The skin is our natural barrier and lipids are a key part of this barrier. In the outer skin layer, the stratum corneum (SC), lipids form a densely organized structure dependent on the composition of these lipids.

Barrier function is the natural role of the skin. The lipid matrix present in the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum is important for this function.

This thesis focuses on the application of lipid-based nanomedicine in drug delivery, including small molecular antitumor drugs and biomacromolecules including mRNA, and evaluates their biological performance.

The lipid membrane is a basic structural component of all living cells. Embedded in this nanometer-thin barrier, membrane proteins shape the membrane and at the same time respond to the shape of the membrane.

This thesis systematically analyzes the physical-chemistry of lipid-graphene interactions with the major objective of reconciliating the variety of results reported in the literature.

Like a mixture of oil and water, lipid membranes separate into two liquid phases.

The stratum corneum is the outermost skin layer and consists of dead cells embedded in a lipid matrix.

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. Bouwman, Co-promotor: S. Bonnet

Synthesis and application of chemical biology tools to study immunomodulatory signaling lipids.

Integrins play an essential role in multicellular life by connecting cells to the extracellular matrix.

Promotor: J. A. Bouwstra

Kunst en vrije tijd, Kunst en vrije tijd

Artificial photosynthesis has recognised potential to produce green and sustainable fuels from earth-abundant resources such as water, carbon dioxide (CO2), and sunlight.

Acute cardiovascular clinical events such as myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke represent the major cause of death in Western societies. These pathologies are primarily resulting from atherosclerosis, a progressive condition characterized by the accumulation of lipids, immune cells, and fibrous…

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most frequent causes of death in the world. The main underlying pathology of cardiovascular diseases is the development of atherosclerosis in the medium and large-sized arteries.

Microbiome composition of the spermosphere and the rhizosphere of wild and modern bean accessions grown in an agricultural and a native soil from Colombia was characterized by metagenomics and cultivation-dependent approaches.

Promotor: J.G.E.M. Fraaije, Co-Promotor: A. Kros

Promotor: Bas Edixhoven, Promotor: Qing Liu

Promotores: Prof.dr. G.F.A. Kersten, W. Jiskoot, Co-promotor: J-P. Amorij

Dit proefschrift beschrijft een collectie aan alternatieve strategieën voor het begrijpen, ontwerpen en toepassen van lipide nanosystemen, waarin de rol van de bio-nano interacties centraal staan. In het bijzonder wordt gekeken naar de interactie van RNA-lipide nanosystemen, bekend van de toepassing…

The research described in this thesis shows that hypercholesterolemia, a well-established risk factor for atherosclerosis, can impact skin lipid pool and barrier function already at young age. In the field of atherosclerosis, we showed that the small peptide Lyp-1 can be used as a targeting molecule…

This thesis aimed to investigate the impact of exposure dynamics, relative contributions of ENPs(particle) and ENPs(ion), and dosing regimens on the toxicity of ENPs varying in different physico-chemical properties, on the composition and functioning of soil microbial communities.

Particles are omnipresent in biopharmaceutical products. In protein-based therapeutics such particles are generally associated with impurities, either derived from the drug product itself (e.g. protein aggregates), or from extrinsic contaminations (e.g. cellulose fibers).

Promotor: A. Kros, Co-promotor: R.R.C.L. Olsthoorn

Cholesterol influences many pathways, including serving as precursor for adrenal steroidogenesis. Imbalance of cholesterol levels has been implicated in several diseases including cardiovascular diseases and its underlying pathology, atherosclerosis.

Promotie

Het is onderzoekers voor het eerst gelukt grafeen op een stabiele laag vetten, ofwel lipiden, te plaatsen. Omringd door een beschermende laag van lipiden zou grafeen in het lichaam als een veelzijdige sensor kunnen dienen. De resultaten zijn de eerste stap naar zo’n omhulsel en zijn op 28 september…

This thesis addresses the chemical processes that determine the compositions of giant planet atmospheres.

Promotor: E.F. Smets, Co-promotor: J. Geml

Promotor: A. Kros

Shape and biological function are tightly connected. Physical descriptions are used to connect the shape of a biological system with its function.

Heart failure is a major health care problem with high mortality.

Promotor: A. Kros

A structural investigation of coiled coil peptides used as membrane fusogens, mimicing naturally occuring coiled-coil fusion proteins. Synthetic modifications have been made to alter lipid attachment, secondary structure and to insert photoactive azobenzene moieties for active control over coiled coil…

Promotores: H.W. Lenstra, A. Lucchini

The research described in this thesis combines the latest insights in lysosomal function with lysosome centred cell signalling.

Farmacoloog Walter Boiten ontwikkelde een nieuwe methode om de hoeveelheid vetten in iemands huid te kunnen bepalen. Met de methode testte hij de effecten van een nieuwe crème die hij ontwikkelde voor eczeempatiënten. De eerste resultaten zijn veelbelovend. Boiten promoveert op 15 januari.

This thesis discusses the physical and chemical processes than influence the composition of forming planets.

Stars like the sun are born in large molecular clouds existing from gas and dust. During the formation process, the chemical composition of the material can be altered drastically by the changing physical conditions.

Promotie

The PID-directed shift in PIN polarity has been broadly accepted as one of the essential mechanisms for the regulation of auxin transport polarity.

The focus throughout this thesis will be on gathering fundamental studies of the detailed structure and composition of the electrode/electrolyte interface effect on the rate and mechanism of key electrocatalytic reactions.

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. Bouwman, Co-promotor: S. Bonnet

Phospholipase A/acyltransferase 3 (PLAAT3) and PLAAT4 are enzymes involved in the synthesis of bioactive lipids. Despite sequential and structural similarities, the two enzymes differ in activity and specificity.

Advanced mass spectrometry of glycosphingolipids takes the central stage in this thesis. Investigations focus on characterization of glycosphingolipid metabolism in health and disease with emphasis to the detection and accurate quantitation of known and so far unknown glycosphingolipids and closely…

Componist Aart Strootman won de prestigieuze Matthijs Vermeulenprijs 2019 voor zijn ensemblewerk ‘Shambling Emerge – after after party’. NRC sprak met hem over zijn compositie, zijn fascinatie voor het sleutelen aan instrumenten en zijn onderzoek.