• Office Address: 458E Zeanah Engineering Complex
• Phone: 865-974-0536
• E-mail: mdanquah@utk.edu

Education

• PhD, Monash University, Australia: Chemical Engineering. 2008
• BSc, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana: Chemical Engineering. 2004

Michael Danquah is a full Professor and the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. He obtained his BSc and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from KNUST, Ghana and Monash University, Australia. Danquah is a Chartered Scientist, Chartered Professional Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Danquah’s research focuses on the application of biomolecular principles and nanoscience to develop novel biopharmaceuticals, biosensing, and targeted delivery systems, as well as environmental bioremediation systems and bioproducts. His research findings are well-published with over 320 peer-reviewed journal articles, scholarly books and book chapters, conference proceedings, and presentations, and over 17,500 citations. Danquah's research activities have attracted funding competitive federal grants, industry, and institutional support across different nations. He has consulted for several biotech and biomedical companies in the US and overseas and mentored over 100 research students and personnel. He was named the recipient of the 2023 Joseph N. Cannon Award of Excellence in Chemical Engineering by NOBCChE. Danquah is passionate about implementing effective pedagogical approaches of relating theory to application as well as creating new tailored programs and courses to reflect the expectations of emerging industries in chemical engineering. He enjoys mentoring young scientists, including minority early career scientists and faculty.

• Aptasensing
• Targeted Drug Delivery
• Bioaffinity Analysis and Simulations
• Plasmid Biopharmaceutical Development
• Nanoformulation of Bioactive Ingredients
• Microbial Bioremediation
• Biofuels Development
• Natural Products Discovery 

Publications

• Wijesinghe K. M, Sabbih G, Algama C. H, Syed R, Danquah M. K, and Dhakal S. FRET-Based Single-Molecule Detection of Pathogen Protein IsdA Using Computationally Selected Aptamers. Analytical Chemistry 2023, 95 (26) 9839–9846.
• Obayomi K. S, Lau S. Y, Danquah M. K, Zhang J, Chiong T, Meunier L, and Rahman M. M. Selective adsorption of organic dyes from aqueous environment using fermented maize extract-enhanced graphene oxide-durian shell derived activated carbon composite. Chemosphere, 2023, 339, 139742.
• Omage, J. I., Easterday, E., Rumph, J. T., Brula, I., Hill, B., Kristensen, J., Ha, D. T., Galindo, C. L., Danquah, M. K, Sims, N. and Nguyen, V. T. Cancer Diagnostics and Early Detection Using Electrochemical Aptasensors. Micromachines 2022, 13(4), 522.
• Obeng, E. M., Dzuvor, C. K., and Danquah, M. K. Anti-SARS-CoV-1 and− 2 nanobody engineering towards avidity-inspired therapeutics. Nano Today 2022, 42, 101350.
• Andra S, Balu S. K, Jeevanandam J, Muthalagu M, Danquah M. K. Surface cationization of cellulose to enhance durable antibacterial finish in phytosynthesized silver nanoparticle treated cotton fabric. Cellulose 2021, 28, 5895–5910.
• Acquah, C., Jeevanandam, J., Tan, K. X. and Danquah, M. K. Engineered aptamers for enhanced Covid-19 theranostics, Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering 2021, 14, 209–221.
• Danquah M. K, Guo H-B, Tan K X, Bhakta M. Atomistic probing of aptameric binding of CD19 outer membrane domain reveals an “aptamer walking” mechanism. Biotechnology Progress 2020, 36, e2957.
• Tan K. X, Jeevanandam J, Pan S, Yon L. S, Danquah M. K. Aptamer-navigated copolymeric drug carrier system for in vitro delivery of MgO nanoparticles as insulin resistance reversal drug candidate in Type 2 diabetes. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology 2020, 101764.
• Zainan N. H, Thiruvenkadam S, Danquah M. K, Harun M R. Biochemical Analysis of Value-Added Aqueous and Solid Products Generated from Sub-critical Water Extraction (SWE) of Chlorella pyrenoidosa Journal of Applied Phycology 2020, 32, 111-126.
• Acquah C, Chan Y. W, Pan S, Yon L. S, Ongkudon C. M, Guo H, Danquah M. K. Characterization of aptamer-anchored poly(EDMA-co-GMA) monolith for high throughput affinity binding. Nature Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 14501.
• Tan K. X, Lau S. Y, Pan S, Danquah M. K. Binding characterization of aptamer-drug layered microformulations and in vitro release assessment. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2019, 108 (9), 2934-2941.
• Tan K. X, Yon L. S, Danquah M. K. Process evaluation and in vitro selectivity analysis of aptamer-drug polymeric formulation for targeted pharmaceutical delivery. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 2018, 101, 996-1002.