Research highlights with overview of linked publications
Current research project (in cooperation with TU/e, Microsystems Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering) – postdoctoral researcher
MESOTAS project within dr. Regina Luttge’s ERC starting grant: 3D neuronal cell culture and neuromodulation, combining nanotechnology, tissue engineering, microfluidics and neuroelectrophysiology, to eventually serve as model for brain disorders, such as epilepsy.
Other research focuses on ‘Organs on Chips’ (metastasis chip, BBB chip).
2007-2013
Postdoctoral researcher in Lab-on-a-Chip systems (BIOMEMS): BIOS, Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Major research projects:
Electrofusion on chip: develop a Lab-on-a-Chip device which uses droplets to encapsulate, sort, electrofuse, culture and analyze B-, cancer- and hybridoma cells.
•R. Schoeman, E. Kemna, F. Wolbers, A. van den Berg. High-throughput deterministic single cell encapsulation and droplet pairing, fusion and shrinkage in a single microfluidic device. Electrophoresis 2013; DOI: 10.1002/elps.201300179
•E.W.M. Kemna, L.I. Segerink, F. Wolbers, I. Vermes, A. van den Berg. Label-free, high-throughput, electrical detection of cells in droplets. Analyst 2013; 138(16): 4585-4592
•E.W.M. Kemna, R.M. Schoeman, F. Wolbers, I. Vermes, D.A. Weitz, A. van den Berg. High-yield cell ordering and deterministic cell-in droplet encapsulation using Dean flow in a curved microchannel. Lab Chip 2012; 12: 2881-2887
•E.W.M. Kemna, F. Wolbers, I. Vermes, A. van den Berg. On chip electrofusion of single human B cells and mouse myeloma cells for efficient hybridoma generation. Electrophoresis 2011; 32: 3138-3146
Blood brain barrier on chip: develop a realistic model of the blood brain barrier (BBB) on a microfluidic chip for e.g., nanoparticle cytotoxicity screening; in cooperation with TU Delft and RIVM.
•L.M. Griep, F. Wolbers, B. de Wagenaar, P.M. ter Braak, B.B. Weksler, I.A. Romero, P.O. Couraud, I. Vermes, A.D. van der Meer, A. van den Berg. BBB on chip: microfluidic platform to mechanically and biochemically modulate blood-brain barrier function. Biomed Microdev 2013; 15(1): 145-150
Cancer research on chip: develop Lab-on-a-Chip devices for ex vivo drug screening and detailed cancer stem cell analysis to improve breast cancer therapy regimes (in cooperation with the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the department of Surgery of Medisch Spectrum Twente, Hospital Group, Enschede, The Netherlands and Laboratory of Pathology ‘Oost Nederland’, Enschede, The Netherlands).
•F. Wolbers, H.R. Franke, J.M. Klaase, M. Brinkhuis, A. van den Berg, I. Vermes. Future prospects in breast cancer research – cancer stem cells. eJIFCC 2012; 23: n3
•S. Veldhuis, F. Wolbers, O. Brouckaert, I. Vermes, H.R. Franke. Cancer prevalence in osteoporotic women with low serum vitamin D levels. Menopause 2011; 18: 319-322
•J. Komen, F. Wolbers, H.R. Franke, H. Andersson, I. Vermes, A. van den Berg. Viability analysis and apoptosis induction of breast cancer cells in a microfluidic device: effect of cytostatic drugs. Biomed Microdev 2008; 10: 727-737
2003-2007
Ph.D. in Lab-on-a-Chip systems (BIOMEMS): BIOS, Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, in close cooperation with the Department of Clinical Chemistry and Obstetrics and Gynecology of Medisch Spectrum Twente, Hospital Group, Enschede, The Netherlands; under the supervision of prof. A. van den Berg, prof. I. Vermes and prof. H. Andersson-Svahn. Thesis title: Apoptosis chip for drug screening (ISBN 978-90-365-2499-5).
•G.H. Jansen, H.R. Franke, F. Wolbers, M. Brinkhuis, I. Vermes. Effects of fulvestrant alone or combined with different steroids in human breast cancer cells in vitro. Climacteric 2008; 11: 315-321
•R. Verdijk, H.R. Franke, F. Wolbers, I. Vermes. Differential effects of bisphosphonates on breast cancer cell lines. Cancer Lett 2007; 246: 308-312
•F. Wolbers, P. ter Braak, S. le Gac, R. Lüttge, H. Andersson, I. Vermes, A. van den Berg. Viability study of HL60 cells in contact with commonly used microchip materials. Electrophoresis 2006; 27: 5073-5080
•H.R. Franke, A.F. Jordaan, F. Wolbers, K.A. Oostrom, M.J. van der Mooren, I. Vermes. Ex vivo measurement of cell apoptosis and proliferation in breast tissue of healthy women: Influence of age and steroid status An exploratory study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2006; 129: 96-98
•F. Wolbers, H. Andersson, A. van den Berg, I. Vermes. Apoptosis induced kinetic changes in autofluorescence of cultured HL60 cells – possible application for single cell analysis on chip. Apoptosis 2004; 9: 749-755
•F. Wolbers, C. Haanen, H. Andersson, A. van den Berg, I. Vermes. Analysis of apoptosis on chip – Why the move to chip technology? In “Lab-On-Chips for Cellomics: Micro and Nanotechnologies for Life Science”, ed. H. Andersson and A. van den Berg, Kluwer Academic Publishers 2004
1998-2003
M.Sc. degree (drs.) in Medical Biology. University of Utrecht.
External master project at Medisch Spectrum Twente, Hospital Group, Enschede, The Netherlands (09/2002 – 03/2003): The development of a quantitative flow cytometry assay to determine cell death kinetics in suspension- as well as adherent cells
•F. Wolbers, P. Buijtenhuijs, C. Haanen, I. Vermes. Apoptotic cell death kinetics in vitro depend on the cell types and the inducers used. Apoptosis 2004; 9: 385-392
Internal master project at the Eijkman Winkler Institute, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands (04/2001 – 01/2002): Cryptococcus neoformans.
•P.M. Ellerbroek, A.I. Hoepelman, F. Wolbers, J.J. Zwaginga, F.E. Coenjaerts. Cryptococcal glucuronoxylomannan inhibits adhesion of neutrophils to stimulated endothelium in vitro affecting both neutrophils and endothelial cells. Infect Immun 2002; 70: 4762-4771