Author

Silja Saarela

University of Eastern Finland

Listed by name: these papers carry no ORCID for this author, so different people with the same name may be mixed together.

Biology Disciplines

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Bioengineering· 2 Biochemistry· 1 Immunology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Research Focus:cell type annotation· 4 Approach:experimental assay· 4 Research Focus:drug response / drug discovery· 3 Research Focus:cancer & tumor microenvironment· 2 Research Focus:cell signaling & trafficking· 2 Organism:human· 2 Assay:multiome· 2 Research Focus:development & morphogenesis· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Minna SivoneniD· 4 shared Wujun XuiD· 4 shared Vesa‐Pekka LehtoiD· 3 shared Jiajia WangiD· 2 shared Jussi HepojokiiD· 2 shared Milla-Iida Laari· 2 shared Einari A. NiskaneniD· 1 shared Emilia Happonen· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2026-2026 · peak 4/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 31 mutual co-author links

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4 shared papersBioengineering

Minna SivonenORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

4 papers

Recent·Most cited

Engineering morphology of tetrasulfide-incorporated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for enhanced mRNA delivery

Zhe Cao, Silja Saarela, Jiajia Wang, Minna Sivonen, Emilia Happonen, Jussi Hepojoki, Hiromi Muramatsu, Pardi Norbert, Vesa-Pekka Lehto, Wujun Xu

This study develops tetrasulfide-incorporated mesoporous silica nanoparticles to enhance mRNA delivery by optimizing morphology and chemistry, showing improved cellular uptake and mRNA stability.

bioRxiv · Nov 3, 2026 · PreprintBiochemistry

Biomimetic virus-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles activate NK cells indirectly via monocyte crosstalk

Minna Sivonen, Silja Saarela, Jiajia Wang, Mira Saari, Emmi Järvelä, Lotta Andersson, Enkhzaya Batnasan, Leena Latonen, Helka Göös, Vesa‐Pekka Lehto, Wujun Xu

This study shows that biomimetic virus-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles activate NK cells through monocyte crosstalk by optimizing spike length, surface functionalization, and cell membrane coating.

Nano Letters · Aug 27, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

Bioinspired Virus-Like Porous Silica Amplify Lipid-Mediated mRNA Delivery

Silja Saarela, Kirsti Härkönen, Milla-Iida Laari, Minna Sivonen, Tomas M. Strandin, Jussi Hepojoki, Einari A. Niskanen, Vesa‐Pekka Lehto, Wujun Xu

This study develops hybrid lipid-VLPSi nanoparticles to enhance mRNA delivery, finding that amino-modified VLPSi significantly improves transfection efficiency compared to conventional LNPs.

bioRxiv · May 4, 2026 · PreprintBioengineering

Biomimetic porous silicon for rationally engineered combination therapy to induce immunogenic cell death

Silja Saarela, Emilia Happonen, Milla-Iida Laari, Minna Sivonen, Mohammed Zakir, Shaghayegh Saba, Janne Tampio, Ruixian Liu, Juha T. Klefström, Katja Pajula, Kristiina M. Huttunen, Vesa‐Pekka Lehto, Wujun Xu

This study identifies JQ1 and 45°C as optimal components for a combined chemo-photothermal therapy to induce immunogenic cell death in metastatic breast cancer.

Nanomedicine Nanotechnology Biology and Medicine · Mar 18, 2026Peer-reviewedBioengineering