Dr Amitha Hewavitharana
Dr

Amitha Hewavitharana

Email: 

Background

Senior Research Fellow

Room 7048, Level 7, Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence Phone:+61 7 334-61898; Fax: +61 7 334-61999 Email: a.hewavitharana@pharmacy.uq.edu.au

Amitha obtained her B.Sc. from the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka), M.Sc. from the university of Victoria (B.C., Canada) and PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of Alberta (Canada). Following that, she held brief research positions at the Massey University (New Zealand) and NZ Leather Research Institute. She then held a research scientist position at the NZ Dairy Research Institute (NZDRI, currently Fonterra Research) for 4 years before moving to Australia in 1997.

In Australia, she commenced her career as a lecturer in analytical chemistry at the University of Western Sydney, and then at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) until 2001. Following that, she held research positions in CSIRO (food science) and in QHSS (investigative chemistry) before joining the school of pharmacy in 2004.

Availability

Dr Amitha Hewavitharana is:
Not available for supervision

Fields of research

Analytical chemistry Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Alberta

Research interests

  • Research Interests

    Please refer to the complete list of publications, in the link below, to get an idea of Dr Hewavitharana's research focus: https://akhcv.wordpress.com Stemming from PhD in analytical chemistry, Dr Hewavitharana's research is focused on solving fundamental analytical problems as well as developing analytical methods for a variety of applications such as: metal speciation (free/ionized calcium, and magnesium) and metabolite analysis (eg. pseudouridine, paracetamols, endorphins, dynorphins) in biological fluids, water and waste water, nutrients (eg. vitamins), antinutrients (eg. lysiniolanine) and antioxidants (eg. carotenes, tocopherols, tocotrienols) in dairy foods and meat products, nutraceuticals in tropical fruits (eg. carotenes, quercetins, mangiferin, anticancer compounds) psychoactive compunds (THC), marker compounds such as isoprostanes, sinistrin, fluconazole, pindolol, p-amino hippuric acid and creatinine, drug discovery (antibiotics and anti-cancer compounds from marine sponge bacteria and tropical fruit), drug delivery (dendrimers) and drug assay (BAY-11-7082, paracetamol, endorphin), Disease markers (eg. Sarcosine in prostate cancer), Fat and Water soluble analogues of vitamin D, Trace metals in food, Ion suppression effects in mass spectrometry, Challenges in method validation. Over the past 31 years, her research outcomes were achieved using a wide variety of instrumentation such as, HPLC -MS-MS, -PDA, -fluorescence, -EC etc, IC, GC-MS, HPCE, AAS, NIR, FTIR, FIA. Her interests also include method validation and laboratory quality assurance in line with ISO 17025. She provides her expertise as a technical assessor to NATA and IANZ, in ISO accreditation of food and water laboratories in Australia and New Zealand.

Search Professor Amitha Hewavitharana’s works on UQ eSpace

109 works between 1988 and 2023
All (109) Journal Article (79) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (29)

1 - 20 of 109 works

2023

Journal Article

Using a global diversity panel of Cannabis sativa L. to develop a near InfraRed-based chemometric application for cannabinoid quantification

Gloerfelt-Tarp, Francine, Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Mieog, Jos, Palmer, William M., Fraser, Felicity, Ansari, Omid and Kretzschmar, Tobias (2023). Using a global diversity panel of Cannabis sativa L. to develop a near InfraRed-based chemometric application for cannabinoid quantification. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 2253, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29148-0

Using a global diversity panel of Cannabis sativa L. to develop a near InfraRed-based chemometric application for cannabinoid quantification

2022

Journal Article

A one-step grafting methodology can adjust stem morphology and increase THCA yield in medicinal cannabis

Purdy, Sarah Jane, Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Halimi, Razlin Azman, Magner, Nelson Joel, Peterswald, Tyson James, Trebilco, Amy, Kretzschmar, Tobias and Hailstones, Deborah (2022). A one-step grafting methodology can adjust stem morphology and increase THCA yield in medicinal cannabis. Agronomy, 12 (4) 852, 852. doi: 10.3390/agronomy12040852

A one-step grafting methodology can adjust stem morphology and increase THCA yield in medicinal cannabis

2022

Journal Article

Simultaneous quantification of 17 cannabinoids in cannabis inflorescence by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Gloerfelt-Tarp, Francine, Nolan, Matthew, Barkla, Bronwyn J., Purdy, Sarah and Kretzschmar, Tobias (2022). Simultaneous quantification of 17 cannabinoids in cannabis inflorescence by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Separations, 9 (4) 85, 85. doi: 10.3390/separations9040085

Simultaneous quantification of 17 cannabinoids in cannabis inflorescence by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

2021

Journal Article

The importance of complete overlapping of analyte and internal standard peaks in eliminating matrix effects with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (Lc–ms)

Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Shaw, P. Nicholas, Smyth, H. D.C., Samaranayake, L. P. and Bandara, H. M.H.N. (2021). The importance of complete overlapping of analyte and internal standard peaks in eliminating matrix effects with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (Lc–ms). LC-GC North America, 39 (7), 335-338.

