Akiko Obata

Akiko Obata serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Life and Applied Chemistry within the School of Engineering at Chubu University, where she leads research on bioactive ceramics and glasses for medical applications. Her work bridges materials science and regenerative medicine through innovative scaffold design.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2004)

Dr. Obata's research focuses on ion-releasing biomaterials that stimulate cellular responses for bone regeneration and wound healing. She pioneers sol-gel derived glasses, phosphate ceramics, and nanofiber systems with controlled architecture for targeted drug delivery and tissue engineering. Her group develops cotton-wool structured materials, titanium-containing pyrophosphates, and folate-conjugated nanoparticles for cancer targeting.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in bioactive glass design (60%), with strong emphasis on ion release kinetics (47%), bone regeneration scaffolds (33%), and antibacterial wound dressings (20%). Her work increasingly integrates atmospheric pressure ion irradiation techniques and lactate-sensing biomaterials.

Scientific Awards

• 55th Autumn Meeting of Chubu Chemical Association Branch Union Oleo Encouragement Award (2024)
• 62nd Japan Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting Poster Award (2024, two instances)
• Ceramic Society of Japan 37th Autumn Symposium Student Excellent Presentation Award (2024)
• 54th Autumn Meeting of Chubu Chemical Association Branch Union Oleo Encouragement Award (2023)
• 32nd Inorganic Phosphorus Chemistry Discussion Meeting Student Excellent Presentation Award (2023)
• Multiple society poster and student presentation awards (2021-2023)

Dr. Obata actively mentors students, evidenced by numerous award-winning presentations under her supervision. She secures significant competitive funding including JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) for projects on cell-culture scaffolds and wound-healing materials, plus international collaborative grants with UK partners and industry partnerships developing medical scaffolding systems. Her committee service includes Secretary of the Ceramic Society of Japan's Bio-related Materials Division and International Commission on Glass organizing roles.