Dr Aleksandr Kakinen
Dr

Aleksandr Kakinen

Email: 

Background

Dr Aleksandr Kakinen is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (EL1) at AIBN, UQ. His research investigates how protein aggregation, inflammation, and infection contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

His work focuses on amyloid proteins — misfolded proteins that assemble into toxic aggregates in the brain — and how these assemblies interact with inflammatory and microbial factors to influence disease progression. He combines approaches from biophysics, structural biology, molecular neuroscience, neuroinflammation, and nanomedicine to understand disease mechanisms and identify new therapeutic opportunities.

Dr Kakinen’s research program includes:

  • amyloid aggregation and cross-seeding mechanisms
  • infection- and inflammation-driven neurodegeneration
  • structural and biological diversity of amyloid assemblies
  • neuroinflammatory responses in neuronal and microglial models
  • brain-targeted delivery of neuroprotective molecules and peptides

He has authored over 65 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Nature Communications, Advanced Science, ACS Nano, and Chemical Reviews. His current work aims to link fundamental mechanisms of protein aggregation with translational strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Availability

Dr Aleksandr Kakinen is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Human biophysics Medical physiology Nanomaterials Nanomedicine Nanotoxicology, health and safety Neurosciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tallinn University of Technology

Research interests

  • Neuroscience

    Neurodegenerative diseases, amyloid biology

  • Structural biology

  • Nanomedicine

Research impacts

Dr Aleksandr Kakinen’s research aims to improve understanding of the molecular processes that drive neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. His work focuses on how misfolded proteins, inflammation, infection-related factors, and cellular stress contribute to disease progression.

This research helps build the knowledge needed to develop better diagnostic tools, therapeutic strategies, and disease models for neurodegenerative disorders.

Key areas of impact include:

  • Improving understanding of disease mechanisms by studying how amyloid proteins form toxic aggregates and interact with inflammatory and microbial factors.
  • Supporting therapeutic development by investigating brain-targeted delivery of neuroprotective molecules and peptides relevant to Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
  • Informing translational research through studies of amyloid structure, neuroinflammation, and cellular responses in neuronal and microglial models.
  • Building international research capacity through collaborations with partners in Australia and Europe, linking expertise in biophysics, structural biology, neuroscience, and nanomedicine.
  • Training future researchers through supervision, mentoring, and research-led teaching in molecular neuroscience and biophysics.

Through peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations, competitive funding, and collaborative projects, Dr Kakinen’s research contributes to global efforts to understand, diagnose, and eventually treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Search Professor Aleksandr Kakinen’s works on UQ eSpace

69 works between 2011 and 2025
All (69) Journal Article (64) Conference Publication (4) Book Chapter (1)

41 - 60 of 69 works

2017

Journal Article

Implications of peptide assemblies in amyloid diseases

Ke, Pu Chun, Sani, Marc-Antonie, Ding, Feng, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Javed, Ibrahim, Separovic, Frances, Davis, Thomas P. and Mezzenga, Raffaele (2017). Implications of peptide assemblies in amyloid diseases. Chemical Society Reviews, 46 (21), 6492-6531. doi: 10.1039/c7cs00372b

Implications of peptide assemblies in amyloid diseases

2017

Journal Article

Plasma proteome association and catalytic activity of stealth polymer-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles

Wang, Miaoyi, Siddiqui, Ghizal, Gustafsson, Ove J. R., Kakinen, Aleksandr, Javed, Ibrahim, Voelcker, Nicolas H., Creek, Darren J., Ke, Pu Chun and Davis, Thomas P. (2017). Plasma proteome association and catalytic activity of stealth polymer-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles. Small, 13 (36) 1701528, 1701528. doi: 10.1002/smll.201701528

Plasma proteome association and catalytic activity of stealth polymer-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles

2017

Journal Article

Zinc-coordination and C-peptide complexation: a potential mechanism for the endogenous inhibition of IAPP aggregation

Ge, Xinwei, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Gurzov, Esteban N., Yang, Wen, Pang, Lokman, Pilkington, Emily H., Govindan-Nedumpully, Praveen, Chen, Pengyu, Separovic, Frances, Davis, Thomas P., Ke, Pu Chun and Ding, Feng (2017). Zinc-coordination and C-peptide complexation: a potential mechanism for the endogenous inhibition of IAPP aggregation. Chemical Communications, 53 (68), 9394-9397. doi: 10.1039/c7cc04291d

Zinc-coordination and C-peptide complexation: a potential mechanism for the endogenous inhibition of IAPP aggregation

2017

Journal Article

NanoEHS beyond toxicity - focusing on biocorona

Lin, Sijie, Mortimer, Monika, Chen, Ran, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Riviere, Jim E., Davis, Thomas P., Ding, Feng and Ke, Pu Chun (2017). NanoEHS beyond toxicity - focusing on biocorona. Environmental Science-Nano, 4 (7), 1433-1454. doi: 10.1039/c6en00579a

NanoEHS beyond toxicity - focusing on biocorona

2017

Journal Article

Effects of Protein Corona on IAPP Amyloid Aggregation, Fibril Remodelling, and Cytotoxicity

