Overview
Background
Dr Nicholas J. Westra van Holthe is a synthetic chemist working at the interface of chemistry and the biological function of nanomaterials, with expertise in functional chemistry and nanotechnology for biological applications. Nick is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. Nick obtained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Nanomedicine, and Molecular Imaging from The University of Queensland under the supervision of Professor Kristofer Thurecht.
Whilst Nick's primary expertise is in synthetic chemistry and the development and application of polymer-based nanoparticles, Nick's expertise also extends to photoacoustic molecular imaging as Nick helped establish the photoacoustic molecular imaging capability within the Centre for Advanced Imaging at The University of Queensland and has published several photoacoustic molecular imaging studies. Nick's Ph.D. thesis presents the synthesis of a highly effective photoacoustic contrast agent along with the development of a polymeric contrast agent that provides the means to visualise and assess nanoparticle penetration into solid tumours in real-time during in vivo imaging experiments. Nick also presents a detailed investigation of the photoacoustic efficacy and photophysical properties of contrast enhancing agents and proposes a novel mechanism for photoacoustic signal production.
Nick has research experience working with industry partners and has held several professional research positions. During 2019-21 Nick worked with Associate Professor Idriss Blakey to develop a nanoparticle-based hydrogen sulfide sensor. From 2022 Nick’s synthetic materials chemistry expertise has been utilised on a $USD 1.25M US Department of Defence funded grant for the preclinical testing of a polymer-protein conjugate as a haemostatic hydrogel for combat casualties with catastrophic haemorrhage.
More recently, Nick has been working with Professor Alan Rowan on the development of synthetic polymer-peptide conjugates that form biomimetic hydrogels and mimic the mechanic and functional properties of the extracellular membrane, providing the means to study cells in a controlled biomimetic 3-dimentional cell culture system.
Availability
- Dr Nicholas Westra Van Holthe is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Chemistry, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Coherent and Effective Chemistry
Synthesis of linkers, biomedical imaging agents, chromophores, chelators, sensors.
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Functional Polymers and Nanomaterials for Biomedical Imaging
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Polymer-Peptide/Protein Conjugates
Works
Search Professor Nicholas Westra Van Holthe’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Controlling ligand density and viscoelasticity in synthetic biomimetic polyisocyanide hydrogels for studying cell behaviours: the key to truly biomimetic hydrogels
Westra van Holthe, Nicholas J., Wang, Zhao, Lauko, Jan, Gilbert, Elliot P., Gangasandra, Vishaak and Rowan, Alan E. (2024). Controlling ligand density and viscoelasticity in synthetic biomimetic polyisocyanide hydrogels for studying cell behaviours: the key to truly biomimetic hydrogels. Materials Advances, 5 (23), 9458-9470. doi: 10.1039/d4ma00793j
2024
Journal Article
Polysuccinimide-based nanoparticle: a nanocarrier with drug release delay and zero burst release properties for effective theranostics of cancer
Moonshi, Shehzahdi S., Vazquez-Prada, Karla X., Adelnia, Hossein, Westra van Holthe, Nicholas J., Wu, Yuao, Tang, Joyce, Bulmer, Andrew C. and Ta, Hang Thu (2024). Polysuccinimide-based nanoparticle: a nanocarrier with drug release delay and zero burst release properties for effective theranostics of cancer. Applied Materials Today, 37 102150, 102150. doi: 10.1016/j.apmt.2024.102150
2023
Journal Article
Spiky silver–iron oxide nanohybrid for effective dual-imaging and synergistic thermo-chemotherapy
Moonshi, Shehzahdi S., Vazquez-Prada, Karla X., Tang, Joyce, Westra van Holthe, Nicholas J., Cowin, Gary, Wu, Yuao, Tran, Huong D. N., Mckinnon, Ryan, Bulmer, Andrew C. and Ta, Hang Thu (2023). Spiky silver–iron oxide nanohybrid for effective dual-imaging and synergistic thermo-chemotherapy. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 15 (36), 42153-42169. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c04696
2023
Other Outputs
Photoacoustic molecular imaging in nanomedicine: development of a polymeric probe to assess tumour penetration and reassessment of the contrast enhancement mechanism
