Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Alexander M Korsunsky
University of Oxford, UK
Keynote: Understanding the structure of human dental tissues and their carious decay using advanced correlative microscopy
Time : 09:30-10:15
Biography:
Alexander M Korsunsky leads MBLEM lab at the University of Oxford and the Centre for In situ processing science (CIPS) at Research Complex at Harwell. He consults Rolls-Royce plc on matters of residual stress and structural integrity and is Editor-in-Chief of Materials & Design, a major Elsevier journal.
Abstract:
Human dental tissues are hydrated biological mineral composites of hydroxyapatite crystallites within an organic matrix. Dentine and enamel have a hierarchical structure that delivers their versatile mechanical properties. These composites demonstrate superb thermo-mechanical stability, but suffer biological and chemical degradation (decay) due to one of the most widespread diseases, human dental caries, that arises as a consequence of modern sugar-rich diet and proceeds through the proliferation of acid-producing bacteria residing in the biofilm known as plaque. A strong and durable bond between dentine and enamel is formed by the dentine enamel junction (DEJ), an important biological interface that resists failure under long-term harsh thermal and mechanical conditions in the mouth. Understanding the underlying reasons for this remarkable combination of strength and toughness remains an important challenge, both in the context of dentistry and from the point of view of pursuing biomimetic advanced materials engineering. Residual strain develops in the vicinity of the DEJ during odontogenesis (tooth formation). The experimental and interpretational challenges that could not be overcome until recently presented an obstacle to the evaluation of residual stress in the vicinity of the DEJ at the appropriate spatial resolution. We used the recently developed FIB-DIC micro-ring-core method to determine the residual elastic strain at micron resolution. The residual strain profiling across the transition from dentine to enamel are correlated with the study of internal architecture using X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS). We illustrate how this provides improved insight into the origins of the remarkable performance of the DEJ. Further insights into dental erosion due to acid exposure will be provided.
Keynote Forum
M Vlcek
University of Pardubice, Czech Republic
Keynote: Structuring of chalcogenide glasses spin coated thin layers
Time : 10:15-11:00
Biography:
M Vlcek has completed his PhD from Institute of Chemical Technology, Pardubice, Czechoslovakia. Presently, he is the Professor and Director of Center of Materials and Nanotechnologies at University of Pardubice, Czech Republic. He was also a Visiting Professor at Lehigh University, USA. He has published more than 130 papers and his research focuses mainly on photoinduced structural changes in chalcogenide glasses and application of this phenomenon in fields as photonics, diffractive optics and high resolution lithography
Abstract:
Chalcogenide glasses (CHGs) possess unique properties, which make them very attractive materials for many applications, for many of them, their thin layers (TLs) are needed which are mainly fabricated by vacuum evaporation, sputtering or ablation methods. However, these methods need high vacuum equipment, which makes their fabrication expensive. Application of solution based deposition techniques would be cheaper and simpler. The purpose of this study is to find conditions to prepare by spin coating method thin layers of As and Ge based CHGs in optical quality which possess sensitivity to either UV light or electron beam which allows their micro and nano structuring either directly by exposure or consequently by wet/dry etching. It is shown that chemical processes occurring during the chalcogenide glass dissolution and TLs deposition by spin coating determine their structure and consequently their optical and chemical properties. Increasing of annealing temperature, we observed significant thermo-induced thickness decrease together with increase in refractive index and change in their chemical stability. Raman spectroscopy measurements confirmed that these changes are results of structural polymerization of TLs glass matrix and release of organic residuals. Optical quality of prepared thin layers was confirmed by UV-VIS-NIR, SEM and AFM methods. UV light and/or electron beam exposure resulted in structural changes and consequent change of their chemical stability. Both positive and negative type of selective etching was achieved even in TLs of the same composition depending on conditions of their treatment. Suitable conditions for fabrication of optical quality thin layers of As and Ge based CHGs by spin coating method were found. These layers are sensitive to UV and/or electron beam exposure. Application of this phenomenon for fabrication of diffractive optical elements is demonstrated.
Keynote Forum
Jerzy Zajac
University of Montpellier, France
Keynote: Nanoporous materials in wastewater treatment: How to improve their retention performance towards ionic pollutants in multi-component aqueous streams?
