Dr. Hafsah Akhtar
Research Associate, IRCBM
Area of Interest: Biomaterials and Tissue engineering
Tel # (Off): 111-001-007  

Dr. Hafsah Akhtar is an accomplished researcher and faculty member specializing in
biomaterials and tissue engineering. With a rich academic background and expertise in the
development of advanced biomaterials for bone repair, Dr. Akhtar has made significant
contributions to the field of bio-ceramics and bio-composites.
She holds a PhD in Material Science and Engineering from the University of Sheffield,
United Kingdom, where she worked under the supervision of Prof. Gwendolen Reilly on the
development of metal oxide substituted polyurethane foams for enhanced craniofacial bone
repair. Her research aimed to explore the potential of metal oxide nanoparticles as novel
additives for bone regeneration and angiogenesis. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Akhtar
completed her MS in Biomedical Sciences and BS in Applied Biosciences at the National
University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
Dr. Akhtar is currently a Research Associate and a member of the Bone Research Group at
IRCBM, Lahore, where she leads projects focused on enhancing bone regeneration,
periodontal regeneration, development of bio ceramics and composite scaffolds. She has
contributed to numerous international publications and collaborations, establishing herself as
a key researcher in the field of biomaterials and regenerative medicine.

Funded Projects:

Current Projects:
1. 3D and 4D printing of polymer free lithium silicate composites from lithium water glass with functional clay fillers for critical size bone defects and study of structure–property relationships using AI and machine learning (2025 - 2027) PIs: Prof. Dr. Asma Tufail Shah,Dr. Hafsah Akhtar, Budget: Euro EUR 57000, Funded By: Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation .
2. Silk-based Biomaterials for Enhanced Tissue Regeneration (2024 - 2025) PIs: Dr. Hafsah Akhtar, Budget: SAR 100,000 SAR, Funded By: Deanship of King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
Completed Projects:
1. Development of synthetic regenerative membranes/scaffolds for guided tissue regeneration (2022 - 2025) PIs: Dr. Hafsah Akhtar, Budget: SAR 100,000 SAR, Funded By: Ministry of Science and Technology, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .

Publications:

