ΘΕΟΔΩΡΑ ΚΡΑΣΙΑ-ΧΡΙΣΤΟΦΟΡΟΥ
EDUCATION
- Dr. Rer. Nat. in Physical Chemistry, Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, University of Potsdam, GERMANY (June 2003)
- M.Sc. in Chemical Research and Diploma of the Imperial College (DIC), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, ENGLAND (September 2000)
- B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Cyprus, CYPRUS (June 1999)
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus (December 2022 – present)
- Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus (July 2015 – December 2022)
- Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus (January 2010 – June 2015)
- Lecturer, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus (September 2005 – January 2010)
- Post-doctoral research associate, Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus. Project Title: “Synthesis, characterization and applications of amphiphilic hydrogels prepared using the controlled polymerization method RAFT” (January 2005 – August 2005)
- Visiting Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus (September 2003 – January 2005)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
- Chairperson, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (October 2023-October 2025)
- Member of the MME Undergraduate Studies Committee (October 2021-October 2023)
- Vice-chairperson, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (October 2015-October 2021)
- Coordinator of the Undergraduate Studies, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (October 2017 – October 2021)
- Member of the “Health and Safety” Committee, University of Cyprus (2019 onwards)
- University of Cyprus, Innovation Committee (March 2020-December 2022)
- Coordinator of the departmental Publicity Committee (2015-2017, 2023-2025)
- Departmental person in charge for Health and Safety issues (2015 onwards)
- Responsible for the MME Department website (2012 – 2017)
- Member of the Committee for the Ernst-Young Prize (2010 – 2016)
- Member of the Ad-hoc “Health and Safety” Committee of the School of Engineering (December 2011 – present)
- Coordinator of the MME postgraduate studies (2006 – 2011)
- Coordinator of the MME postgraduate seminar series (spring semester 2006)
TEACHING
Experimental and statistical analysis, mechanical properties of polymers, polymer processing, chemistry for engineers, characterization methods of polymers and colloids, polymers in medical applications, materials science and engineering, polymer-based nanocomposites, materials science and engineering.
REVIEWER IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS Nature Communications • Chemical Science • Advanced Materials • ACS Macro Letters • ACS Nano • Macromolecules • Chemical Communications • Soft matter • Biomacromolecules • Acta Biomaterialia • Polymer Chemistry • Composites Communications • Materials and Design • ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces • Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry • Cellulose • Carbohydrate Polymers • RSC Advances • Express Polymer Letters • Materials Chemistry and Physics • Materials Science and Engineering C • Arabian Journal of Chemistry • Environmental Science: Nano • The Journal of Physical Chemistry • Polymer • European Polymer Journal • Biopolymers • Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research • Molecules • Separation and Purification Technology • Sensors and Actuators: B. Chemical • Tetrahedron Letters • Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects • Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces • Journal of Materials Science • Nanomaterials • Journal of Molecular Liquids • Composites Communications • Macromolecular Materials and Engineering • ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering • European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics • IEEE Sensors • Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology • Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics • Polymer International • Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry • Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry • Drug Delivery • New Journal of Chemistry • Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry • e-Polymers • Journal of Inorganic Materials • Polymers • Journal of Drug Delivery, Science and Technology • Physical Sciences Research International • Physical Science International Journal • Fibers.
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
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- American Chemical Society – U.S.A. – Member
- Royal Society of Chemistry, – U.K. – Member
- Pancyprian Union of Chemists – Cyprus – Member (member of the Newsletter publication team)
- Hellenic Society for the Science and Technology of Condensed Matter (member)
DISTINCTIONS – AWARDS
- Max-Planck Society: “Promotion Stipendium”. Ph.D. full-Scholarship Award (2001-2003).
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London: Distinction (M.Sc. in Chemical Research – 1st Class Honours), Diploma of Imperial College in Chemical Research (DIC) (2000).
- Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) (German Academic Exchange Service): One-year Scholarship Award for further academic studies and training in Germany. (2000-2001).
- University of Cyprus, School of Pure and Applied Sciences: First Prize Award for the Best Academic Performance during the years 1995 – 1999 (1999).
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Organic-inorganic polymer-based materials • Polymer-based nanocolloids and hydrogels • Block copolymer self-assembly • Polymer synthesis • Electrospinning, electrospun nanocomposite nano- and microfibrous materials • Applications of polymers and polymer-based nanocolloids and nanocomposites in biomedicine, catalysis, water remediation processes, sensing, agriculture, reinforcement composites, optoelectronics, green composites, materials for energy applications etc.
FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS (as principal investigator/coordinator and participant - see in team's website under https://www.ucy.ac.cy/polymerlab/funded-projects/ )
PUBLICATIONS – CITATIONS
- 80 papers published in major peer-reviewed journals
- 11 book chapters
- h-index: 29 (Google Scholar)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (full publication list: http://www.ucy.ac.cy/polymerlab/research-activities/research-team-publications)
- Nikolaou, M.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2017) 'Electrohydrodynamic methods for the development of pulmonary drug delivery systems', European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, (SimInhale Special Issue), in press https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2017.08.032.
