Designing materials that matter: advancing nanoscale innovations at Hasanuddin University

This vision began with an early curiosity, nurtured by inspiring teachers and a disciplined learning environment. It gradually unfolded at the Physics Department of Hasanuddin University in Makassar, Indonesia, shaped by deeper exposure to ideas and sustained academic training. A defining moment of his journey was when he realized physics not as an isolated discipline, but as a tool with direct societal impact. “Materials research, in particular, offered a way to translate physical understanding into something tangible,” says Prof. Tahir. Over the years, he has built a research program centered on advanced materials and their applications. His work has expanded through student mentorship, peer-reviewed publications, and collaborations, linking fundamental principles of physics with practical challenges in health, energy, and the environment.

From fundamentals to applications

At Hasanuddin University, Prof. Tahir’s research explores how composition, morphology, and interfacial properties of these materials govern their behavior in applications such as adsorption, catalysis, drug delivery, biodegradable packaging, and shielding against ionizing radiation. His research group worked extensively to develop chitosan–alginate hydrogel systems for controlled antibiotic release, PVA–chitosan/ZnO nanocomposites for eco-friendly packaging, and materials designed for X-ray and gamma-ray attenuation in medical and industrial settings. These research efforts have given coherence to a body of work that spans multiple domains, while also addressing a far-fetched question: how can materials be manufactured at nanoscale so that their structure, composition, and interfaces lead to better performance in critical applications?

Highlighting how material architecture governs performance, Prof. Tahir says, “Rather than studying materials in isolation, we systematically tune their properties by varying nanoparticle loading, polymer ratios, and processing conditions and map how these variables translate into measurable, application-relevant performance. This structure-property-function approach allows us to generate both scientific insight and design guidelines that can be adopted in real-world technologies. Equally important, much of our research is oriented toward materials that are sustainable, low-cost, and accessible, which is especially meaningful in the context of developing nations like Indonesia, where practical solutions must also be economically viable.” In a world facing mounting environmental pressure, demand for clean energy, rising healthcare burdens, and growing dependence on radiation-based technologies in medicine and industry, this holds relevance. While these problems may look different on the surface, they share a commonality: the need for better materials. Prof. Tahir’s advanced composites and nanostructured systems offer one of the clearest paths toward meeting these demands.

Advancing sustainability through science
Spanning multiple disciplines, Prof. Tahir’s research extends beyond the laboratory, contributing to the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including ‘Good Health and Well-Being’ (SDG 3), ‘Affordable and Clean Energy’ (SDG 7), ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’ (SDG 12), and ‘Climate Action’ (SDG 13). This reflects a deliberate effort to ensure that research remains connected to real-world challenges beyond academia.

A clear example of this approach can be seen in his work on developing cellulose-based composites for X-ray radiation shielding and electromagnetic interference shielding. Naturally occurring polymers, such as cellulose, offer a compelling alternative to conventional shielding materials because they are abundant, lightweight, flexible, and potentially biodegradable. Outlining his choice of cellulose-based systems in his research, Prof. Tahir explains, “Cellulose functions as an active structural component that directly governs how functional fillers are distributed, how interfacial bonding forms, and ultimately how well the composite performs.”

Despite these advantages, Prof. Tahir is careful to note the limitations of natural material systems. “Performance and practicality do not always align perfectly. The composition that offers the strongest shielding may not be the one with the best mechanical balance. Maintaining moisture sensitivity, filler dispersion, and structural homogeneity remain significant challenges,” he cautions.

The same tension runs through his research on multifunctional systems that combine carbon-based materials, metal oxides, and polymers. Prof. Tahir highlights that these materials bring together complementary properties: electrical conductivity of carbon nanomaterial, photocatalytic activity, and antimicrobial functionality of metal oxides like zinc oxide, and the processability and biodegradability of polymers and biopolymers. When integrated into a single hybrid system, these components can produce materials that simultaneously shield radiation, store energy, deliver drugs, resist microbial contamination, and degrade safely after use. But it can be challenging. “The pursuit of high performance often pulls against the demands of sustainability,” he points out. A material may require dense filler networks, high-purity inputs, or tightly controlled synthesis conditions to perform exceptionally well, yet each of these factors can make it harder to scale, more expensive to produce, or less environmentally friendly.

For Prof. Tahir, this remains one of the most important scientific and technological questions in his field of research today. The challenge is no longer only about creating advanced materials with impressive properties. It is equally about creating materials that are stable across batches, durable in real conditions, economically realistic, and acceptable within regulatory and community settings. In other words, the future of materials science depends not only on innovative invention, but on translation. “The ultimate goal is not merely to publish high-performing materials, but to develop systems that are genuinely deployable—effective, safe, affordable, and accepted by the communities that need them most,” he highlights.

Engineering materials for health
This translational mindset explains the natural extension of his research into biomedical applications. According to Prof. Tahir, the same material science that his research focused on for radiation shielding and electromagnetic applications can easily find application in healthcare. Biomaterials developed for wound healing can absorb fluid, maintain mechanical integrity, support a moist healing environment, and actively inhibit bacterial growth. In resource-limited settings, affordable and effective healthcare technologies are urgent requirements, and these can become potentially life-improving technologies.

This interface between physics and biology has become one of the most meaningful parts of his research. It has allowed him to apply physical characterization tools and mechanistic thinking to biomedical problems that demand interdisciplinary solutions. “This interdisciplinary positioning also opens up opportunities for collaborations, extending to clinical partners. This gives the work a sense of purpose that goes well beyond the laboratory,” he adds.

Why Hasanuddin University feels like a home for research
“Hasanuddin University has been central to my journey,” asserts Prof. Tahir. He credits the university’s research environment, facilities, collaborations, and broader institutional commitment to socially relevant science as important factors supporting his interdisciplinary work. Beyond infrastructure, he also values the sense of academic community. In Makassar, a vibrant coastal city in eastern Indonesia where the university is located, he has found a place where research is not only built through instruments and grants, but also through shared purpose, mentorship, and the steady collective effort of people invested in one another’s growth. What makes it even more enriching is that the campus also houses an SDG center that coordinates multidisciplinary research, community engagement, and educational initiatives, spanning clean energy, health and well-being, sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and gender equality.

Prof. Tahir believes in collaborating with industry and healthcare providers, along with research groups from other universities. “Hasanuddin University has invested heavily in building its international network of collaborations spanning Saudi Arabia, Korea, Morocco, and more. These initiatives have created real pathways for researcher mobility, joint publications, and access to international grant schemes. For my group specifically, these connections have opened doors to collaborative research,” he highlights.

Charting the future of discovery
Looking forward, Prof. Tahir believes the next phase of his work will be shaped by multifunctional, stimuli-responsive, and composite materials. These are materials designed to sense, protect, and respond beyond the targeted task. It is an ambitious direction, but one that grows naturally out of his earlier research on shielding, polymers, nanostructured fillers, and biomedical systems. The challenge now is integrating different material functions together with sufficient precision to create behaviors that no single component could achieve alone.

It is also, in many ways, the clearest expression of his long-term scientific vision. “My long-term vision is to continue developing solutions grounded in local realities and serving communities in Indonesia while still addressing global needs,” says Prof. Tahir.

From sustainable packaging to radiation shielding and from biomaterials to drug delivery, Prof. Tahir’s research is united by a belief that scientific research should reach beyond the laboratory. That belief continues to shape a body of work rooted in materials, but aimed at environment, people, and society.