The importance of complete overlapping of analyte and internal standard peaks in eliminating matrix effects with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (Lc–ms)

2021

Journal Article

A sensitive, high-throughput fluorescent method for the determination of lactoperoxidase activities in milk and comparison in human, bovine, goat and camel milk

Zou, Zhengzheng, Bauland, Julien, Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Al-Shehri, Saad S., Duley, John A., Cowley, David M., Koorts, Pieter, Shaw, Paul N. and Bansal, Nidhi (2021). A sensitive, high-throughput fluorescent method for the determination of lactoperoxidase activities in milk and comparison in human, bovine, goat and camel milk. Food Chemistry, 339 128090, 128090. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128090

A sensitive, high-throughput fluorescent method for the determination of lactoperoxidase activities in milk and comparison in human, bovine, goat and camel milk

2021

Journal Article

A sensitive and high-throughput fluorescent method for determination of oxidase activities in human, bovine, goat and camel milk

Zou, Zhengzheng, Bouchereau-De Pury, Claire, Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Al-Shehri, Saad S., Duley, John A., Cowley, David M., Koorts, Pieter, Shaw, Paul N. and Bansal, Nidhi (2021). A sensitive and high-throughput fluorescent method for determination of oxidase activities in human, bovine, goat and camel milk. Food Chemistry, 336 127689, 127689. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127689

A sensitive and high-throughput fluorescent method for determination of oxidase activities in human, bovine, goat and camel milk

2020

Journal Article

A novel, quorum sensor-infused liposomal drug delivery system suppresses Candida albicans biofilms

Bandara, H. M.H.N., Hewavitharana, A. K., Shaw, P. N., Smyth, H. D.C. and Samaranayake, L. P. (2020). A novel, quorum sensor-infused liposomal drug delivery system suppresses Candida albicans biofilms. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 578 119096, 119096. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119096

A novel, quorum sensor-infused liposomal drug delivery system suppresses Candida albicans biofilms

2018

Journal Article

Bio-Guided Fractionation of Papaya Leaf Juice for Delineating the Components Responsible for the Selective Anti-proliferative Effects on Prostate Cancer Cells

Pandey, Saurabh, Walpole, Carina, Shaw, Paul N., Cabot, Peter J., Hewavitharana, Amitha K. and Batra, Jyotsna (2018). Bio-Guided Fractionation of Papaya Leaf Juice for Delineating the Components Responsible for the Selective Anti-proliferative Effects on Prostate Cancer Cells. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9 (NOV) 1319, 1319. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01319

Bio-Guided Fractionation of Papaya Leaf Juice for Delineating the Components Responsible for the Selective Anti-proliferative Effects on Prostate Cancer Cells

2018

Journal Article

Separation of highly charged compounds using competing ions with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography - application to assay of cellular nucleotides

Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Narayan, Vicrant and Duley, John A. (2018). Separation of highly charged compounds using competing ions with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography - application to assay of cellular nucleotides. Journal of Chromatography A, 1567, 233-238. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2018.07.006

Separation of highly charged compounds using competing ions with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography - application to assay of cellular nucleotides

2018

Journal Article

Standard addition with internal standardisation as an alternative to using stable isotope labelled internal standards to correct for matrix effects-Comparison and validation using liquid chromatography-​tandem mass spectrometric assay of vitamin D

Hewavitharana, Amitha K., Abu Kassim, Nur Sofiah and Shaw, Paul Nicholas (2018). Standard addition with internal standardisation as an alternative to using stable isotope labelled internal standards to correct for matrix effects-Comparison and validation using liquid chromatography-​tandem mass spectrometric assay of vitamin D. Journal of Chromatography A, 1553, 101-107. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2018.04.026

Standard addition with internal standardisation as an alternative to using stable isotope labelled internal standards to correct for matrix effects-Comparison and validation using liquid chromatography-​tandem mass spectrometric assay of vitamin D

2017

Journal Article

Simultaneous determination of 12 vitamin D compounds in human serum using online sample preparation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abu Kassim, Nur Sofiah, Shaw, Paul Nicholas and Hewavitharana, Amitha K. (2017). Simultaneous determination of 12 vitamin D compounds in human serum using online sample preparation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A, 1533, 57-65. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.12.012

Simultaneous determination of 12 vitamin D compounds in human serum using online sample preparation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

2017

Journal Article

Selective anti-proliferative activities of Carica papaya leaf juice extracts against prostate cancer

