UNAM Seminar: “Acoustofluidics for ultrafast mixing and personalised drug delivery”, Tuncay Alan, 11:00AM November 13 2024 (EN)

You are cordially invited to UNAM Nanocolloquium seminars focusing on advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The seminars bring us the most recent developments in these exciting fields. This week’s talk will be presented by Prof. Tuncay Alan (Monash University).

Nanocolloquium series

Title: Acoustofluidics for ultrafast mixing and personalised drug delivery

Date: November 13, 2024 (Wednesday)
Time and Venue: 11:00 UNAM Conference Hall (SU-01)

Abstract:
At the Dynamic Micro Devices Laboratory, we study the interaction between nonlinear micro/nanoscale resonators and fluid media, developing acoustically actuated microsystems. This seminar will present recent advances in these technologies, with applications in chemical synthesis, drug delivery, and liquid atomization, and their potential impact in healthcare.

The first part of my talk will focus on ultrafast, high-throughput microfluidic mixers capable of high precision synthesis of nanomaterials. These mixers can homogenize solutions in under milliseconds, at flow rates approaching 10 ml/min. Such rapid mixing enables precise control over the size and composition of the end products, (ranging from organic nanodrugs to perovskites used in optoelectronics) achieved solely through mechanical processes without altering reaction conditions.

The second part will introduce a liquid atomization technology, PALM, and discuss how it can be used for targeted respiratory drug delivery. With its unique design and responsive operation, PALM can precisely dial the size and dose of the aerosolised drug based on the disease, lung capacity and breathing cycle of the patient, using a portable easy to use device offering effective personalised treatment which is not possible with any other device. Unlike its competitors, PALM can also control the strength and duration of the pressure waves during aerosolization and preserving the therapeutic agents.

Short Bio:
Tuncay Alan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his BSc in Civil Engineering from Middle East Technical University, and his PhD from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Before joining Monash, he completed postdoctoral research at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and University College London in the UK. He has also held positions as a Visiting Scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institute in 2015 and as a Guest Professor at ETH Zurich in 2023.