In surface science there is great effort to move from studying simple, flat model surfaces in vacuum to investigating more complex model catalysts in gas environments (in situ). This thesis gives three examples of such studies using microscopy and spectroscopy.

This thesis introduces the concept of

Tuberculosis is a major global health problem caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, claiming more than a million lives annually.

This thesis explores different avenues to develop insurmountable antagonists for CC Chemokine Receptors, such as CCR1, CCR2 and CCR5.

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.

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…

We study the interplay of topology and geometry with chirality for several passive and active systems, employing both analytical and numerical methods.

Promotor: A. Kros

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

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

Preterm birth is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality and is associated with both acute complications and long-term health consequences.

Spectroscopic studies on fluorescent single molecules in organic condensed matter does not only provide information about the molecule itself, but also its near environment. By suppression of phonon-induced broadening of spectral lines through cooling to low temperatures, small changes in the spectral…

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.

The ideas underlying this thesis are that lipidomics may improve the diagnosis of liver metabolic diseases, and can provide further insights into the underlying pathophysiology of these diseases.

Materialen zijn gasvorming, vloeibaar of vast, afhankelijk van de manier waarop hun moleculen reageren op temperatuur en druk. Maar wat als de bouwstenen zelf-draaiende deeltjes zijn in plaats van gewone moleculen? Theoretisch natuurkundigen hebben ontdekt wat de fase bepaalt van die kunstmatige materialen.…

This PhD-thesis presents a study on micron-sized particles, so-called colloids. By controlling the chemical and physical properties of these particles, such as the interparticle interaction and the particles’ shape, colloids can act as building blocks that self-assembly into larger structures.

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

Promotor: A. Kros

Dit thematische gebied beslaat wereldwijde transformaties rond de productie, toewijzing en consumptie van hulpbronnen. Verwante onderwerpen omvatten ontwikkeling, financiën en arbeid (inclusief economische migratie). Gelieerde onderzoekers benaderen deze vragen vanuit perspectieven van economie, geschiedenis,…

Promotor: A.P. IJzerman

Promotor: A.P. IJzerman

This thesis describes the development and optimization of the first molecular tools to study the enzyme PLA2G4E.

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…

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading global cause of mortality. Endothelial dysfunction, an early reversible stage of CVD development, is marked by decreased nitric oxide production linked to Ca2+ influx in endothelial cells.

Inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis can severely impact both the physical and social aspect of a patient’s life. Aberrant inflammatory responses are thought to be a major causative factor in these disorders, but an abundance of different factors contribute to the development…

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

The aim of this thesis is to study cell-cell interactions and the development of an assay to explore and quantify the exchange of membrane compounds.

Promotie

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…

Cardiovascular diseases are still a major concern for the global health.

N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), including N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA), N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) and N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA), are signaling lipids that play an important role in different physiological process.

Promotie

Cathodic corrosion is a relatively unknown phenomenon that can severely etch metallic electrodes at cathodic (negative) potentials.

Streptomyces are multicellular, Gram-positive bacteria in the phylum of actinobacteria which produce a high amount of bioactive natural products of which the expression is tightly coordinated with the life cycle.

Voltammetry plays a crucial role in modern scientific research by offering valuable insights into the electrochemical properties of materials, with wide-ranging applications in fields such as materials science, energy storage, corrosion studies, and sensor development.

This thesis investigates how cell shape and collective behavior influence the dynamics and structure of biological tissues, which are crucial for understanding processes like embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and metastasis.

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotors: A.I. Yanson, L.B.F. Juurlink

The key characteristic of active matter is the motion of an emergent collection (such as a flock of birds), which is driven by the consumption of energy by its active components (i.e. individual birds).

Metal complexes and 2D materials like graphene were combined to produce structures that can function as sensors.

The elementary excitations of magnets are called spin waves, and their corresponding quasi-particles are known as magnons. The rapidly growing field of Magnonics aims at using them as information carriers in a new generation of electronic devices, (almost) free of electric currents.

Glycoside hydrolases (glycosidases/GHs) are widely abundant enzymes in all kingdoms of life and are important biocatalysts that catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages in oligo/polysaccharides, glycoproteins and glycolipids with tremendous efficiency

This thesis describes the development and validation of new high-contrast imaging techniques, with the ultimate goal of enabling the next generation of instruments for ELT-class telescopes to directly image Earth-like extra-solar planets orbiting around nearby stars.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.P. Abrahams, Co-Promotor: N.S. Pannu

Promotor: Prof.dr. M.A.G.J. Orrit

Promotor: Prof.dr. G.J. Kroes