Projects
First principles based multi-scale modeling of controlled radical polymerisation processes Ghent University
Controlled radical polymerization allows to make tailor-designed polymer structures that find applications such as controlled drug delivery agents, contrast agents in MRI, components in electronic devices, etc. To make these well-defined polymers it is necessary that the reactions rates can be carefully controlled and, therefore, it is important to understand the interaction between the chemical reaction kinetics and the reactor ...
How polymeric sensors can prevent food waste: expiration date reinvented. Ghent University
This proposal addresses one of the most important challenges of our society the food loss and food waste around the globe. The main sector contributing to food waste are the consumers. Most consumers mistakenly believe that expiration dates on food indicate how safe the food is to consume, however these dates are not related to the risk of food poisoning or foodborne illness. These dates solely indicate freshness used by manufacturers to ...
Engineering anti-cancer immunity using polymeric nanoparticles that transform into synthetic cell surface receptors in response to intracellular pH Ghent University
The aim of this project is to develop nanoparticles that – upon targeted uptake by tumor cells – disassemble into soluble polymers. Subsequently, these polymers will position themselves on the cell surface and bind to endogenous antibodies, thereby provoking an immune response against the tumor cells.
Unravelling the mechanisms responsible for plasma-assisted surface activation Ghent University
This project envisages an in-depth study of the interactions between a non-thermal plasma and a polymer surface. The polymer surface composition will be investigated directly after plasma treatment without air exposure between the modification and the characterization step. In this way, understanding the plasma-surface interactions can be enhanced and the mechanisms responsible for grafting specific functional groups can be revealed.
LC-MS@UHasselt: Linear Trap Quadrupool-Orbitrap mass spectrometer Hasselt University
RADESOL - RAtional DEsign of blends for bulk heterojunction SOLar cells Vrije Universiteit Brussel
SMARTNANO: Simultaneous multi-parametric readout for low-cost nanoparticle sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers KU Leuven
SMARTNANO aims at developing novel sensors for detecting engineered nanoparticles (ENPs of Au and TiO2) in aqueous solutions. For that purpose, it suggests new developments in both the transducer and the receptor layer of those sensors: In terms of the transducer, it will implement a multi-parametric sensor setup based on three-electrode quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) as the substrates. The system will read out three complementary ...
Deposition of plasma-polymerized thin films at medium pressure Ghent University
In our previous work, the applicability of medium pressure plasmas was clearly demonstrated for surface activation. However, the use of medium pressure plasmas for depositing a thin polymer film onto a substrate, so-called plasma-polymerization, has not yet been studied. This technique demands the injection of a liquid or gaseous monomer in the plasma. This project aims at investigating the possibilities of medium pressure DBDs for depositing ...
Atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization for the creation of stable COOH-rich polymeric surfaces for biomedical use Ghent University
This project wants to develop chemically stable carboxyl (–COOH) rich polymeric surfaces and will focus on the plasma polymerization of acrylic acid at atmospheric pressure. Film properties will be tailored by variation of plasma deposition parameters. The chemical and physical properties (% carboxyl groups, film thickness and morphology, chemical stability,…) of the deposited plasma polymers will be closely examined.