Pilkington, Emily H., Xing, Yanting, Wang, Bo, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Wang, Miaoyi, Davis, Thomas P., Ding, Feng and Ke, Pu Chun (2017). Effects of Protein Corona on IAPP Amyloid Aggregation, Fibril Remodelling, and Cytotoxicity. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 2455. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02597-0

Effects of Protein Corona on IAPP Amyloid Aggregation, Fibril Remodelling, and Cytotoxicity

2017

Journal Article

Differential effects of silver and iron oxide nanoparticles on IAPP amyloid aggregation

Wang, Miaoyi, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Pilkington, Emily H., Davis, Thomas P. and Ke, Pu Chun (2017). Differential effects of silver and iron oxide nanoparticles on IAPP amyloid aggregation. Biomaterials Science, 5 (3), 485-493. doi: 10.1039/c6bm00764c

Differential effects of silver and iron oxide nanoparticles on IAPP amyloid aggregation

2017

Conference Publication

Mesoscopic properties and molecular mechanisms of IAPP amyloid inhibition and remodeling with small molecules

Kakinen, Aleksandr, Wang, Bo, Ge, Xinwei, Mezzenga, Raffaele, Davis, Thomas P., Ding, Feng and Chun Ke, Pu (2017). Mesoscopic properties and molecular mechanisms of IAPP amyloid inhibition and remodeling with small molecules. Biophysical Society 61st Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA United States, 11-15 February 2017. St Louis, MO United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.11.1839

Mesoscopic properties and molecular mechanisms of IAPP amyloid inhibition and remodeling with small molecules

2016

Journal Article

Solubility-driven toxicity of CuO nanoparticles to Caco2 cells and Escherichia coli: effect of sonication energy and test environment

Käkinen, Aleksandr, Kahru, Anne, Nurmsoo, Helen, Kubo, Anna-Liisa and Bondarenko, Olesja M. (2016). Solubility-driven toxicity of CuO nanoparticles to Caco2 cells and Escherichia coli: effect of sonication energy and test environment. Toxicology in Vitro, 36, 172-179. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2016.08.004

Solubility-driven toxicity of CuO nanoparticles to Caco2 cells and Escherichia coli: effect of sonication energy and test environment

2016

Journal Article

Inhibition of hIAPP amyloid aggregation and pancreatic beta-cell toxicity by OH-terminated PAMAM dendrimer

Gurzov, Esteban N., Wang, Bo, Pilkington, Emily H., Chen, Pengyu, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Stanley, William J., Litwak, Sara A., Hanssen, Eric G., Davis, Thomas P., Ding, Feng and Ke, Pu Chun (2016). Inhibition of hIAPP amyloid aggregation and pancreatic beta-cell toxicity by OH-terminated PAMAM dendrimer. Small, 12 (12), 1615-1626. doi: 10.1002/smll.201502317

Inhibition of hIAPP amyloid aggregation and pancreatic beta-cell toxicity by OH-terminated PAMAM dendrimer

2016

Journal Article

Pancreatic beta-Cell Membrane Fluidity and Toxicity Induced by Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Species

Pilkington, Emily H., Gurzov, Esteban N., Kakinen, Aleksandr, Litwak, Sara A., Stanley, William J., Davis, Thomas P. and Ke, Pu Chun (2016). Pancreatic beta-Cell Membrane Fluidity and Toxicity Induced by Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Species. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 21274. doi: 10.1038/srep21274

Pancreatic beta-Cell Membrane Fluidity and Toxicity Induced by Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Species

2016

Journal Article

An interlaboratory comparison of nanosilver characterisation and hazard identification: harmonising techniques for high quality data

Jemec, Anita, Kahru, Anne, Potthoff, Annegret, Drobne, Damjana, Heinlaan, Margit, Böhme, Steffi, Geppert, Mark, Novak, Sara, Schirmer, Kristin, Rekulapally, Rohit, Singh, Shashi, Aruoja, Villem, Sihtmäe, Mariliis, Juganson, Katre, Käkinen, Aleksandr and Kühnel, Dana (2016). An interlaboratory comparison of nanosilver characterisation and hazard identification: harmonising techniques for high quality data. Environment International, 87, 20-32. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.014

An interlaboratory comparison of nanosilver characterisation and hazard identification: harmonising techniques for high quality data

2016

Journal Article

Stabilizing off-pathway oligomers by polyphenol nanoassemblies for IAPP aggregation inhibition

Nedumpully-Govindan, Praveen, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Pilkington, Emily H., Davis, Thomas P., Ke, Pu Chun and Ding, Feng (2016). Stabilizing off-pathway oligomers by polyphenol nanoassemblies for IAPP aggregation inhibition. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 19463. doi: 10.1038/srep19463

Stabilizing off-pathway oligomers by polyphenol nanoassemblies for IAPP aggregation inhibition

2016

Journal Article

Synthesis and in vitro properties of iron oxide nanoparticles grafted with brushed phosphorylcholine and polyethylene glycol

