INMA Impulso: Aldrik H. Velders
INMA Impulso seminar: “Nano-particles, micro-NMR & mini-devices”
Summary: Within the Laboratory of BioNanoTechnology (BioNT) in Wageningen, The Netherlands, we design and investigate novel materials and systems over a multitude of length scales. I will elaborate on a few examples in three of our research areas. Starting at the lower nanometer scale, we are intrigued by the self-assembly processes that govern formation and dynamics of (hard & soft) subcomponents in hybrid coacervate-core micelle systems, which we study with high-resolution NMR spectroscopy and (cryo-)TEM. We are further inspired by the potential of miniaturizing analytical instruments, and in particular, we develop our own microfluidic NMR & micro-MRI set ups for, e.g., reaction monitoring and plant imaging. And finally, we are advocating open-technology and DIY approaches in science as well as teaching, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as our work horse in creating mini-sensors & devices, among others for pathogen, e.g. COVID-19, detection.
