
• Https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=1DUik_sAAAAJ&scisig=ANk
• ResearchGate Publication 16, Citation 191, h-index 5
• Scopus id. : https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorid= 57211213082

• Assistant Lecturer and Postdoctoral Fellow. Wits Advance Drug Delivery (WADDP) Platform, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutics, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Therapeutic potential of citrus derived exosome-based nanodrugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases
• Isolation and purification of Citrus derived exosomes using ultracentrifugation technique
• Preparation and characterization of exosome-based nanodrugs
• Anti-inflammatory studies using the Hek293 human embryonic cell line
• Cell studies and analysis (cell reviving, passaging, seeding, MTT cell studies)
• Cellular uptake assay using Confocal imaging system
• Biomimetic Intranasal Polydopamine Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Neurological Disease
• Formulation of naso-durable nanoparticles using microfluidics to produce spherical core–shell nanoparticles for optimal N2B delivery.
• Elucidation of the physicochemical dynamics of the native and chemically assembled polydopamine nanoparticles in simulated nasal and CNS delivery media.
• In vivo efficacy of the NPs in healthy rat models.
• Cellular uptake
• Doctoral Student. 2019 – 2023
• Hands on laboratory experience in formulation and pre-formulations development and synthesis of nanoparticles for treatment of varying diseases
• Investigation of the functional properties of pea protein isolate and inulin to ascertain their microencapsulation ability alone and in combination with one another.
• Physicochemical characterization of selected pure compounds to facilitate a thorough drug-excipient compatibility study. To achieve this objective several analytical techniques including the hot-stage microscopy (HSM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were all utilized.
• Investigation and optimization of spray-drying of the drugs using pea protein isolate and inulin as microencapsulation materials.
• Investigation and optimization of liposomal encapsulation of drugs using soy lecithin and cholesterol as microencapsulation materials.
• Physicochemical characterization of the most optimal microencapsulated ABC and AZT preparations.
• Firsthand experience in pharmaceutical analytical techniques such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, HSM, SEM, TEM, EDS, Spray drying
• Master’s student. Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
• Design and formulation of liposomal buccal films for efavirenz drug delivery
• University of Witwatersrand MSc/PhD protocol and thesis assessor’s training and nomination, 2024 and 2026.
• Fire Marshal. 2018. Department of medicinal organic chemistry and nano material research laboratory, Rhodes University, South Africa (2018)
• Participant in Materials - Nanotechnology Workshop on publications by Springer Nature, Rhodes University, South Africa (May 2018)

• Postgraduate Research Supervision: University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
• Michael Raul Gomes: Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery to the glymphatic system: a comparative investigation and modulators for brain-localised therapeutics against glioblastoma multiforme (Co-supervisor; PhD thesis ongoing)
• Theresa Paul Koottapillil Varughese: Design of a shear-thinning, non-propellant oral cleansing foam for the treatment of gingivitis and early periodontitis. Theresa Paul Koottapillil Varughese; (Co-supervisor; master’s degree completed)
• Nonjabulo Sibisi, Shandiwe Nasha: Extraction and physicochemical characterization of exosomes derived from adulterated cow milk and human breast milk as a potential drug delivery system: (Co-supervisor; honours degree completed)
• Kamaghelo Lethamagaka: A systematic review: effects of temperature and relative humidity on isoniazid tablets: (Co-supervisor; honours degree completed)
• Editor and reviewer for international journals
• Reviewer roles: DiscoverNano (Springer), Bionanoscience Journal (Springer), Cureus Journal, HIV Medicine (Wiley), Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation (Springer), Drug Design, Development and Therapy (Taylor and Francis), Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Biomedical Materials and Devices, Biological Trace Element Research, Drug Design, Development and Therapy, Peer J, Discover Chemistry, Chemical Papers, Respiratory Research and Treatment.

• Okafor N.I., Abdelgader A., Abobaker A., Yahya E. Choonara. Therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived nanocarriers in neurological disorders. Submitted to ChemistryOpen
• Okafor N.I., Baloyi B., Yahya E. Choonara., Nanomedicine for the treatment of pediatric type 2 diabetes: progress, challenges, and translational perspectives. Submitted to Advanced Therapeutics
• Okafor N.I., Omotesho O.A. Ibrahim R. ’Pharmaceutical application of liposomes in cancer treatment: An update’ submitted to Biopharmaceutics and Disposition (Wiley).
• Okafor N.I., Yahya Choonara. Nanocarrier Functionalization Strategies: A review on targeting ligands, imaging agents, and stimuli-responsive elements (book chapter), submitted to CRC Press; Taylor and Francis.
• Okafor N.I., Yahya E. Choonara., 'Enhanced Hepatic Targeting of Hesperetin Using Mannose-Functionalized, PVA-Stabilized Extracellular Vesicles for NAFLD/NASH Mitigation

• Laboratory Manager Innov’Ceutics research group, School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa, 2019 - 2022
• Member organizing committee on proposal and annual research presentation of School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa 2021
• Chairperson of the annual proposal/research conference of the School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa 2021
• Member organizing committee on proposal and annual research presentation of School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa in 2019
• President Students Chemical Society of Nigeria, Anambra State University, Uli Chapter (2009 – 2010)