Lakmini Kahanawita

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About

Lakmini Kahanawita is a rising force in biophysics and single-molecule imaging, whose work is redefining the precision of quantitative microscopy. Her primary research focus lies in developing advanced surface passivation strategies to eliminate nonspecific binding—a critical bottleneck in single-molecule studies. In her landmark 2024 paper, Kahanawita introduced the RainX-F127 (RF-127) surface, a dramatically simplified coating that achieves up to 100-fold reduction in protein aggregate binding compared to conventional methods. This breakthrough, already garnering 14 citations, enables researchers to capture cleaner, more reliable data from individual molecules, opening new doors for studying dynamic biological interactions at the nanoscale. Her contributions are particularly vital for fields like drug discovery and molecular diagnostics, where false signals can obscure rare events. Though early in her career, Kahanawita’s work has been recognized for its practical elegance—turning a complex, time-consuming protocol into a reproducible, accessible tool. For students and researchers grappling with background noise in single-molecule experiments, her RF-127 surface is a game-changer, promising to accelerate discoveries in quantitative biology with unprecedented clarity.