Homa Maleki is an Associate Professor at the University of Birjand, Iran, with a research background in textile engineering, functional nanofibrous materials, smart textiles, and biomedical textile systems. Her research focuses on the design, fabrication, and characterization of polymeric fibers, yarns, and fabrics for biomedical applications, including drug delivery, wound dressings, biosensing, and wearable technologies. Her work spans electrospun nanofibrous yarns, shape-memory polymers, thermo-responsive materials, biofunctionalization, and the integration of functional nanomaterials to tailor the mechanical, thermal, and functional properties of fibrous systems.
She received her Ph.D. in Textile Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, in 2014. Her doctoral research focused on drug-loaded nanofibrous hybrid yarns for suture applications and was conducted in collaboration with the MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine at the University of Twente, the Netherlands. Through international interdisciplinary collaborations, she has broadened her perspective. She has established international research collaborations with academic groups in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Slovakia, Turkey, and Poland.
Education and professional experience
Since 2016 – University of Birjand, Iran
Associate Professor, Textile Engineering
2022–2024 – Department of Medical Textiles (MedTex), Institute of Textile Technology (ITA Institut für Textiltechnik) of RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers;
2018 – Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship
2010–2014 – Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Ph.D. in Textile Engineering
2007–2009 – Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
M.Sc. in Textile Engineering
2003–2007 – Yazd University, Iran
B.Sc. in Textile Engineering
Research skills and interests
Key research projects & grants
2025–2027; NAWA Ulam Research Fellowship
Smart Nanofibrous Dressings with Shape Memory and Photothermal Properties for Chronic Wound Treatment
The project is conducted at the Laboratory of Polymers and Biomaterials, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences (IPPT PAN), Warsaw, under the supervision of Prof. Paweł Sajkiewicz.
This project aims to develop a programmable, smart nanofibrous dressing that integrates shape memory polyurethane (SMPU), thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm), and MXene-based photothermal agents. The dressing is designed as a bilayer structure, incorporating a wound-contact PNIPAm layer that contracts in response to physiological temperatures, thereby facilitating early-stage wound closure. Simultaneously, the pre-strain-programmed SMPU barrier layer undergoes thermally induced shape recovery, which provides sustained mechanical compression to promote optimal wound healing. The incorporation of MXene in both layers enables near-infrared (NIR) light triggered photothermal heating, thereby enabling precise control over the release of curcumin and promoting localized photothermal therapy.
2025–2027
Principal Investigator; “Design of smart textile-based nanogenerator from hybrid triboelectric yarns for energy harvesting”, Funded within the scope of the Cooperation Agreement between the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT).
Collaborated with the Department of Textile Engineering, Sulayman Demir University, Isparta, Turkey.
2024–2026
Nanofiber-based dressings for the management of cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds
Co-promoter, funded by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), in collaboration with Birjand University of Medical Sciences.
2022–2024
Principal Investigator; “Study on the drug release behavior of electrospun twisted yarns based on core-shell structure and shape memory effect”, funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Collaborated with the Department of Medical Textiles (MedTex), Institute of Textile Technology (ITA Institut für Textiltechnik) of RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
2020–2022
Principal Investigator; “Development of thermo-regulating core-shell nanofibrous yarns for smart medical textiles”, Funded within the scope of the Cooperation Agreement between the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT).
Collaborated with the Department of Textile Engineering, Sulayman Demir University, Isparta, Turkey.
2022–2023
Principal Investigator; “Poly (L-lactic) acid/Graphene Oxide nanofibrous composite yarns for biomedical applications: mechanical reinforcement, antibacterial activity, and drug release kinetics”, Funded by Deputy for Research and Technology, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.
2018–2019
Principal Investigator; “Antibacterial core-shell structured yarns for biomedical applications”, Funded under the DAAD scholarship.
Collaborated with the Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
