Xavier Castellvi Corrons
CV
I am an early stage researcher currently performing a Marie-Curie funded industrial PhD in P&G Brussels and the University of Florence. My scientific interests are focused on nanoscience, biomedicine and encapsulation of actives for controlled release applications, as my experience hereby described shows: PhD researcher in Procter & Gamble 12/2018 – 08/2020 • Generation of self-assembled polymeric microcapsules to encapsulate perfume • Study of salts and surfactants’ effect on the cloud point of amphiphilic polymers • Analysis of the release profile of these microcapsules under external stimuli • Evaluation of microcapsules performance on home-care products • Techniques: optical/confocal/Raman microscopy, turbidimeter, PSD measurements Researcher in the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience (ICN2) 06/2017 – 09/2018 • Synthesis of gold, silver and their putative alloy nanoparticles • Work in sterile conditions • Techniques: UV-Vis, DLS, Z-potential, EDX and TEM microscopy Research intern in the Materials Science Institute of Barcelona (ICMAB) 02/2017 – 07/2017 • Synthesis of boron complexes for cancer treatment (BNCT) • Use of Schlenk line to avoid water contact during synthesis • Cytotoxicity assessment via MTT assay • Cellular up-take evaluation via flow cytometry and confocal microscope • Techniques: NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis and Maldi-TOF Research intern in the molecular biotechnology department of Universiteit Gent (UGent) 02/2016 – 07/2016 • Synthesis of calcium carbonate microparticles and magnetite nanoparticles • Data acquisition and analysis of magnetically generated movement • Techniques: optical, SEM and TEM microscopies Summer research intern in the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) 07/2015 – 09/2015 • Synthesis and functionalization of gold nanoparticles • Voluntary work • Techniques: DLS and UV-vis My education includes two universities of Barcelona, one of Ghent and the current one in Florence: • PhD in chemistry – University of Florence 2018 – current • Master degree in biomedicine – University of Barcelona 2016 – 2017 • Bachelor degree in nanoscience and nanotechnology – Autonomous University of Barcelona 2012 – 2016 ; Erasmus at the University of Ghent Finally, I would like to mention some of my main skills: • Able to fluently speak English, Spanish and Catalan • High dedication and consistency to solve scientific problems • Critical thinking in front of each idea and stablished protocol • Fast learning
Motivation
The main reason why I am motivated to attend this summer school courses is its extensive relation with my PhD. My work focuses on the self-assembly of copolymer microcapsules aiming to confine actives and release them in a triggered way at a desired time. I am currently assessing the spontaneous formation of these microcapsules in surfactant-based water formulations and I’m triggering their release by means of different additives. Although these structures are intended to be used in laundry products, their method of formation is shared with many other biological processes reigned by coacervation and self-assembly. Therefore, all lessons related with polymers, surfactants, supramolecular interactions, self-assembly and colloidal suspensions are deeply linked to my project. Additionally, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in nanoscience and a master’s degree in biomedicine, which perfectly compliment with the rest of the topics offered by this summer school – nanomaterials and bio-a pplications. Moreover, last year I attended the ECIS conference in Leuven, which was amazing. I felt like both my research and my interests fit perfectly with it. Consequently, I believe that this online summer school endorsed by the European Colloid & Interface Society will also be interesting and insightful. Finally, I would like to thank the organizers for offering a free online summer school in these COVID times. I appreciate them for choosing these topics of current relevance in the scientific world.