Molecular Biophysical Sciences

Molecular Biophysical Sciences

From Molecular Structure to Biological Function

Osama Abusara

Associate Professor of Pharmacology

Photo: Osama Abusara

Osama Abusara

Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Affiliation
Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Education

  • Ph.D., Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
  • B.S., Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Jordan
Download CV Send Email Visit ORCID Visit Google Scholar

Academic Biography

Education

Dr. Osama Abusara earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences from The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, in 2017, where his research focused on neuropeptide antagonists for cancer therapy. He received his B.Sc. in Pharmacy from The University of Jordan in 2014.

Academic Appointments

Dr. Abusara joined Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology in 2017 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023. Throughout his academic career, he has served as both Head and Vice Head of the Department of Pharmacy. Alongside his academic and administrative responsibilities, he has gained valuable professional experience as a community pharmacist.

Research Focus

Dr. Abusara's research focuses on pharmacology, drug discovery, and cancer therapeutics, with particular interests in pharmacological modeling, drug–receptor interactions, and the development of novel therapeutic agents. His work combines experimental and computational approaches to advance the understanding of disease mechanisms and support the design of targeted therapies.

Research Interests

Research Interest
  • Cancer Pharmacology
  • Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacy Practice
  • Drug Discovery & Peptide Synthesis
  • Experimental Therapeutics

Dr. Osama Abusara's research focuses on cancer pharmacology, with an emphasis on discovering and evaluating novel anticancer agents derived from natural products, plant extracts, and synthetic compounds. His work employs in vitro cancer models to assess cytotoxicity, selectivity, and anticancer efficacy while evaluating compound safety using normal cell lines.

A major aspect of his research is investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer activity through fluorometric assays, fluorescent probes, and flow cytometry. His interests also include drug repurposing, drug combination therapies, and the development of more effective cancer treatments.

In addition, Dr. Abusara collaborates on experimental therapeutics using in vivo pharmacological models to study disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. His research expertise also includes solid-phase peptide synthesis (Fmoc and Boc chemistry) and the biological evaluation of peptide-based therapeutics. Beyond cancer research, he is actively engaged in pharmacy practice research, particularly in medication use, adherence, and pharmaceutical care.

Publications

Member Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles

  1. Osama H. Abusara, Hamza Abumansour, Mohammad Abu-Sini, Morad Mustafa, Rawan Huwaitat, Abdel Qader Al Bawab, Ahmad A. Deeb, Hassan Abul-Futouh, Dina H. Abulebdah, Wasan Al-Hadban, Ali I. M. Ibrahim; Biodesulfurization and activation of a thionated levofloxacin derivative: antimicrobial evaluation and LC–MS-based metabolic profiling; Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology; 399, 15719–15736, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-026-05361-2

  2. Laurance M. S. Bourghli, Amneh Shtaiwi, Osama H. Abusara, Mohammad Alwahsh, Mirna W. Awadallah, Sameer Al-Kouz, Aya Hasan, Rahaf S. Alshehada; Novel Aromatic Sulfonimides With Antidyslipidemic Activity: Facile Synthesis, In Silico, and In Vivo Studies; ChemistrySelect; 11, 15, e07386, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202507386

  3. Alaa M. Hammad, Baraa Al-hajjaj, Nour Aboalhaija, Heba Syaj, Fatma Afifi, Osama H. Abusara; Therapeutic Potential of Salvia greggii Extracts in Promoting Wound Healing: Insights from Scratch Assay, Wound Model, and Molecular Analysis; Chemistry and Biodiversity; 23, 4, e03045, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202503045

  4. Mohammad Alwahsh, Osama H. Abusara, Alia Abu Zaid, Aya Hasan, Lama Hamadneh, Rosemarie Marchan; Synergistic cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin and bortezomib on lung cancer cell lines using 2D and 3D models; Cancer Treatment and Research Communications; 47, 101133, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101133

  5. Fatima F. Al‑Jamal, Razan Ataallah Abuassaf, Osama H. Abusara, Malek Zihlif, Ahmad A. Deeb, Mamoon M.D. Al‑Rshaidat; Ethanolic extracts from deep marine sponges: A new frontier in antibacterial discovery from the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba; Biomedical Reports; 24: 44, 2026. https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2026.2117

  6. Rania Abu-zaid, Osama H. Abusara, Buthaina Hussein, Fadi G. Saqallah, Nader R. Albujuq; Thiourea Derivatives for the Potential Treatment of Lung Cancer via the Inhibition of EGFR and Efflux Pumps: Synthesis, In Silico, and In Vitro Studies; Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry; Accepted 05 November 2025; Available Online 06 March 2026. https://doi.org/10.2174/0118715206435905260109202535