Time : 11:15-12:00
Biography:
Jerzy Zajac is the Head of the Laboratory of Aggregates, Interfaces and Materials for Energy (AIME) belonging to the Charles Gerhardt Institute of Montpellier. His research interest and expertise is focused on the thermodynamics and modeling of interfacial phenomena occurring at solid-liquid, solid-gas and liquid-liquid interfaces and colloidal phenomena in solutions of surfactants and polymers, as well as the conception and preparation of porous multifunctional materials for high-added-value applications in the field of environmental remediation and liquid phase heterogeneous catalysis. He teaches at the University of Montpellier on fundamentals of inorganic and physical chemistry of the undergraduate program, as well as on colloids and interfacial phenomena at the master’s level.
Abstract:
Nowadays, many industries remain dependent on processes that produce wastewaters of a complex composition. There is a growing consensus in the research community about the deep implications the co-occurrence of various pollutants in complex aqueous streams may have for the efficiency of removal technologies. Among a variety of wastewater treatment technologies used to attain the Zero Pollution objective, sorption onto solid materials offers much promise, mainly because of the reduction of the volume of solid wastes to be stored in landfills and the reversibility of the phenomenon thus allowing the raw materials to be preserved. The important advances in the synthesis and investigation of functional nanostructured materials have attracted the interest of researchers and engineers working in the area of environmental remediation. The potential ecotoxicity and difficulty of use of nanoparticles rather limit their application, whereas nanoporous sorbents offer new advantages based on their size-dependent performance. Very systematic studies have been made for years in Montpellier on the sorption mechanisms of hazardous ionic species (e.g., heavy metal cations, oxyanions, ionic dyes and surfactants) onto inorganic solids possessing regular nanoporosity (e.g., zeolites, mesoporous aluminosilicates, layered mineral oxides). Combined use of various experimental techniques supplemented by appropriate modeling studies has shed light on the physical and chemical characteristics of sorbents crucial to the improvement of their retention performance in multi-component aqueous solutions. It is clear that an efficient wastewater treatment cannot be based only on a simple ion-exchange mechanism. Firstly, it is important to make short-range bonding forces involved in the retention of ionic species. Secondly, the confinement effects due to the adsorbent porosity and accompanied by some changes in the hydration layers surrounding the adsorbing ions also contribute to ensure a good selectivity of the treatment process. They will be thoroughly discussed and illustrated by numerous examples.
Keynote Forum
Xianfang Zhu
Xiamen University, China
Keynote: Challenges to nanoscience and nanotechnology: Intriguing nanosize effect and nanotime effect
Time : 12:00-12:45
Biography:
Xianfang Zhu is one of the earliest scientists who initialized nanoresearch in China with over 30 years of research, teaching and industrial experience in a wide range of materials science and engineering areas. He has received PhD at the Australian National University followed up with a Postdoctoral experience at University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign. He is presently the Director of the China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Functional Nanomaterials, an Adjunct Professor at The University of Queensland and a Full-Time Professor at Xiamen University, as well as the Chief Scientist for the AMAC International Inc., USA. Previously, he had also worked as a Senior Researcher in the Jefferson Lab and as an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia. His current research interests are focused on nano-instabilities, nanoprocessing and nanofabrication. He has co-authored over 100 publications, filed 10 patents, chaired and co-chaired or served as Committee or Advisory Board Member at over 30 international and national conferences and presented over 70 invited lectures and talks at universities, research institutes and major international conferences worldwide and is Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor of several international journals.
Abstract:
We first introduce a novel nanosize concept and a novel nanotime concept along with reviewing a series of novel phenomena and novel techniques related to nanosize effect and ultrafast process, which were recently discovered in our lab or were reported in literature. In these concepts, for the first time we are able account for the non-equilibrium, amorphous-like, and nonlinear nature of the current nanoscience and nanotechnology. In particular, we demonstrate that the structure instabilities of materials occur when a material system is limited to a space within a scale that is comparable to atomic distance. Such a nanosize effect is crucially dependent only on the nano-size but also on nanoshape or nanocurvature (including positive nanocurvature and negative nanocurvature). We also demonstrate that the structure instabilities of materials occur as well when the exchange of external energy with materials is limited to a time within a scale that is comparable to atomic vibration period. Such a nanotime effect can give rise to either soft mode or instability of atomic vibration in a condensed matter. The new concepts are very meaningful for control over fabrication and energetic beam processing of low dimensional nanostructures and nanodevices, especially for several potential applications related to nanoparticles, nanocavities, carbon nanotubem and nanowires. The new concepts have similarly important implications for chemistry, biology, and medicine as demonstrated by immerging new findings about nanocavities and nanolaser irradiation. In biology and medicine, there are widespread research interests either in using nanocavity (shell-core) structure to design and build biology composites, biosensors, drug deliverer and protein structures or in nanosurgery via ultrafast nanolaser processing, both being operative at the molecular level dealing with the concepts put forward herein.
