Research overview

The focus of this theme is on the development of microfluidic systems for (bio)-medical applications, thereby increasing the knowledge of biological systems and improving the diagnostics and treatment of diseases. Microfluidics are a perfect tool for this, since dimensions comparable to single cells are used, low sample volumes are needed and multiple functionalities can be integrated in one platform. 

P.I.: Prof.Dr.ir. Loes Segerink

The theme of Microdevices for Chemical Analysis aims at engineering novel devices to measure chemical quantities, pushing boundaries in applications to explore unknown territory. Often, this relates to faster, or better spatially resolved measurements at lower concentrations in small volumes.  The ultimate goal is to create new, yet robust tools for routine use in the lab or point-of-care applications.

P.I.: Prof.Dr.ir. Mathieu Odijk

Nanotechnology has a lot to offer to modern biophysics and nanobiology. We bring the lab-on-a-chip technology to it's ultimate limits - manipulation of single protein molecules. We develop single molecule platforms based on dielectrophoresis and electrophoresis to study dynamic properties of protein molecules.

P.I.: Dr. Sergii Pud

Microbubbles and nanodroplets in combination with ultrasound have great potential in medicine as diagnostic as well as therapeutic vesicles. We use microfluidics to study and control their formation at the sub-µs time scale to ultimately design bubbles and droplets for non-invasive blood pressure sensing, molecular imaging, and controlled blood-brain barrier permeabilization. 

P.I.:Dr. Tim Segers

Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) technology provides a novel platform to obtain more insight in coccolithophores and their role in carbon sequestration. LoC has several advantages over traditional research under bulk conditions performed by biologists such as enabling the study of single cells as a function of local parameters like temperature, CO₂ concentration and pH.

P.I.:Prof. dr. Albert van den Berg