  7. Ali I.M. Ibrahim, Worood H. Ismail, Alaa M. Hammad, Osama H. Abusara, Khaldoon Al-Qawasmeh, Abass Al-Momany, Abdel Qader Al Bawab, Raed Shadfan, Alwathiqbellah Ibrahim; Electrochemical and MEMS-based biosensors for quantifying ALDH1A1 expression and activity in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines; Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X; 27, 100703, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosx.2025.100703

  8. Wasan Al-Farhan, Osama H. Abusara, Mohammad Abu-Sini, Suhair Hikmat, Ola Tarawneh, Sameer Al-Kouz and Rania Hamed; Development, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of a Self-Healing Hydrogel Patch Loaded with Ciprofloxacin for Wound Dressings; Polymers; 17 (19), 2686, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17192686

  9. Ahmed K. Hijazi, Qusai M. Sarayrah, Abdelrahman W. Malkawi, Hassan Abul-Futouh, Ziyad A. Taha, Deeb Taher, Osama H. Abusara, Ahmad Q. Daraosheh, Ahmad A. L. Ahmad, Waleed M. Al-Momani; Improved Syntheses, Crystal Structures Analysis, DFT Calculation, Anticancer and Antibacterial Properties of Some 4-(Benzylamino)benzoic Acid Derivatives; ACS Omega; 10, 38, 43719–43734, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c03898

  10. Rania Hamed, Islam Taha Hlalat, Osama H. Abusara, Nour Aboalhaija, Suhair Hikmat, Aya Hasan, Sameer Al-Kouz; Synergistic hair growth effect of combined minoxidil and rosemary oil nanoemulsion-loaded in situ gels; Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology; 114, Part A, 107412, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2025.107412

  11. Arwa R. Althaher, Sawsan A. Oran, Osama H. Abusara, Muhammad N. Qattoum, Mirna W. Awadallah; Cytotoxic potential and phytochemical profile of aqueous and acetone extracts of Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce; Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research; 13 (5), 1587-1599, 2025. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres25.2431_13.5.1587

  12. Razan Ataallah Abuassa, Fatima F. Al-Jamal, Osama H. Abusara, Malek Zihlif, Ahmad A. Deeb, Mamoon M.D. Al-Rshaidat; Evaluating the Antibacterial Properties of Deep-Sea Sponges Dactylospongia elegants, Stelletta fibrosa, and Haliclona manglaris from the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba; PeerJ; 13:e19735, 2025. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19735

  13. Hamza Abumansour, Osama H. Abusara, Mohammad Abu-Sini, Wiam Khalil, Ali I. M. Ibrahim, Amal M. Badawoud, Majed S. Al Yami, Dina H. Abulebdah, Shiraz Halloush; Thionated levofloxacin derivative: Potential repurposing for cancer treatment and synergism with doxorubicin on doxorubicin-resistant lung cancer cells; PLOS ONE; 20(6): e0324930, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324930

  14. Alaa M. Hammad, Heba Syaj, Osama H. Abusara, Sawsan I. Khdair, Rasha Debas, F.Scott Hall; Anxiety-like behavior in rats during periods of abstinence following E-cigarette vapor and cigarette smoke exposure: Role of inflammatory cytokines and glutamate receptors; Behavioural Brain Research; 488, 115600, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115600

  15. Rima Hajjo, Osama H. Abusara, Dima A. Sabbah, Sanaa K. Bardaweel; Advancing the Understanding and Management of Mpox: Insights into Epidemiology, Disease Pathways, Prevention, and Therapeutic Strategies; BMC Infectious Diseases; 25, 529, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10899-2

  16. Rania Hamed, Rafa Aburayya, Ahlam Zaid Alkilani, Alaa M. Hammad, Osama H. Abusara, Hadeel Abo-Zour; Thermo-Responsive Niosomal In Situ Gels for Topical Delivery of Prednisolone; AAPS PharmSciTech; Volume 26, article number 116, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-025-03105-8

  17. Sanaa K. Bardaweel, Rima Hajjo, Osama H. Abusara, Dima Sabbah, Dima Hattab, Asal S. Alabdullah, Zainab A. Rashid; An Overview of the Potential Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in Cancer Treatment; Current Cancer Drug Targets; Accepted 26 March 2025; Available Online 23 June 2025. https://doi.org/10.2174/0115680096372733250611114329

  18. Osama H. Abusara, Ahmed S.A. Ali Agha, Sanaa K. Bardaweel; Advancements and Innovations in Liquid Biopsy through Microfluidic Technology for Cancer Diagnosis; Analyst; 150, 1711-1725, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5AN00105F

  19. Nisrein Jaber, Osama H. Abusara, Ali I. M. Ibrahim, Mayyas Al-Remawi; Development of a promising ε-polylysine and polyaspartic acid complex nanocarriers as iron supplement for overcoming gastrointestinal challenges; Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology; 107, 106840, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2025.106840

