Three researchers from the University of Twente have been awarded a so-called ENW-XS grant by the Dutch Research Council (NOW, Science domain). The funding is intended for 'curiosity-driven' research.
At the end of an ENW-XS project, the researcher can use the results to further develop their line of research. This can be done, for example, by submitting an application for other forms of funding within the ENW Open Competition (ENW-M and ENW-XL) or beyond.
In total, NWO is awarding 28 similar grants to scientists from Dutch research institutions in this round. Below are the projects of the three UT scientists.
Can we cut human bone with vibrations whilst sparing surrounding tissues?
dr. ir. Steven den Dunnen (ET/TechMed Centre)
Successful surgery requires precise dissection of tissue (e.g. cartilage) while preserving surrounding tissues (e.g. bone). We propose a novel waterjet based dissection method that selectively removes tissue by using pulses tuned to the target tissue's eigenfrequency. The hypothesis is that when the tissue resonates at the eigenfrequency, it disintegrates from excessive vibration, leaving surrounding tissue intact. A proof-of-concept experiment will identify tissue-specific eigenfrequencies and adapt the pulsating waterjet to match these eigen frequencies. When proven, this innovative concept contributes to surgical safety, quality and shorter operating times, potentially replacing conventional surgical instruments with a single tool for selective tissue removal.
Sustainable electronics via Printing of recycled liquid Metals (SusPrintMet)
dr. Ivana Lin (TNW/MESA+)
Every year, more than 50 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) are generated globally. e-waste recycling is urgent but hampered by key bottlenecks in metal recovery, including material complexity, harmful emissions, high energy consumption, and infrastructure limitations. This project aims to revolutionize e-waste recycling by using liquid metals (LMs) owing to their low melting points. We will introduce a sustainable technique and protocol for printing electronics using recycled LMs. We will develop a low-cost setup for widespread use, paving the way for DIY metallic electronics and in-house recycling as the future for sustainability.
Therapeutics Delivery to the brain, and beyond with encapsulins
dr. Sandra Michel-Souzy (TNW/MESA+)
Disease treatment is often inefficient, because only a fraction of the drug molecules arrives at the site of interest. We aim to develop a versatile carrier to target and treat any disease. This carrier is a biocompatible protein cage called encapsulin. Brain diseases have enormous impact on our society, while diagnosis and treatment remain troublesome as there is still no way to gain noninvasive access to the brain. Indeed, the brain is protected by a formidable barrier, the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). We will develop encapsulins to cross this barrier, enabling controlled therapeutics delivery and targeted imaging agents.
More information about NWO's Open Competition Domain Science can be found here.
