Adding vascular network to engineered tissues is an important step for the clinical application of these tissues. However, in order for such networks to perform, they need to have a physiological organization. This proposal hypothesizes that fluid flow shear stress on the outside of a vascular network can control vascular organization. To test this hypothesis, a transparent artificial eggshell with which directed fluid flow pattern can be applied, will be used in a chick embryo model. When the hypothesis holds true, the results of this project will provide us with an extra tool to control vascular organization in engineered tissues.

Nanomedicines have the potential to save lives, but their clinical development faces various obstacles. These include a.o. incomplete knowledge about their functioning at the cellular level, lack of standardization in the characterization of nanomedicines, and suboptimal knowledge exchange among the involved parties. NanoMedNL aims to overcome these obstacles by consolidating knowledge and expertise in a virtual center, where researchers, patients, doctors, pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities collaborate on the next generation of nanomedicines.

Sentinel node biopsy is a highly sensitive procedure for lymph node staging in head and neck cancer, particularly in oral cancer patients. However, nowadays sentinel lymph nodes (lymph nodes with the highest risk for containing metastasis) can not always be detected by currently available radioactive tracer due to the complex head and neck anatomy and the close spatial relation with the primary tumor, e.g. floor of mouth. Magnetic tracers may overcome the problems of currently used tracers. To detect small quantities of these tracer materials a novel magnetic detector is developed and will be applied in H&N cancer patients. This will enable more reliable staging and patient friendly and highly personalized treatment by eliminating the need to surgically remove all lymph nodes in this region in all patients.

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