Stefan Hoffmann successfully defended his PhD thesis

This morning, Stefan Hoffmann from the ex-Goycoo group successfully defended his PhD thesis, supported by his first and second referees, Prof. Francisco Goycoolea, now at Leeds University, and Prof. Bruno Moerschbacher, respectively, and the third member of his doctoral committee, Dr. Christian Gorzelanny from the University Hospital Eppendorf in Hamburg. Stefan very nicely summarised his work on what he collectively termed ‘nano-bio interactions’, i.e. the interaction of nano-emulsions and nano-capsules with biological materials, cells, or tissues. Nano-emulsions have an oily core surrounded by an amphipathic layer of lecithin, and nano-capsules in addition have an outer layer of e.g. chitosan for added stability. Both, therefore, can be used as sustained release carriers for hydrophobic drug, to solve problems of solubility, cytotoxicity, and bioavailability. Stefan has been an unusually independent young researcher from the start, who embraced opportunities to collaborate with scientists from abroad, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and he also spent some time doing research in Argentina (which, by the way, initiated the contacts to Dr. Natalia Calvo who spent four months with us earlier this year). He also had joint projects with Christian in Hamburg, of which he did not even tell us in his seminar, but which may open up a door to an exciting, application- and industry-related post-doctoral project - for which we wish you all the best success!