Westra van Holthe, Nicholas (2023). Photoacoustic molecular imaging in nanomedicine: development of a polymeric probe to assess tumour penetration and reassessment of the contrast enhancement mechanism. PhD Thesis, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/48933ed
2023
Journal Article
Gold-iron oxide nanoparticle: A unique multimodal theranostic approach for thrombosis
Fithri, Najma Annuria, Wu, Yuao, Cowin, Gary, Akhter, Fahima, Tran, Huong D.N., Tse, Brian, van Holthe, Nicholas Westra, Moonshi, Shehzahdi S., Peter, Karlheinz, Wang, Xiaowei, Truong, Nghia P. and Ta, Hang Thu (2023). Gold-iron oxide nanoparticle: A unique multimodal theranostic approach for thrombosis. Applied Materials Today, 31 101750, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.apmt.2023.101750
2022
Journal Article
Understanding nanomedicine treatment in an aggressive spontaneous brain cancer model at the stage of early blood brain barrier disruption
Janowicz, Phillip W., Houston, Zachary H., Bunt, Jens, Fletcher, Nicholas L., Bell, Craig A., Cowin, Gary, Howard, Christopher B., Taslima, Dewan, Westra van Holthe, Nicholas, Prior, Amber, Soh, Vanessa, Ghosh, Saikat, Humphries, James, Huda, Pie, Mahler, Stephen M., Richards, Linda J. and Thurecht, Kristofer J. (2022). Understanding nanomedicine treatment in an aggressive spontaneous brain cancer model at the stage of early blood brain barrier disruption. Biomaterials, 283 121416, 121416. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121416
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Nicholas Westra Van Holthe is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Modulating polymer compsotion to generate truely biomimetic hydrogel systems
Studying mammalian cells in conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems has been an imperative methodology for studying cellular function, behaviour, and response to external stimuli. However, 2D cell culture methods position cells within an artificial environment that is incomparable to the native three-dimensional (3D) heterogenous and dynamic extracellular matrix (ECM) that tissue cells inhabit within whole living organisms. Natural matricies in the ECM comprised of an array of macromolecules and polymers that self-assemble into complex and dynamic networks with specific nano- and micro-scale architectures.
We have recently developed the first synthetic biomimetic 3D cell culture hydrogel system that accurately replicates the biophysical properties of a natural fibrin matrix where the observed fibroblast cellular responses are similar between the synthetic PIC-based hydrogel and the natural fibrin matrix. However, most endogenous ECMs contain dynamic crosslinking components. Here we seek to recreate nature’s complexity and uncover the collective complex influence of ligand density, strain stiffening responsiveness, viscoelasticity, stiffness and matrix architecture on cellular behaviours within 3D microenvironments by generating complex yet controlled crosslinked biomimetic matrices.
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Recreating nature’s complexity by modulating polymer composition to generate truly biomimetic hydrogels
Studying mammalian cells in conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems has been an imperative methodology for studying cellular function, behaviour, and response to external stimuli. However, 2D cell culture methods position cells within an artificial environment that is incomparable to the native three-dimensional (3D) heterogenous and dynamic extracellular matrix (ECM) that tissue cells inhabit within whole living organisms. Natural matricies in the ECM comprised of an array of macromolecules and polymers that self-assemble into complex and dynamic networks with specific nano- and micro-scale architectures.
We have recently developed the first synthetic biomimetic 3D cell culture hydrogel system that accurately replicates the biophysical properties of a natural fibrin matrix where the observed fibroblast cellular responses are similar between the synthetic PIC-based hydrogel and the natural fibrin matrix. Here we seek to recreate nature’s complexity and uncover the collective complex influence of ligand density, strain stiffening responsiveness, viscoelasticity, stiffness and matrix architecture on cellular behaviours within 3D microenvironments by generating complex yet controlled crosslinked biomimetic matrices.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Cellular Mechanics in Unusual Systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Rowan
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Doctor Philosophy
Cellular Mechanics in Unusual Systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Rowan
Media
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