Journal Papers:
1. Fahad Hussain Alhamoudi a , Rana Tanveer b c , Hafsah Akhtar b , Rabia Zeeshan b , Muhammad Aslam c , Tahir Ali Shiekh d , Muhammad Saleem e , Aqif Anwar Chaudhry b , Ather Farooq Khan b , Hamad Khalid b (2026), "Silk based freeze gelated antibacterial 3D scaffolds for enhanced wound healing", Materials Chemistry and Physics, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2025.131526, Impact Factor: 4.7    (External URL)
2. Hafsah Akhtar, Kashif Ijaz, Fakhera Ikram, Ume Omema, Abdul Samad Khan, Sultan Akhtar, Fahad Hussain Alhamoudi, Ihtesham U Rehman, Aqif Anwar Chaudhry (2025), "Novel flow synthesized phase pure and doped zinc oxides with tailorable properties for potential anticancer applications", Inorganic Chemistry Communications, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2025.114988, Impact Factor: 5.4    (External URL)
3. Maryam Shafiq, Sadia Habib, Hafsah Akhtar, Saamia Naz, Mustafa Özgür Öteyaka, Asma Tufail Shah, Fahad Hussain Alhamoudi, Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Hamad Khalid, Ather Farooq Khan (2025), "Biomimetic trilayered silk-based electrospun scaffolds for regeneration of dura mater", RSC advances, DOI: 10.1039/D5RA00986C, Impact Factor: 4.6    (External URL)
4. Muhammad Atif, Dilawaiz, Hafsah Akhtar, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Zafar Ullah, Hina Andaleeb, Muhammad Asif Hussain (2024), "In Vitro Hydroxyapatite Nucleation in Cationically Cured Epoxy Composites with Pulverized Date Seed", Polymers, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243463, Impact Factor: 4.9    (External URL)
5. Ayesha Shahid, Faisal Moeen, Sadia Habib, Aysha Arshad, Rabia Zeeshan, Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Hamad Khalid, Fahad Hussain Alhamoudi, Hafsah Akhtar, Ather Farooq Khan (2024), "Mg doped ZnO containing silk nanocomposite scaffolds for biofilm prevention during alveolar bone regeneration", Materials Chemistry and Physics, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2024.129911, Impact Factor: 4.7    (External URL)
6. Asma Rabbani Sodhozai, Safia Bibi, Mahwish Rabia, Muneeba Jadoon, Hafsah Akhtar, Naeem Ali (2024), "From growth inhibition to ultrastructural changes: Toxicological assessment of lambda cyhalothrin and fosetyl aluminium against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa", Environmental Research, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.118958, Impact Factor: 7.7    (External URL)
7. Hafsah Akhtar, Fahad Hussain Alhamoudi, Julie Marshall, Thomas Ashton, Jawwad A Darr, Ihtesham Ur Rehman, Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Gwendolen Reilly (2024), "Synthesis of cerium, zirconium, and copper doped zinc oxide nanoparticles as potential biomaterials for tissue engineering applications", Heliyon, DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29150 , Impact Factor: 3.6    (External URL)
8. Sana Tariq, Saqlain A Shah, Fareeha Hameed, Zeeshan Mutahir, Hamad Khalid, Asma Tufail, Hafsah Akhtar, Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Ather Farooq Khan (2024), "Tissue engineered periosteum: fabrication of a gelatin basedtrilayer composite scaffold with biomimetic properties for enhanced bone healing", International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130371, Impact Factor: 8.5    (External URL)
9. Henry Chinedu Obasi, Kashif Ijaz, Hafsah Akhtar, Asif Ali, Hamad Khalid, Ather F Khan, Aqif A Chaudhry (2022), "Fabrication of antimicrobial electrospun mats using polyvinyl alcohol–zinc oxide blends", Polymer Bulletin, DOI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00289-0, Impact Factor: 4    (External URL)
10. Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Hamad Khalid, Muniza Zahid, Kashif Ijaz, Hafsah Akhtar, Basma Younas, Faisal Manzoor, Farasat Iqbal, Ihtesham Ur Rehman (2022), "Zinc containing calcium phosphates obtained via microwave irradiation of suspensions", Materials Chemistry and Physics, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2021.124921, Impact Factor: 4.7    (External URL)
11. FH Alhamoudi, H Akhtar, Y Almoshawah, AC Talari, AA Chaudhry, GC Reilly, IU Rehman (2021), "Bioactive nano hydroxyapatites for orbital floor repair and regeneration", Journal of Nanomedicine, DOI: https://meddocsonline.org/journal-of-nanomedicine/    (External URL)
12. Lubna Shahzadi, Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Abdur Raheem Aleem, Muhammad Hamza Malik, Kashif Ijaz, Hafsah Akhtar, Farah Alvi, Ather Farooq Khan, Ihtesham Ur Rehman, Muhammad Yar (2018), "Development of K-doped ZnO nanoparticles encapsulated crosslinked chitosan based new membranes to stimulate angiogenesis in tissue engineered skin grafts", International journal of biological macromolecules, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.08.103, Impact Factor: 8.5    (External URL)
13. Faiza Bukhari 1, Umar Ansari 1, Murtaza Najabat Ali 1, Hafsah Akhtar 1, Sarim Asif 1, Umer Mohammad 1, Mariam Mir 1 (2017), "A biaxial strain-based expansion mechanism for auxetic stent deployment", J Appl Biomater Funct Mater ., DOI: 10.5301/jabfm.5000326    (External URL)
14. Henry Chinedu Obasi, Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, Kashif Ijaz, Hafsah Akhtar, Muhammad Hamza Malik (2017), "Development of biocomposites from coir fibre and poly (caprolactone) by solvent casting technique", Polymer Bulletin, DOI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00289-0, Impact Factor: 4    (External URL)
15. Hafsah Akhtar, Faiza Bukhari, Misbah Nazir, Muhammad Nabeel Anwar, Adeeb Shahzad (2016), "Therapeutic efficacy of neurostimulation for depression: techniques, current modalities, and future challenges", Neuroscience bulletin, DOI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12264-0, Impact Factor: 5.8    (External URL)
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