Experience

Mines Paris

• France
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Chargé de Recherche / Assistant Research Professor

  • Dec 2018 - Present

  Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux / Centre for Materials Forming (CEMEF) Team Biopolymers and Composites (BIO team) My research focuses on combining biobased polymers, hydrogels and support materials in order to create advanced hybrid materials with biomedical and industrial applications in various fields. Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux / Centre for Materials Forming (CEMEF) Team Biopolymers and Composites (BIO team) My research focuses on combining biobased polymers, hydrogels and support materials in order to create advanced hybrid materials with biomedical and industrial applications in various fields.



University of Montpellier

• Researcher

  • Jun 2017 - Nov 2018

  PEEK exhibits unprecedented advantages compared to commonly used materials or metals in implantology. Unfortunately, surgical site infection of PEEK implants is still too often responsible for implant failure, reoperation and extra costs, which limits the full appreciation of the potential of PEEK implants. In this project, I investigated a new route conferring long-term resistance to infection of PEEK implants without modifying important implant features in terms of mechanical stability, surface topography and sterilisability. I performed a bimodal approach, by covalent immobilization of both antifouling polymers and bactericidal agents, using a one-step chemical reaction. This project was in collaboration with the AO Research Institute in Davos, Switzerland. Show less

• Marie Curie Individual Fellowship researcher

  • Jun 2015 - May 2017

  Premature drug release from micelles remains a major challenge in nanomedicine. I introduced the platinum based, coordinative Lx linker in the core of bioresorbable PEG-P(HPMA) based micelles to facilitate (1) coordinative crosslinking between the polymers constituting the micelle and (2) stable coordination between a drug molecule and the polymers constituting the micelle. The project included the synthesis and characterization of monomers, polymers and micelles as well as in vitro release and cell experiments. This grant (176 k€) was entirely designed and written by myself. Show less



University of Toulouse

• Department of Bifunctional Ligands and Biodegradable Polymers

• Postdoctoral researcher

  • Jan 2014 - Feb 2015

  This project focused on the development of biodegradable polymers via organo-catalyzed polymerization for the enhancement of the mechanical properties of bone cements. The project included the synthesis and characterization of various classes of polymers such as amphiphilic block copolymers and natural-synthetic hybrid polymers, as well as their functional evaluation in calcium phosphate bone cements. The project was carried out in collaboration with the industrial partner Graftys SA. This project focused on the development of biodegradable polymers via organo-catalyzed polymerization for the enhancement of the mechanical properties of bone cements. The project included the synthesis and characterization of various classes of polymers such as amphiphilic block copolymers and natural-synthetic hybrid polymers, as well as their functional evaluation in calcium phosphate bone cements. The project was carried out in collaboration with the industrial partner Graftys SA.



University of Utrecht

• Department of Pharmaceutics - Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences

• Postdoctoral researcher

  • Mar 2012 - Dec 2013

  The Lx linker is a molecule which exploits platinum coordination chemistry to couple 2 (macro)molecules of biological interest. Many cytotoxic drugs and antibodies contain suitable coordination sites such as nitrogen or sulphur atoms, allowing their straightforward coupling via the Lx linker without the need of laborious chemical derivatization, which may affect their biological activity. The project covered various stages in the development of target-cell directed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as doxorubicin-Lx-cetuximab, including their synthesis, characterization and functional evaluation. This project was carried out in collaboration with the industrial partner Linxis Pharmaceuticals BV. Show less



University of Twente

• Netherlands
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• PhD project

  • Jun 2007 - Dec 2011

  Promotores: Prof. Dr. P. J. Dijkstra and Prof. Dr. J. Feijen. Hydrogels are defined as polymer networks that are able to swell considerably and retain large amounts of water in their swollen structures. They constitute an important class of biomaterials due to their generally excellent biocompatibility. Hydrogels are for example used in tissue engineering and systems for the controlled delivery of drugs. Most physically and chemically crosslinked hydrogels that have been applied as controlled drug delivery systems are based on linear amphiphilic PEG copolymers. However, star block copolymers offer various advantages over linear polymers such as a higher concentration of end groups. The aim of my research was to design and prepare physically or chemically crosslinked injectable hydrogels from PEG-PLA star block copolymers. In this respect, controlled degradation and sufficient mechanical properties of the injectable hydrogels were taken into account in the design. Furthermore the gelation mechanism and the eventual hydrogel degradation mechanism were studied in detail. Their potential application as systems for the controlled delivery of biologically active agents was evaluated. Further activities included supervising several Master and Bachelor students, assisting in the practical course 'Chemistry and Biomaterials' for first year Biomedical Engineering students, and organizing a study tour to the United Kingdom for the Department of Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials. Coursework: post-academic courses ‘Register polymer specialist RPK-A (polymer chemistry)’ and ‘Register polymer specialist RPK-B (polymer physics)’, National Dutch Research School PTN. Show less



University of Twente

• Netherlands
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• MSc project

  • Jun 2006 - Apr 2007

  Development of a biodegradable, chemically crosslinked PEG-PLLA hydrogel for drug delivery by combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic macromonomers. Development of a biodegradable, chemically crosslinked PEG-PLLA hydrogel for drug delivery by combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic macromonomers.



DSM

• Netherlands
• Chemical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research internship

  • Oct 2004 - Mar 2005

  Development of composites based on photocrosslinkable polyester resins for the restoration of damaged sewer systems. Development of composites based on photocrosslinkable polyester resins for the restoration of damaged sewer systems.