Projects
Understanding the effect of selectively localized nanoparticles on the morphology, crystalline behavior and resulting properties of partially miscible amorphous-crystalline blends KU Leuven
Blending polymers is a cost effective method that offers the possibility to enhance the overall properties by synergistically combining the properties of the components. Apart from copolymers, nanoparticles can compatibilize immiscible polymer blends and alter the thermodynamics and kinetics of demixing in partially miscible blends because they influence the segmental dynamics and intermolecular cooperativity. In semi-crystalline polymers, ...
Intelligent polymeric nanoparticles for targeted elimination of tumor-associated macrophages as innovative anti-cancer treatment Ghent University
Besides cancer cells, tumors contain a vast array of non-cancerous cell types, which have been
largely overlooked as potential therapeutic targets and have been labeled “the forgotten half of
the tumor”. One of these non-cancerous cell types are a part of the immune system known as
macrophages. Certain macrophages undergo changes when they are present in the tumor
environment. These changes entail an overexpression of ...
Conjugated polymer nanoparticles for hydrogen generation Hasselt University
Super-resolved imaging of the swarming behavior of nanoparticles during optical trapping: the role of optohydrodynamics KU Leuven
Half of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 was awarded to Prof. Arthur Ashkin for his work in the development of optical trapping (also known as optical tweezers) and its biological implications. Optical trapping is the craft of manipulating objects with light and it is based on the phenomena that light scattering introduces an optical force to a (nano/micro)-structure. This optical force can be used to move this particle in 3D, study its ...
Smart design nanoParticles to Activate immune Responses against Cancer (SPARC) Ghent University
The prospect of stimulating immune responses to specifically kill cancer cells, instigated research
into cancer vaccines. The positive results on systemic delivery of mRNA packaged in lipid
nanoparticles (LNPs) in patients are very exciting, since LNPs avoid the complex logistics associated
with ex vivo strategies. We recently developed LNPs containing tumor antigen mRNA and the
adjuvant α−galactosylceramide ...
Therapeutic targeting of early metastasis by exosome-mimetic gold nanoparticles Ghent University
Metastasis is responsible for more than 90% of cancer-associated mortality; thus the clinical need
to prevent or target metastasis is high. This holds especially for triple-negative breast cancer
(TNBC) patients, since not a single targeted therapy has been approved for the treatment of
metastatic TNBC and these patients respond poorly to aggressive and toxic chemotherapy. We
focus on common early ...
Vibrational and electronic properties of superconducting films and nanoparticles investigated by advanced synchrotron and theoretical methods. KU Leuven
Superconductivity is one of the most intriguing phenomena in solid state physics. It is characterized by the condensation of electrons into Cooper pairs, i.e. below a particular critical temperature there is an effective attractive interaction between electrons, and in bulk materials this manifests itself in (i) the disappearance of electrical resistance and (ii) the expulsion of an external magnetic field. This attractive interaction between ...
Understanding and modulating the pro-inflammatory activity of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) in the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: towards the development of more effective LNP formulations. Ghent University
The lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology has enabled the clinical translation of RNA therapeutics, and in particular the role played by the LNPs in today's success story with the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has become a very hot topic. The idea that the LNPs do not only work as delivery vehicle, but that they are also the key mediator of the pro-inflammatory activity and associated adverse effects of these mRNA vaccines, is a recent lead of ...
Small-scale modeling of the dissolution behavior of platinum group metal nanoparticles in pyrometallurgical recycling from spent auto-catalysts. KU Leuven
Platinum Group Metal (PGM) nanoparticles, more specifically platinum, rhodium, and palladium, are essential components in auto-catalysts in the outlets of cars, since they work as active sites for catalytic reactions. Due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations, the demand for these metals increases yearly. Since PGMs are very scarce, efficient recycling of these metals has become an important issue. Currently, the smelting ...