- Advance Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles | Nanotechnology in Energy and Environment | Materials Science and Nanotechnology | Nano Electronics and Microsystems | Nanotechnology in Waste water treatment
Location: Salon VII
Chair
Nikolaus Stolterfoht
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Germany
Co-Chair
Jerzy Zajac
University of Montpellier, France
Session Introduction
Mike S Scurrell
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: The importance of nanoarchitecture in advanced high performance heterogeneous catalysts
Time : 13:45-14:15
Biography:
Mike Scurrell is Research Professor in the Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering at the University of South Africa and Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. His research interests concern heterogeneous catalysis and nanomaterials, especially for energy conversion and environmental processes and he is also involved in novel nanomaterials synthesis involving microwave radiation and non-thermal plasma treatment.
Abstract:
Our current lifestyle in the developed countries would not be possible if we did not have access to high performance heterogeneous catalysts. These materials lie at the heart of our industrial processes for oil, petrochemicals, polymers, pharmaceuticals, energy conversion and environmental protection and ever-increasing demands are being placed on catalysts for the future. Very high performance heterogeneous catalysts will almost always demand that considerable attention is paid to the detailed nanoarchitecture of the solids. This point will be illustrated by several examples, including thermostable gold catalysts for environmental protection, based on the use of nanoflower-structured support decorated with nano-sized metal particles. These materials have greatly improved thermal stabilities against conventional materials and this could see new applications in several areas, especially environmental protection. Catalysts for the decomposition of methane in low carbon footprint conversion of natural gas to electricity can also be improved by incorporation of suitable nanomaterials such as medium and wide-pore zeolites. A further example is provided by photocatalysts for biomass conversion to syngas and hydrogen, where at the nano level the inhibition of charge pair recombination is required for high reaction rates. The devices and procedures available for manipulation of nanoarchitecture include microwave radiation treatment and the use of non-thermal plasmas. The extent to which these approaches can be used in improving solid catalysts will also be discussed.
Jens Martin
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Title: Robust resistive memory devices based on solution processable metal co-ordinated azo-aromatics
Time : 14:15-14:45
Biography:
Jens Martin has obtained his PhD from the University of Tübingen, Germany. He has then worked almost 3 years in the R&D Department of Omicron Nanotechnology, Germany. He has also worked at the Weizmann Institute, first as Postdoctorate then as Research Associate. Further, he had worked for 3 years at Harvard University as a Research Associate and Teaching Fellow. Later, he became Lecturer at the Graphene Center at the University of Exeter, UK, before joining the NUS Graphene Center as an Associate Professor. His research interests include low dimensional electronic systems, electronic interactions, scanning probe microscopy and most recently electronic conduction through molecular thin films
Abstract:
Resistive memory devices can be broadly defined as electrical switches that retain a state of internal resistance based on the history of applied voltage. Such devices hold several performance characteristics that can potentially exceed conventional integrated circuit technology and are projected as the building blocks in next generation of computing architectures. Organic resistive memories suffer from insufficient consistency, stability, endurance and lack of understanding of the operating device mechanisms. These difficulties need to be overcome to furnish a good candidate for commercial applications. Here we describe a reproducible, stable and endurable resistive memory device with a spin-coated active layer of transition metal complex contacted with electrodes, prepared by standard methods. Insight into the in operando molecular properties of the device is obtained via in situ Raman-spectroscopy in conjunction with UV-VIS spectroscopy and spectro-electrochemistry allowing us to determine the molecular structure at each conductance state and thus the mechanism of switching. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support our experimental findings and provide further insights into the switching mechanism of the devices at the molecular level. This insight provides opportunities for ligand engineering and we demonstrate rewritable resistive memory devices with multistate memory functionality.
D C Saxena
Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology, India
Title: Development of organic and inorganic nanoparticles and their subsequent application in nanocomposites for food and non-food packaging systems
Time : 14:45-15:15
Biography:
D C Saxena is dedicated to the continuing development and practice of creative teaching, innovative research and high impact public service programs that have improved food safety, food quality and processing. He has been a Visiting Faculty of Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand. His areas of interest for research includes utilization of starches for food and non-food applications from non-conventional sources, traditional product technology, dough rheology, grain quality assessment, design and fabrication of food processing equipment and has about 90 publications in reputed journals.