  20. Sawsan I. Khdair, Lubna Al-Khareisha, Osama H. Abusara, Alaa M. Hammad, Alaa Khudair; HLA-class II genes association with multiple sclerosis: An immunogenetic prediction among multiple sclerosis Jordanian patients; PLOS ONE; 20(2): e0318824, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318824

  21. Rima Hajjo, Dima A. Sabbah, Sanaa K. Bardaweel, Osama H. Abusara; Epidemiology Analysis of COVID-19 Data and Associated Effects of Pandemic Containment Procedures, Viral Variants and Vaccines: Lessons Learned from Middle Eastern Jordan’s Experience; Advances in Public Health; Volume 2024, Article ID 2977631, 18 pages, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1155/adph/2977631

  22. Osama H. Abusara, Alaa M. Hammad, Rasha Debas, Eveen Al-Shalabi, Mohammed Waleed, F. Scott Hall; The inflammation and oxidative status of rat lung tissue following smoke/vapor exposure via E-cigarette, cigarette, and waterpipe; Gene; 935, 149066, 2025 (Available Online 02 November 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2024.149066

  23. Otrujja Alkhaldi, Samah Abusulieh, Osama H. Abusara, Suhair Sunoqrot; Development of Mitoxantrone-Loaded Quercetin Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy with Potential for Synergism with Bioactive Natural Products; International Journal of Pharmaceutics; 665, 124674, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124674

  24. Alaa M. Hammad, Osama H. Abusara, Suhair Sunoqrot, Sawsan I. Khdair, F. Scott Hall; Sex Differences in Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety in Rats After Exposure to Tobacco Smoke; Neuroscience Letters; 833, 137834, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137834

  25. Hamza Abumansour, Osama H. Abusara, Wiam Khalil, Hassan Abul-Futouh, Ali I. M. Ibrahim, Mohammad K. Harb, Dina H. Abulebdah, Worood H. Ismail; Biological evaluation of levofloxacin and its thionated derivatives: antioxidant activity, aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme inhibition, and cytotoxicity on A549 cell line; Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology; 397, 6963-6973, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-024-03075-x

  26. Balqis A. Ikhmais, Alaa M. Hammad, Osama H. Abusara, Lama Hamadneh, Hamza Abumansour, Qasem M. Abdallah, Ali I. M. Ibrahim, Lina Elsalem, Mariam Awad, Rahaf Alshehada; Investigating Carvedilol’s Repurposing for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity Modulation in the Presence of β-Adrenergic Agonists; Current Issues in Molecular Biology; 45 (10), 7996-8012, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb45100505

  27. Suhair Sunoqrot, Samah Abusulieh, Osama H. Abusara; Identifying synergistic combinations of Doxorubicin-Loaded polyquercetin nanoparticles and natural Products: Implications for breast cancer therapy; International Journal of Pharmaceutics; 645, 123392, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123392

  28. Hala H. Halawah, Nimer S. Alkhatib, Abdulaali R. Almutairi, Mohammad Saleh, Shiraz S. Halloush, Omar Rashdan, Lama Masadh, Osama H. Abusara, Ivo Abraham; Cost-Efficiency Analysis and Expanded Treatment Access Modeling of Conversion to Rituximab Biosimilars from Reference Rituximab in Jordan; Journal of Medical Economics; 26 (1), 835-842, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/13696998.2023.2226007

  29. Osama H. Abusara, Samar Bishtawi, Walid Al-Qerem, Wassan Jarrar, Lubna Al-Khareisha, Sawsan I. Khdair; Pharmacists’ knowledge, familiarity, and attitudes towards biosimilar drugs among practicing Jordanian pharmacists: A cross sectional study; Journal of King Saud University – Science; 35 (6), 102767, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2023.102767

  30. Malek Zihlif, Osama H. Abusara, Walid Al-Qerem, Mahmood Al-Ibadah, Tareq M. Mahafza, Fatima M. Al-Akhras and Naseem T. Mahafza; CRHR1 polymorphism at rs242941, rs242940, and rs72834580: association of symptoms improvement with intranasal corticosteroids in allergic rhinitis Jordanian patients; Drug Metabolism and Personalized Therapy; 38, 4, 331-338, 2024 (Available Online 22 May 2023). https://doi.org/10.1515/dmpt-2023-0014

  31. Worood H. Ismail, Osama H. Abusara, Balqis Ikhmais, Hassan Abul-Futouh, Suhair Sunoqrot, Ali I. M. Ibrahim; Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Coniferyl Aldehyde Derivatives as Potential Anticancer and Antioxidant Agents; Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences; 16 (2-Supplement 1), 368-380, 2023. https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v16i2.1463

