Cătălin POPA
Dr. Cătălin Popa is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Head of the Biomaterials Research Group in the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN), Academic Vice – Lead of European University of Technology Institute for Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies (EUTINN). He is an Engineer since 1986 and, after working as a design engineer in several companies, he has become a member of the academic staff of TUCN since 1990. From the very early stages of his career, he worked in the field of Biomaterials and, later, he created the Biomaterials Research Group. Doctor of Engineering since 1997, Professor Popa was awarded a NATO / Royal Society Fellowship in the University of Nottingham (2000). He was a recognized researcher in numerous research projects in the UK, in the IRC in Biomedical Materials, Queen Mary, University of London, and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC, as well as director in 29 research grants awarded by Romanian public funding bodies. The Biomaterials Research Group he leads focuses on optimisation of medical implants / devices, Tissue Engineering applications, drug delivery systems and Medical Microfluidics. Fundamental or developmental research for industry, in Romania, Germany, UK or Japan is, also, a key topic for the group he leads. Prof. Cătălin Popa is member of the Materials Engineering and Science Commission in The National Commission for the Attestation of Titles, Diplomas and University Certificates (CNATDCU), Romania.
Abstract
ADVANCES IN THERAPY AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS USING A MICROFLUIDICS APPROACH
Medical Microfluidics constitutes a key engineering enabler in medical fields such as analyses / diagnostic but, in the recent years, it finds more and more applications in therapy / theranostic as well. This development is facilitated by advances in Materials Science and Manufacturing Technology, Nanotechnology included. Fields such as Capillary Force Microfluidics, using cost – effective devices prone to high – scale production, considerably boosted by the pandemics, or 3D printing of microfluidic devices, emerged very strongly recently. The newly developed applications in this presentation employ human – processed materials but also bacteria transformed into cells selectors / actuators. The tested devices useseveral types of action upon biologic components in fluids, ranging from flow effects, to synergistic physical / chemical ones, and are designed either to diagnostic, therapy or theranostic, wound dressing, biosensing or fast and accurate point-of-care blood analysis / drug testing. Microfluidic devices manufactured through 3D printing, as well as capillary force ones, on paper or thread, with the possibility of assistance through the integration of electrodes or chemical agents, were conceived, manufactured and tested, in view of medical applications.
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