- Song, R.Q.; Krasia-Christoforou, T.; Debus, C.; Cölfen, H. (2017) 'Structure and magnetic property control of copper hydroxide acetate by non-classical crystallization', Small, Volume: 13, page: 1602702 (10 pages) DOI: 10.1002/smll.201602702 (frontispiece).
- Petropoulou, A.; Christodoulou, K.; Polydorou, C.; Krasia-Christoforou, T.; Riziotis, C. (2017) 'Cost-Effective Polymethacrylate-Based Electrospun Fluorescent Fibers Towards Ammonia Sensing' Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, Volume: 302, page: 1600453 (7 pages). (INVITED, Special Issue: Electrospinning and Functional Nanofibers). DOI: 10.1002/mame.201600453
- Kalogirou, A.; Achilleos, M.; Procopiou, C.; Vasile, E.; Koutentis, P.A.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2016) 'Structure-defined 3D nanocomposite polymer networks: Versatile heterogeneous catalytic platforms in organic synthesis', ChemistrySelect, Volume: 1, pages: 2635-2641.DOI: 10.1002/slct.201600318
- Savva, I.; Kalogirou, A. S.; Achilleos, M.; Vasile, E.; Koutentis, P.A.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2016) 'Evaluation of PVP/Au nanocomposite fibers as heterogeneous catalysts in indole synthesis', Molecules, Volume: 21, page: 1218. DOI:10.3390/molecules21091218
- Achilleos, M.; Mpekris, F.; Stylianopoylos, T.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2016) 'Structurally-defined semi-interpenetrating amphiphilic polymer networks with tunable and predictable mechanical response' RSC Advances, Volume:6, Pages: 43278-43283. DOI:10.1039/C6RA07376J
- Savva, I.; Evaggelou,E.; Papaparaskeva, G.; Leontiou T.; Stylianopoulos, T.; Mpekris, F.; Stylianou, K.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2015) ‘Alignment of electrospun polymer fibers using a concave collector’, RSC Advances, Volume:5, Pages: 104400-104407 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA20429A
- Papaphilippou, P.; Vyrides, I.; Mpekris, F.; Stylianopoulos, T.; Papatryfonos, C. A.; Theocharis, C. R.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2015) ‘Evaluation of novel, cationic electrospun microfibrous membranes as adsorbents in bacteria removal’ RSC Advances, Volume: 5, Pages: 67617-67629, DOI: 10.1039/C5RA11406C.
- Mpekris, F.; Achilleos, M.; Vasile, E.; Vasile, E.; Krasia-Christoforou, T.; Stylianopoulos, T. (2015) ‘Mechanical properties of structurally-defined magnetoactive polymer (co)networks’, RSC Advances, Volume: 5, Pages: 20011-20019 DOI: 10.1039/c4ra16260a
- Savva, I.; Kalogirou, A.; Chatzinicolaou, A.; Papaphilippou,P.; Pantelidou,A.; Vasile, E.; Vasile,E.; Koutentis,P. A.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2014) ‘PVP-crosslinked electrospun membranes with embedded Pd and Cu2O nanoparticles as effective heterogeneous catalytic supports’ RSC Advances Volume: 4 Pages: 44911-44921 DOI: 10.1039/c4ra06294
- Achilleos, M.; Demetriou, M.; Marinica, O.; Vekas, L.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2014) ‘An innovative synthetic approach toward the preparation of structurally-defined multiresponsive polymer (co)networks’ Polymer Chemistry Volume:5 Pages: 4365-4374 DOI: 10.1039/C4PY00217B
- Papagiannouli, I.; Demetriou, M.; Couris, S.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. ‘Palladium-based micellar nanohybrids: Preparation and nonlinear optical response’ (2014) RSC Advances, Volume: 4 Pages: 8779-8788 DOI: 10.1039/C3RA46132G.
- Savva, I.; Odysseos, A.; Evaggelou, L.; Marinica, O.; Vasile, E.; Vekas, L.; Sarigiannis, Y.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2013) ‘Fabrication, Characterization and Evaluation in Drug Release Properties of Magnetoactive poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(L-lactide) Electrospun Membranes’, Biomacromolecules, Volume: 14 Pages: 4436-4446 DOI: 10.1021/bm401363v
- Krasia-Christoforou, T.; Georgiou T. (2013) ‘Polymeric Theranostics: Using Polymer-based Systems for Simultaneous Imaging and Therapy’ (feature article), Journal of Materials Chemistry B, Volume: 1 Pages: 3002-3025 DOI: 10.1039/C3TB20191K (Top-10 most read Journal of Materials Chemistry B Articles Q3-2013)
- Papaphilippou, P.; Christodoulou, M.; Marinica, O.-M.; Taculescu, A.; Vekas, L.; Chrissafis, K.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2012) ‘Multi-responsive polymer conetworks capable of responding to changes in pH, temperature and magnetic Field: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of their ability for controlled uptake and release of solutes’, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Pages: 2139-2147 DOI: 10.1021/am300144w
- Demetriou, M.; Krasia-Christoforou, T. (2012) ‘Well-Defined Diblock Copolymers Possessing Fluorescent and Metal Chelating Functionalities as Novel Macromolecular Sensors for Amines and Metal Ions’, Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Pages: 52-60 DOI: 10.1002/pola.2497 (Journal's front cover).