Abstract:
In order to improve performance properties of packaging systems, nanotechnology has come up with its contribution by providing different types of nanoparticles to be used as fillers in polymer matrices. Nano-sized organic and inorganic particles have attracted much attention owing to their unique properties that vary from their bulk materials, thus facilitating their use in packaging industry, food industry and pharmaceutical industry. Recent studies reported that these nanoparticles incorporated in various polymer matrices result in packaging material with improved mechanical properties, thermal properties and improved barrier properties for the food packaging systems. As per studies, variety of inorganic nanoparticles viz. titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, gold and silver and organic nanoparticles such as starch and chitosan are available for reinforcing physical and barrier properties selectively for the food systems. Different methods are used for preparation of organic and inorganic nanoparticles. For starch nanoparticles, acid hydrolysis, reactive extrusion, gamma irradiation, ultrasonication, high power homogenization and nanoprecipitation are used for their preparation. Inorganic nanoparticles are prepared by sol gel method, mechano-chemical processing and physical vapor synthesis etc., depending upon the type of inorganic nanoparticle. Organic nanoparticles have an upper edge in terms of biodegradability over the inorganic nanoparticles, so they result in bio-nanocomposites when blended with a biodegradable polymer whereas the inorganic nanoparticles are extensively used as antimicrobial agents in the food packaging systems. The following paper summarizes the information available till date relating to organic and inorganic nanoparticles and contribution to packaging systems as a part of nanocomposites. This paper provides an overview of aspects related to organic and inorganic nanoparticles, including methods of preparation, reinforcing and other specific properties, characterization and application and prospects. Future researches need the area of organic and inorganic nanoparticles related to packaging technology are outlined.
Zhaoxin Geng
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Title: THz modulators based 2D nanosheet materials
Time : 15:15-15:45
Biography:
Zhaoxin Geng has completed his PhD degree from Institute of Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Presently, he is an Associate Professor of School of Information Engineering, Minzu University of China. Meanwhile, he is a Visiting Associate Researcher in MEMS Research Center, Institute of Microelectronics, Peking University. Presently, he works in Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences as a Postdoctoral Fellow. His current research focuses on the micro/nanofluidic, biosensor and applications of nanoplasmonic and localized surface Plasmon resonance.
Abstract:
Terahertz (THz) modulator plays an important role in THz communication system. There are different modulators which have been developed to meet different application. Especially, THz modulator based on metamaterials need complex fabrication processes and high cost, therefore, the simpler and cheaper devices are in greatly demand for THz communication in near future. Two-dimension (2D) materials, such as graphene, MoS2, WS2 and other beyond graphene materials, were introduced to modulator to balance between modulation characters and cost. Therefore, different THz modulators based on different 2D materials were developed and compare the difference among them. The results illustrate that graphene and MoS2 did not present ideal results due to their relatively narrow band gap. WS2, as another kind of 2D materials, which has wider band gap and some merits such as better chemical and thermal stability, could be used for photoelectric devices in THz regime. An all-optical pumped THz modulator based on WS2-silicon, MoS2-silicon and graphene-silicon heterostructure were demonstrated. The p-type WS2 was formed by an annealing treatment in air and the silicon substrate was slightly n-type doped with a high-resistivity. Both the modulator and bare silicon (as reference) were measured by THz time-domain spectroscope (THz-TDS) system. The results compared with bare silicon, THz transmissivity of the modulator significantly reduced when the power of pumping laser increased. A relative low normalized transmission of this device was around 5% with a radiation light power of 4 W, while the bare silicon was 45.6% under the same condition. The working mechanism of the modulator lies in that carriers transfer between the silicon and WS2 when the pump light illuminates the chip. We compared the difference between results of the bare silicon, the WS2-Si sample before annealed and after annealed and found that the WS2-Si sample could separate electrons and holes more effectively. THz transmissivity decreased when conductivity of the modulator increased due to separation of electrons and holes. Meanwhile, the MoS2-based device even exhibited much higher modulation efficiency compared with the graphene-based device. The mechanism of the convincing modulation enhancement originated from MoS2 annealed as a p-doping, which is different from that of graphene-based modulator. Therefore, under a guidance of the working mechanism, THz modulators with higher modulation depth could be developed based WS2-silicon heterostructure through changing the annealing time, layers of WS2, bias voltage, pumping light power and so on. The unique optical modulating properties of the device based on 2D materials exhibit tremendous promise for applications in terahertz communication based graphene device, we also developed other optoelectronic devices such as frequency tripler, thermo-optic modulator and mixer.