Blin, Thomas, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Pilkington, Emily H., Ivask, Angela, Ding, Feng, Quinn, John F., Whittaker, Michael R., Ke, Pu Chun and Davis, Thomas P. (2016). Synthesis and in vitro properties of iron oxide nanoparticles grafted with brushed phosphorylcholine and polyethylene glycol. Polymer Chemistry, 7 (10), 1931-1944. doi: 10.1039/c5py02024g

Synthesis and in vitro properties of iron oxide nanoparticles grafted with brushed phosphorylcholine and polyethylene glycol

2016

Journal Article

Brushed polyethylene glycol and phosphorylcholine for grafting nanoparticles against protein binding

Wang, Bo, Blin, Thomas, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Ge, Xinwei, Pilkington, Emily H., Quinn, John F., Whittaker, Michael R., Davis, Thomas P., Ke, Pu Chun and Ding, Feng (2016). Brushed polyethylene glycol and phosphorylcholine for grafting nanoparticles against protein binding. Polymer Chemistry, 7 (45), 6875-6879. doi: 10.1039/c6py01480a

Brushed polyethylene glycol and phosphorylcholine for grafting nanoparticles against protein binding

2015

Journal Article

Dissolution of CuO nanoparticles and their in vitro toxicity to Caco-2 cells and bacteria Escherichia coli depends on CuO ultrasonication protocol

Bondarenko, O., Käkinen, A., Nurmsoo, H. and Kahru, A. (2015). Dissolution of CuO nanoparticles and their in vitro toxicity to Caco-2 cells and bacteria Escherichia coli depends on CuO ultrasonication protocol. Toxicology Letters, 238 (2), S210-S210. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.08.624

Dissolution of CuO nanoparticles and their in vitro toxicity to Caco-2 cells and bacteria Escherichia coli depends on CuO ultrasonication protocol

2015

Journal Article

Toxicity of 11 metal oxide nanoparticles to three mammalian cell types in vitro

Ivask, Angela, Titma, Tiina, Visnapuu, Meeri, Vija, Heiki, Kaekinen, Aleksandr, Sihtmaee, Mariliis, Pokhrel, Suman, Maedler, Lutz, Heinlaan, Margit, Kisand, Vambola, Shimmo, Ruth and Kahru, Anne (2015). Toxicity of 11 metal oxide nanoparticles to three mammalian cell types in vitro. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 15 (18), 1914-1929. doi: 10.2174/1568026615666150506150109

Toxicity of 11 metal oxide nanoparticles to three mammalian cell types in vitro

2014

Journal Article

Size-dependent toxicity of silver nanoparticles to bacteria, yeast, algae, crustaceans and mammalian cells in vitro

Ivask, Angela, Kurvet, Imbi, Kasemets, Kaja, Blinova, Irina, Aruoja, Villem, Suppi, Sandra, Vija, Heiki, Kaekinen, Aleksandr, Titma, Tiina, Heinlaan, Margit, Visnapuu, Meeri, Koller, Dagmar, Kisand, Vambola and Kahru, Anne (2014). Size-dependent toxicity of silver nanoparticles to bacteria, yeast, algae, crustaceans and mammalian cells in vitro. PLoS One, 9 (7) e102108. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102108

Size-dependent toxicity of silver nanoparticles to bacteria, yeast, algae, crustaceans and mammalian cells in vitro

2014

Journal Article

Selective performance of sol-gel synthesised titanium dioxide photocatalysts in aqueous oxidation of various-type organic pollutants

Klauson, Deniss, Budarnaja, Olga, Stepanova, Kristina, Krichevskaya, Marina, Dedova, Tatjana, Käkinen, Aleksandr and Preis, Sergei (2014). Selective performance of sol-gel synthesised titanium dioxide photocatalysts in aqueous oxidation of various-type organic pollutants. Kinetics and Catalysis, 55 (1), 47-55. doi: 10.1134/s0023158414010030

Selective performance of sol-gel synthesised titanium dioxide photocatalysts in aqueous oxidation of various-type organic pollutants

2013

Journal Article

Aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of prednisolone

Klauson, Deniss, Pilnik-Sudareva, Jana, Pronina, Natalja, Budarnaja, Olga, Krichevskaya, Marina, Käkinen, Aleksandr, Juganson, Katre and Preis, Sergei (2013). Aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of prednisolone. Central European Journal of Chemistry, 11 (10), 1620-1633. doi: 10.2478/s11532-013-0290-8

Aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of prednisolone

2013

Journal Article

Interaction of firefly luciferase and silver nanoparticles and its impact on enzyme activity

Kaekinen, Aleksandr, Ding, Feng, Chen, Pengyu, Mortimer, Monika, Kahru, Anne and Ke, Pu Chun (2013). Interaction of firefly luciferase and silver nanoparticles and its impact on enzyme activity. Nanotechnology, 24 (34) 345101. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/24/34/345101

Interaction of firefly luciferase and silver nanoparticles and its impact on enzyme activity

Current funding

  • 2022 - 2026
    Inflammation and chronic infections in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: the role of amyloid cross-seeding.
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Aleksandr Kakinen is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Inflammation and chronic infections in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease: the role of amyloid cross-seeding

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating the role of gut-bacteria in neurodegenerative diseases

    Associate Advisor

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Dr Aleksandr Kakinen's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au