Overview
Background
Dr Sandya Athukoralalage's research focuses on transforming renewable biomass into advanced materials for healthcare, packaging, and environmental applications. Her work combines materials engineering, nanotechnology, and microbiology to develop functional cellulose-based materials with antimicrobial and low-fouling properties.
A major focus of her research is the design of nanocellulose coatings that help prevent microbial contamination while offering sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. She is also interested in converting agricultural and marine biomass into high-value products, creating new opportunities for resource recovery and sustainable manufacturing.
Her research interests include:
- Materials-microbe interactions
- Antimicrobial and low-fouling coatings
- Nanocellulose production and surface engineering
- Biomass valorisation
During her PhD, Dr Athukoralalage developed dual-functional nanocellulose coatings that combined antimicrobial and antibiofouling performance within a single bio-based material platform. Her current projects include sustainable antimicrobial coatings for healthcare applications, bioactive packaging technologies, and the development of value-added materials from marine biomass.
Her contributions have been recognised through competitive research funding, the 2024 Women in STEM Award from Goethe-Institut Australien, and the 2026 Swiss-Army Scientist Award from the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis for outstanding cross-facility technical expertise.
Availability
- Dr Sandya Shiranthi Athukorala Athukoralalage is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Sandya Shiranthi Athukorala Athukoralalage’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Nanocellulose-directed ultrasmall copper nanoparticles for durable antimicrobial interfaces
Rajah, Divya, Athukoralalage, Sandya S. A., Zhu, Yanshan, Yegappan, Ramanathan, Chew, Keng, Blaskovich, Mark A. T. and Amiralian, Nasim (2026). Nanocellulose-directed ultrasmall copper nanoparticles for durable antimicrobial interfaces. Nanoscale. doi: 10.1039/d6nr02326f
2026
Journal Article
Nanocellulose coatings for surgical face masks
Rajah, Divya, Athukoralalage, Sandya, Yegappan, Ramanathan and Amiralian, Nasim (2026). Nanocellulose coatings for surgical face masks. Nanomaterials, 16 (2) 112, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/nano16020112
2026
Book Chapter
Electrospun nanofibres derived from biodegradable polymers and nanomaterials
Athukoralalage, Sandya S.A., Gemmell, Anna C., Shaik, Fazil and Amiralian, Nasim (2026). Electrospun nanofibres derived from biodegradable polymers and nanomaterials. Electrospun Nanofibers. (pp. 469-493) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-443-21519-3.00007-8
2025
Conference Publication
Innovating Sustainable Materials for a Greener Future
Amiralian, Nasim and Athukoralalage, Sandya S. A. (2025). Innovating Sustainable Materials for a Greener Future. Sustainable Materials and Polymer Chemistry Symposium at PacificChem2025, Honolulu, HI United States, December 2025.
2025
Other Outputs
Dual-Functional cellulose nanomaterials for antimicrobial and low-fouling surfaces
Athukoralalage, Sandya (2025). Dual-Functional cellulose nanomaterials for antimicrobial and low-fouling surfaces. PhD Thesis, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/61322d8
2025
Journal Article
Dual-functional antimicrobial and low-fouling cellulose coatings
Athukoralalage, Sandya S. A., Datson, Zane, Darwish, Nadim, Zhu, Yanshan, Chung, Ka H. K., Chew, Keng, Rowan, Alan E. and Amiralian, Nasim (2025). Dual-functional antimicrobial and low-fouling cellulose coatings. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 17 (10), 16027-16039. doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c21252
2025
Conference Publication
Nanocellulose: A Sustainable Solu on in Health and Agriculture Industries
Amiralian, Nasim, Athukoralalage, Sandya and Rajah, Divya (2025). Nanocellulose: A Sustainable Solu on in Health and Agriculture Industries. The SmartNano 2024 International Conference on Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, Bali, Indonesia, 15-17 July, 2024. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Prism Scientific Services Pty Ltd.