Kalyan Mandal
S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, India
Title: Transition metal oxide nanostructures and their novel properties
Time : 16:00-16:30
Biography:
Kalyan Mandal is a Senior Professor in S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, India, mainly works on magnetism and magnetic materials including magnetic nanomaterials. He has received his PhD degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India and performed his Postdoctoral Research in Queen’s University, Canada and Institute de Magnetismo Aplicado, Madrid, Spain. He has received Humboldt Fellowship from Germany and worked in IFW-Dresden and other universities/institutes in Germany as a Humboldt Fellow. He has received UK-India Education and Research Initiative Award to work in Durham University, UK. He has also worked in Osaka University, Japan as a Visiting Professor and received Materials Research Society of India Award in 2016.
Abstract:
Iron and other transition metal oxides nanostructures receive considerable attention due to their extensive technological applications in high density magnetic storage media, high frequency devices, magnetically assisted drug delivery, cell isolation, MRI contrast agents, immobilization of proteins and enzymes, biosensors and so on. We observed many novel and enhanced properties in those oxides depending on their shapes and sizes. They can be functionalized with suitable ligands to get biocompatible and water-soluble nanostructures with interesting multifunctional properties. For example, intrinsic multicolor fluorescence in MnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs)/hollow spheres (NHSs) from blue, cyan, and green to red is observed upon functionalization with a small organic ligand such as Na-tartrate because of ligand-to-metal charge transfer from tartrate ligand to lowest unoccupied energy level of Mn2+/3+or Fe3+ of the NPs and Jahn-Teller distorted d-d transitions centered over Mn3+ ions in the Nanostructures. CoFe2O4 nanoparticles functionalized with surfactants having π-acceptor/π-donor head group along with different chain-length show much higher coercivity compared to bare particles due to NP-ligand interaction which modifies the splitting of d-orbital energy levels as well as spin motion of surface Co+2 ions. Many of the above oxide nanostructures show excellent photocatalytic activities and potential for various biomedical applications depending on their shape, size and surface functionalizations.
Mika Naumanen
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
Title: Action roadmaps paving the way towards electric mobility and circular economy
Time : 16:30-16:50
Biography:
Mika Naumanen is a Senior Scientist in the Innovation and Knowledge Economy group of VTT. He has run VTT’s “business from technology” program and managed a portfolio of business development projects in the fields of industrial systems management, services and built environment, ICT and electronics. He is a Visiting Scholar in Statistics Finland.
Abstract:
We present action roadmaps paving the way towards electric mobility and circular economy. We do this within the CASI-F (common framework for assessment and management of sustainable innovation) framework, where we first analyze critical issues that influence the uptake of electric mobility and new storage media for electric power. The main lesson from the analysis of the positive and negative effects that the identified critical issues have on the mapped innovations is that the actions to manage such an extensive set of barriers, drivers, opportunities and threats might need to be implemented by multiple actors with different managerial roles and responsibilities. Due to government’s ability to change legal and administrative structures and procedures, one important role for government and the public sector is related to changing and/or adapting such infrastructures in a way that would support the implementation, scaling, diffusion and institutionalization of electric mobility innovations. Not only monetary resources are of importance, but also the positive acknowledgement and general support, e.g., through awareness raising activities and campaigns, is a task in which the public sector can assist the development, up-scaling and institutionalization processes. An important task for civil society is related to campaigning and awareness raising activities. Thoughtful marketing and an effective issue communication could help in stipulating behavioral changes within people, a task that reoccurs at all three levels for civil society, as well as it could enhance further community engagement. Similar to government and civil society, also businesses have reoccurring tasks and responsibilities. Such responsibilities are mostly concerned with the provision of various kinds of resources, both tangible and intangible. The sharing of knowledge regarding appropriate business models and strategies, their development and implementation, is of great interest. Additionally, businesses are encouraged to engage in networks and to cooperate and collaborate with partners and other relevant stakeholders in order to enhance future battery technologies’ and their recycling potential. Research and education are supporting social innovation by fundamental but practical relevant research, including evaluation of programs and initiatives and the development of tools and methods for (up) scaling electric mobility innovations. This also comprises of giving access to research results and tools for the public (social innovators) and an own engagement in up-scaling processes.
