I work on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel compounds and materials for biomedical applications. Working closely with other parties in projects allows for efficient feedback and subsequent optimisation of these compounds and materials for the desired application.Currently my main focus area's include novel thermoplastic elastomers for biomedical applications, agents for medical imaging, drug-delivery platforms, and functional bioactive components for medical devices.

We investigated the link between degradation, mechanical properties, and long-term failure of biodegradable glassy polymer components, with a special focus on polylactic acid spinal implants. The result was a tentative model, combining deformation and degradation, describing failure of PDLLA constructs under physiologically relevant conditions. Important skills for this project were mechanical analysis, polymer degradation, and physical chemistry.

The goal of this project was to evaluate and implement novel biocompatible thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) as a tissue engineering scaffold in a small-caliber blood vessel model. The result was a functional elastic blood vessel tissue engineering scaffold prototype. Important skills in this project were mechanical analysis (tensile testing, DMTA), optimization via structure-property relationships, cell culture, and tissue engineering.

I worked on the design, synthesis, and analysis of novel hydrogel materials for medical applications, based on hydrogen-bonding interactions in an aqueous environment. Important skills were organic chemistry, mechanical analysis (rheology), analysis of biocompatibility.

The goal of this project was a novel water-soluble, crosslinkable, biodegradable, and biocompatible dendrimers for use as an injectable hydrogel-based scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering. The results were a proof of concept of the proposed material as a cartilage tissue engineering scaffold and design, synthesis and analysis of a next generation scaffold material. Important skills were organic synthesis, mechanical analysis (rheology), and tissue engineering.This project was a… Show more The goal of this project was a novel water-soluble, crosslinkable, biodegradable, and biocompatible dendrimers for use as an injectable hydrogel-based scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering. The results were a proof of concept of the proposed material as a cartilage tissue engineering scaffold and design, synthesis and analysis of a next generation scaffold material. Important skills were organic synthesis, mechanical analysis (rheology), and tissue engineering.This project was a collaboration between chemistry, biomedical engineering, and medical science at Boston and Duke Universities, and Harvard Medical School (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) Show less

The goal of this project was a novel water-soluble, crosslinkable, biodegradable, and biocompatible dendrimers for use as an injectable hydrogel-based scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering. The results were a proof of concept of the proposed material as a cartilage tissue engineering scaffold and design, synthesis and analysis of a next generation scaffold material. Important skills were organic synthesis, mechanical analysis (rheology), and tissue engineering.This project was a… Show more The goal of this project was a novel water-soluble, crosslinkable, biodegradable, and biocompatible dendrimers for use as an injectable hydrogel-based scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering. The results were a proof of concept of the proposed material as a cartilage tissue engineering scaffold and design, synthesis and analysis of a next generation scaffold material. Important skills were organic synthesis, mechanical analysis (rheology), and tissue engineering.This project was a collaboration between chemistry, biomedical engineering, and medical science at Boston and Duke Universities, and Harvard Medical School (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) Show less

I worked on the synthesis and analysis of strongly self-associating hydrogen bonding systems based on 1,3,5- trithioureidophenyl derivatives. Important skills were organic synthesis, investigation of supramolecular interactions with e.g. UV/Vis, NMR, and circular dichroism spectroscopy.