Pandey, Saurabh, Walpole, Carina, Cabot, Peter J., Shaw, Paul N., Batra, Jyotsna and Hewavitharana, Amitha K. (2017). Selective anti-proliferative activities of Carica papaya leaf juice extracts against prostate cancer. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 89, 515-523. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.02.050

Selective anti-proliferative activities of Carica papaya leaf juice extracts against prostate cancer

2017

Journal Article

The efficacy of Dynorphin fragments at the κ, μ and δ opioid receptor in transfected HEK cells and in an animal model of unilateral peripheral inflammation

Morgan, M., Heffernan, A., Benhabib, F., Wagner, S., Hewavitharana, A. K., Shaw, P. N. and Cabot, P. J. (2017). The efficacy of Dynorphin fragments at the κ, μ and δ opioid receptor in transfected HEK cells and in an animal model of unilateral peripheral inflammation. Peptides, 89, 9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.12.019

The efficacy of Dynorphin fragments at the κ, μ and δ opioid receptor in transfected HEK cells and in an animal model of unilateral peripheral inflammation

2017

Journal Article

Production of N-acyl homoserine lactones by the sponge-associated marine actinobacteria Salinispora arenicola and Salinispora pacifica

Bose, Utpal, Ortori, Catharine A., Sarmad, Sarir , Barrett, David A., Hewavitharana, Amitha K. , Hodson, Mark P., Fuerst, John A. and Shaw, P. Nicholas (2017). Production of N-acyl homoserine lactones by the sponge-associated marine actinobacteria Salinispora arenicola and Salinispora pacifica. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 364 (2) fnx002. doi: 10.1093/femsle/fnx002

Production of N-acyl homoserine lactones by the sponge-associated marine actinobacteria Salinispora arenicola and Salinispora pacifica

2016

Conference Publication

Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breast milk

Gomes, Fabio, Shaw, Nick, Whitfield, Karen, Koorts, Pieter, McConachy, Helen and Hewavitharana, Amitha (2016). Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breast milk. Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG) 21st Annual Conference, London, United Kingdom, 6–8 November 2015. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311535.26

Effect of pasteurisation on the concentrations of vitamin D compounds in donor breast milk

2016

Journal Article

To investigate the effect of the pasteurisation process on trace elements in donor breast milk

Taufek, Nor Mohd, Cartwright, David, Hewavitharana, Amitha, Koorts, Pieter, McConachy, Helen, Shaw, Nick, Whitfield, Karen and Davies, Mark (2016). To investigate the effect of the pasteurisation process on trace elements in donor breast milk. e ADC, 101 (9), A13-A14. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311535.27

To investigate the effect of the pasteurisation process on trace elements in donor breast milk

2016

Journal Article

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of Carica papaya

Pandey, Saurabh, Cabot, Peter J., Shaw, P. Nicholas and Hewavitharana, Amitha K. (2016). Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of Carica papaya. Journal of Immunotoxicology, 13 (4), 590-602. doi: 10.3109/1547691X.2016.1149528

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of Carica papaya

2016

Journal Article

The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk

Mohd-Taufek, N., Cartwright, D., Davies, M., Hewavitharana, A. K., Koorts, P., McConachy, H., Shaw, P. N., Sumner, R. and Whitfield, K. (2016). The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk. Journal of Perinatology, 36 (10), 897-900. doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.88

The effect of pasteurization on trace elements in donor breast milk

2016

Journal Article

Simultaneous quantitative analysis of nine vitamin D compounds in human blood using LC-MS/MS

Abu Kassim, Nur Sofiah, Gomes, Fabio P., Shaw, Paul Nicholas and Hewavitharana, Amitha K. (2016). Simultaneous quantitative analysis of nine vitamin D compounds in human blood using LC-MS/MS. Bioanalysis, 8 (5), 397-411. doi: 10.4155/bio.15.260

Simultaneous quantitative analysis of nine vitamin D compounds in human blood using LC-MS/MS

2016

Journal Article

Traditional aboriginal preparation alters the chemical profile of carica papaya leaves and impacts on cytotoxicity towards human squamous cell carcinoma

Nguyen, Thao T., Parat, Marie-Odile, Shaw, Paul N., Hewavitharana, Amitha K. and Hodson, Mark P. (2016). Traditional aboriginal preparation alters the chemical profile of carica papaya leaves and impacts on cytotoxicity towards human squamous cell carcinoma. PLoS ONE, 11 (2) e0147956, e0147956. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147956

Traditional aboriginal preparation alters the chemical profile of carica papaya leaves and impacts on cytotoxicity towards human squamous cell carcinoma

Past funding

  • 2018
    Developing a method for measuring thiopurine drug and metabolites
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Analytical instrumentation enabling rapid compound separation and chemical structure analysis via mass fingerprinting
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Amitha Hewavitharana is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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