  32. Osama H. Abusara, Ali I. M. Ibrahim, Hamzah Issa, Alaa M. Hammad, Worood H. Ismail; In Vitro Evaluation of ALDH1A3-Affinic Compounds on Breast and Prostate Cancer Cell Lines as Single Treatments and in Combination with Doxorubicin; Current Issues in Molecular Biology; 45 (3), 2170-2181, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb45030139

  33. Rima Hajjo, Dima A. Sabbah, Osama H. Abusara, Reham Kharmah, Sanaa Bardaweel; Targeting Human Proteins for Antiviral Drug Discovery and Repurposing Efforts: A Focus on Protein Kinases; Viruses; 15 (2), 568, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15020568

  34. Rima Hajjo, Dima A. Sabbah, Osama H. Abusara, Abdel Qader Al Bawab; A Review of the Recent Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease Research and the Utilization of Network Biology Approaches for Prioritizing Diagnostics and Therapeutics; Diagnostics; 12 (12), 2975, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12122975

  35. Rania Hamed, Amani D Abu Kwiak, Yasmeen Al-Adhami, Alaa M Hammad, Rana Obaidat, Osama H Abusara, Rana Abu Huwaij; Microemulsions as Lipid Nanosystems Loaded into Thermoresponsive In Situ Microgels for Local Ocular Delivery of Prednisolone; Pharmaceutics; 14 (9), 1975, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14091975

  36. Walid Al-Qerem, Abdel Qader Al Bawab, Osama Abusara, Nimer Alkhatib, Robert Horne; Validation of the Arabic version of medication adherence report scale questionnaire and beliefs about medication -specific questionnaire: A factor analysis study; PLOS ONE; 17 (4), e0266606, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266606

  37. Abdel Qader Al Bawab, Walid Al-Qerem, Osama Abusara, Nimer Alkhatib, Maha Mansour, Robert Horne; What Are the Factors Associated with Nonadherence to Medications in Patients with Chronic Diseases?; Healthcare; 9 (9), 1237, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9091237

  38. Balqis Ikhmais, Alaa M Hammad, Walid Al-Qerem, Osama H Abusara, Jonathan Ling; Conducting COVID-19-Related Research in Jordan: Are We Ready?; Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness; 16 (3), 967-974, 2022 (Available Online 05 November 2020). https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.437

  39. Suhair Sunoqrot, Eveen Al-Shalabi, Dima A. Sabbah, May Al-Majawleh, Osama H. Abusara; Remote Teaching and Learning in a Pandemic: Reflections from Chemistry Instructors at a Pharmacy School in Jordan; Journal of Chemical Education; 97 (9), 3129-3134, 2020. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00735

  40. Osama Haitham Abusara, Sally Freeman, Harmesh Singh Aojula; Pentapeptides for the treatment of small cell lung cancer: Optimisation by Nind-alkyl modification of the tryptophan side chain; European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry; 137, 221-232, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.05.053

  41. Shaun C Offerman, Manikandan Kadirvel, Osama H Abusara, Jennifer L Bryant, Brian A Telfer, Gavin Brown, Sally Freeman, Anne White, Kaye J Williams, Harmesh S Aojula; N-tert-Prenylation of the indole ring improves the cytotoxicity of a short antagonist G analogue against small cell lung cancer; MedChemComm; 8 (3), 551-558, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6MD00691D

Conferences, Symposiums, and Workshops

  1. Osama H Abusara, Mamoon M D Al-Rshaidat; Anticancer activity of marine sponge’s ethanolic extract on lung cancer cells; 20th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2026. (Melbourne, Australia, 2026). (Oral Presentation)

  2. Osama H Abusara, Rania Abu-Zaid, Buthaina Hussein, Fadi G. Saqallah; Anticancer activity of thiourea derivatives via EGFR and efflux pumps inhibition; 20th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2026. (Melbourne, Australia, 2026). (Poster Presentation)

  3. Osama H Abusara, Malek Zihlif; The potential repurposing of SSRIs for the treatment of lung cancer; 20th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2026. (Melbourne, Australia, 2026). (Poster Presentation)

  4. Mamoon Al-Rshaidat, Osama Abusara, Malek Zihlif, Razan Abuassaf; Leveraging Red Sea Marine Biodiversity to Overcome Chemotherapy Resistance in Lung Cancer: A Precision Oncology Strategy for the GCC and Middle East; 2026 Precision Oncology Saudi Summit, Journal of Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology; 9, 46–61 (2026). (Madinah, Saudi Arabia, 2026). (Oral Presentation) https://doi.org/10.36401/JIPO-26-X2

  5. Osama H. Abusara, Hamza Abumansour; The potential repurposing of levofloxacin derivatives for the treatment of small cell lung cancer; 17th Congress of the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics EACPT, European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology; 81 (Suppl 1), 1–63 (2025). (Helsinki, Finland, 2025). (Poster Presentation) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-025-03859-x

Scroll to Top