2025
Conference Publication
Valorising agricultural waste for sustainable material development
Amiralian, Nasim, Athukoralalage, Sandya and Rajah, Divya (2025). Valorising agricultural waste for sustainable material development. The 3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress (CCC2025), Stellenbosch, South Africa, 11-14 May, 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Dual-functional surface coatings integrating antimicrobial and antibiofouling mechanisms: from material design to application landscapes
Amiralian, Nasim and Athukoralalage, Sandya (2025). Dual-functional surface coatings integrating antimicrobial and antibiofouling mechanisms: from material design to application landscapes. Materials Horizons, 12 (23), 9966-9993. doi: 10.1039/d5mh01132a
2024
Journal Article
Nanostructuring niobium oxides using polymer-grafted cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers as sacrificial scaffolds
Cheng, Yen Theng, Athukoralalage, Sandya, Amiralian, Nasim, Ling, Chris D. and Müllner, Markus (2024). Nanostructuring niobium oxides using polymer-grafted cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers as sacrificial scaffolds. RSC Applied Polymers, 3 (1), 146-155. doi: 10.1039/d4lp00185k
2023
Journal Article
Eco-efficient pickering foams: leveraging sugarcane waste-derived cellulose nanofibres
Amani, Pouria, Amiralian, Nasim, Athukoralalage, Sandya S. A. and Firouzi, Mahshid (2023). Eco-efficient pickering foams: leveraging sugarcane waste-derived cellulose nanofibres. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 11 (44), 24379-24389. doi: 10.1039/d3ta04917e
2023
Journal Article
Recent advances and future perspectives in engineering biodegradable face masks
Athukoralalage, Sandya S. A., Bell, Craig A., Gemmell, Anna C., Rowan, Alan E. and Amiralian, Nasim (2023). Recent advances and future perspectives in engineering biodegradable face masks. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 11 (4), 1575-1592. doi: 10.1039/d2ta08019b
2022
Journal Article
Recent breakthroughs in nanostructured antiviral coating and filtration materials: a brief review
Dahanayake, Madushani H., Athukorala, Sandya S. and Jayasundera, A. C. A. (2022). Recent breakthroughs in nanostructured antiviral coating and filtration materials: a brief review. RSC Advances, 12 (26), 16369-16385. doi: 10.1039/d2ra01567f
2021
Journal Article
Methodological advances and challenges in probiotic bacteria production: ongoing strategies and future perspectives
Hathi, Zubeen, Mettu, Srinivas, Priya, Anshu, Athukoralalage, Sandya, Lam, Tsz Nok, Choudhury, Namita Roy, Dutta, Naba K., El-Omar, Emad M., Gong, Lan, Mohan, Geethaanjali and Lin, Carol Sze Ki (2021). Methodological advances and challenges in probiotic bacteria production: ongoing strategies and future perspectives. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 176 108199, 108199. doi: 10.1016/j.bej.2021.108199
2021
Journal Article
Hydroxyapatite incorporated bacterial cellulose hydrogels as a cost-effective 3D cell culture platform
Athukorala, Sandya Shiranthi, Liyanage, Chathudina J. and Jayasundera, Anil C. A. (2021). Hydroxyapatite incorporated bacterial cellulose hydrogels as a cost-effective 3D cell culture platform. Soft Materials, 20 (2), 183-192. doi: 10.1080/1539445x.2021.1944208
2021
Journal Article
Perspective on constructing cellulose-hydrogel-based gut-like bioreactors for growth and delivery of multiple-strain probiotic bacteria
Mettu, Srinivas, Hathi, Zubeen, Athukoralalage, Sandya, Priya, Anshu, Lam, Tsz Nok, Ong, Khai Lun, Choudhury, Namita Roy, Dutta, Naba Kumar, Curvello, Rodrigo, Garnier, Gil and Lin, Carol Sze Ki (2021). Perspective on constructing cellulose-hydrogel-based gut-like bioreactors for growth and delivery of multiple-strain probiotic bacteria. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69 (17), 4946-4959. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00468
2021
Journal Article
3D printable electrically conductive hydrogel scaffolds for biomedical applications: a review
Athukorala, Sandya Shiranthi, Tran, Tuan Sang, Balu, Rajkamal, Truong, Vi Khanh, Chapman, James, Dutta, Naba Kumar and Roy Choudhury, Namita (2021). 3D printable electrically conductive hydrogel scaffolds for biomedical applications: a review. Polymers, 13 (3) 474, 474. doi: 10.3390/polym13030474
2020
Journal Article
Tunable biomimetic hydrogels from silk fibroin and nanocellulose
Dorishetty, Pramod, Balu, Rajkamal, Athukoralalage, Sandya S., Greaves, Tamar L., Mata, Jitendra, de Campo, Liliana, Saha, Nabanita, Zannettino, Andrew C. W., Dutta, Naba K. and Choudhury, Namita Roy (2020). Tunable biomimetic hydrogels from silk fibroin and nanocellulose. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 8 (6), 2375-2389. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b05317
2019
Journal Article
3D bioprinted nanocellulose-based hydrogels for tissue engineering applications: a brief review
Athukoralalage, Sandya S., Balu, Rajkamal, Dutta, Naba K. and Roy Choudhury, Namita (2019). 3D bioprinted nanocellulose-based hydrogels for tissue engineering applications: a brief review. Polymers, 11 (5) 898, 898. doi: 10.3390/polym11050898
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sandya Shiranthi Athukorala Athukoralalage is:
- Available for supervision
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