University of Groningen
Ultrasound-triggered release and activation of drugs and biomacromolecules from nucleic acid scaffolds
Zhao, Pengkun
DOI:
10.33612/diss.168542653
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Publication date: 2021
Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database
Citation for published version (APA):
Zhao, P. (2021). Ultrasound-triggered release and activation of drugs and biomacromolecules from nucleic acid scaffolds. University of Groningen. https://doi.org/10.33612/diss.168542653
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How time flies. I still could not believe that it has been already more than four years since the first time I set foot on Dutch soil. I can still clearly remember that I was lying on the bed of my dormitory in China when I received the official offer from the graduate school of RUG. I have no idea what is waiting for me and how is the life in Europe that time. Now, it is all coming to an end, and it is high time to overview what I obtained and acknowledge those who made contributions to this thesis and helped me a lot during the past several years.
First of all, I would like to use this precious opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my respected supervisor Prof. Andreas Herrmann. As so many new hands in science, the progress I made at the very beginning of my PhD was quite slow. Thank a lot for not giving me up but giving me your most understanding and help. I still feel so lucky to get your offer to work in your group. If not so, I could not believe I can have a work published in the best journal of chemistry, even though we experienced a really hard time. But let’s forgive the imperfections. It is you that lead me to the magical DNA world. I am so passionate to explore the DNA-mediated materials when I found they are so programmable and flexible, since I only treated it as a genetic vector before. What impressed me most are your remarks that always hit a nail on the head. Apart from that, I also learnt a lot on how to organize a work and make it acceptable in a higher-level journal from you. Thanks again for your nice recommendation letter when I tried to find a position in academia. I wish you all the best in your future life, not only your research work, but also your families.
I would like to thank my co-promoter: Prof. Giuseppe Portale for reading my manuscript.
I also would like to express my sincere thanks to the members of the assessment committee: Prof. Rint Sijbesma, Prof. Carsten Bolm and Prof. Gerard Roelfes. Thanks a lot for your time and effort in reading and improving this thesis.
I would like to thank Dr. Robert Göstl and Dr. Arnold Boersma as well for helping me improve and polish the writing of my manuscript. Most of your suggestions are really constructive. Without your effort, I could not publish them at such high level. I am so happy working with you. I wish you a big success in your future research work. Many thanks to Prof. Rudolf Lütticken, Dr. Elisabeth Heine, Rita Gartzen, Ghazi
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Due to the well-organized working schedule made by Rita every week, we could make full use of the working time in a not very spacious but cozy working space. Rita, thanks a lot for giving me the most professional suggestions on bacterial experiments and teaching me with every single device placed in S2 lab. We had a really good time working together. Hope you could own a bigger S2 lab very soon.
Moreover, I would like to give my great gratitude to the members in Herrmann group. You are the people I spent the most time with during the past years.
Dr. Shuaidong Huo, thanks a lot for being my daily supervisor. The most important
thing I learnt from you is to make full preparation ahead on the things that really matter and always take the initiative. Wish you all the best with your career. Dr. Lifei Zheng, thank you very much for helping me polish Chapter 1. Well begun is half done. Your enthusiasm on research inspires me. Hope more elites will join and contribute to your research team soon. Ursula, I am so lucky that I can meet such an efficient and kind-hearted secretary like you in Herrmann group. I feel so “safe” when I moved to Aachen, because I know you can help us get things done in Groningen. You are a so warm person who wishes us a happy Chinese New Year at spring festival eve. Mark, the guy who is to control the financial power of our laboratory. Thanks for your efficient ordering of every single package for me and your kind help on writing the Dutch summary of my thesis. Avishek, thanks a lot for sharing me with the technique of Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and Evgeny, thank you very much for your nice SEM pictures, especially at the very beginning of my PhD. Thanks a lot, Hongyan. I am happy to talk to you regarding cell-related questions. Ming, such a humorous guy I have ever met. “Give me one more cigarette, and I can work for another 5 h”. Gurudas, your excellent expression capability impressed me a lot. Yu, the guy who possesses the most of “gossip” in this lab. I like to talk to you as I treat you as a sincere friend. Miancheng, your project is not working that very well at the very beginning. Luckily, you are almost done now. You are one of the smartest guys I ever met. Pls make use of your intelligence and wisdom. Xintong, a guy with a pure heart. Like cartoon and Nintendo. Hope you can always be happy and enjoy your life. Jilin, you are the most hardworking guy in this lab without doubt. Thanks a lot for your TEM measurements. Mingjun, another hardworking guy in our group, who already possesses many superior publications during his PhD. Hope I will be as hardworking as you. You set a really
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good example. Qi, a kind-hearted girl with a clear mind, who impressed me a lot when we played the game of the Werewolves of Miller's Hollow and travelled to Belgium.
Konstantin, a guy with strong hands-on skills. Much appreciated for your home-made
holder for cooling purpose during ultrasonication. My thanks would also like to go to
Kai, Lei, Chao, Eliza, Jing, Qing, Zhuojun, Jingyi, Oliver, Deniz, Aman, Anne, Fahimeh, Xiang, Lulu, Zhiyuan, Tina, Simone and all the members in Göstl and
Boersma group for supporting me in the past years.
I thank my friend Jiacong, Congchao and Jin for being in my life. We had a pretty good time in Groningen and they are unforgettable and enjoyable. Wish you all the best for your postdoc in USA, Jin. Wish you a happy life in Beijing and Tianjin, Jiacong, Congchao.
My special thanks to one of my best friends: Wencheng, specialized in the field of biology. Without our fruitful discussion, I could not find the protocol I followed was wrong, let alone achieve my project. You are always that helpful. Good luck for your projects and life. Wish you a bright future.
Meantime, I would like to express my thanks to China scholarship council (CSC) for sponsoring me to study abroad and my master school Wuhan University for helping me apply for CSC, and also my supervisor Prof. Xiaowen Shi during my master degree for your nice recommendation letter when I applied for a doctor position and also postdoc position. Wish you all the best.
最后，我想感谢我最重要的父母和家人，谢谢你们的养育之恩，谢谢你们的理 解和支持，让我在外拼搏数载，没有后顾之忧。祝愿你们身体健康，笑容常伴 左右。儿子已长大，也能为你们撑起一片天。