Roaa Sait
Emerging Technologies Research Centre, UK
Title: Synthesis and characterization of TiN NWs towards neural electrode application
Time : 16:50-17:10
Biography:
Roaa Sait is currently a PhD student at De Montfort University in the UK. She has been active in the area of material science and nanotechnology. Recently she has published a paper on synthesis and characterization of sputtered TiN as a nucleation layer. Her current research involves the study of neural electrode interface materials for improving recording and stimulation of neurons in the brain. She focuses on controlling the properties titanium nitride nanostructures.
Abstract:
In neurophysiological measurements, a neural electrode interface material plays a critical role in eliciting action potentials without damaging the tissue of interest. However, the need to minimize electrode dimensions and reduce invasiveness and the activation of glial cells has rendered the choice of a suitable interface material. Platinum, iridium oxide and gold are currently the most utilized microelectrode material due to their apposite electrical and mechanical properties, however their performance becomes limited when electrode dimensions are reduced; as the total surface area decreases, limitations are placed on the successful transfer of charge or charge injection into the tissue for stimulation. Research on nanostructured surfaces has shown a great potential for improving the electrochemical and mechanical properties. Thin films of titanium nitride (TiN) have been implemented in neural electrode applications previously due to its useful properties e.g., TiN has a higher charge injection (2.2-3.5 mC/cm2) as compared to that of Pt (0.02-0.15 mC/cm2). Moreover TiN nanowires (NWs) have not been synthesized previously towards for neural interface application, which is the aim of the work described here. The synthesis involves the low temperature and cost effective hydrothermal growth of Titanium Oxide NWs (TiO2-NWs) grown, for the first time, from a TiN sputtered layer optimized elsewhere. The growth is followed by a novel nitridation process. The effects of the hydrothermal growth parameters (e.g. seeding layer thickness, time and temperature) on the properties of the TiO2 nanowires were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Cyclic voltammetry (CV) for morphological, structural and electrochemical studies respectively. Aspect ratio as well as crystalline structure, electrical resistivity and capacitance will be presented and distilled here. The ease and convenience to tune the nanowires properties bring this approach great potential for building an optimum neural electrode interface material.
Silvia Villa
University of Genoa, Italy
Title: Biocompatible multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles for possible applications in nanomedicine
Time : 17:10-17:30
Biography:
Silvia Villa has received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Sciences from University of Genoa, Italy. Later, she began a Fellowship on the synthesis of iron oxides NPs as MRI contrast agents at the Italian Institute of Technology, Pisa, Italy. She is currently pursuing PhD at the University of Genoa, Italy, working on magnetic nanoparticles for environmental and biomedical applications. During her PhD, she had the opportunity to work on magnetic ferrites for hyperthermia studies at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Abstract:
Multifunctional nanoprobes combining magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with organic dyes have attracted great interest due to their promising applications in biomedical field. Among the wide selection of different nanoprobes, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), loaded with different functionalities, provide promising application in the drug delivery therapy. In cancer treatment, a possible drug delivery approach is the well-known prodrug monotherapy (PMT), in which the drug is released by enzymes naturally overexpressed in tumor tissues. A recognized enzyme suitable for this method is plasmin, a serine protease. A combination of the two approaches can enhance the cancer treatment because, under the influence of an external magnetic field, it is possible to orient the magnetic nanoparticles to the tumor site and concentrate the drug in the ill tissue. In this perspective, our project aimed at optimizing this approach, planning a superparamagnetic probe based on iron oxide NPs and conjugating a fluorescent tag through a tripeptide linker. This peculiar system has been designed to be cleaved by plasmin with the resulting release of the fluorescent tag. Therefore, this original system could find applications either in the imaging diagnostic or in the drug delivery fields. Herein, we present the synthesis and the characterization of the two components (SPIONs and the tripeptide linked to a fluorescent tag) and the study of their conjugation. Furthermore, we present the preliminary results of the enzymatic cleavage, as proof of concept of our project.
- Young Research Forum
Location: Salon VII
Session Introduction
Mika Naumanen
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
Title: Action roadmaps paving the way towards electric mobility and circular economy
Time : 16:30-16:50
Biography:
Mika Naumanen is a Senior Scientist in the Innovation and Knowledge Economy group of VTT. He has run VTT’s “business from technology” program and managed a portfolio of business development projects in the fields of industrial systems management, services and built environment, ICT and electronics. He is a Visiting Scholar in Statistics Finland.
Abstract:
We present action roadmaps paving the way towards electric mobility and circular economy. We do this within the CASI-F (common framework for assessment and management of sustainable innovation) framework, where we first analyze critical issues that influence the uptake of electric mobility and new storage media for electric power. The main lesson from the analysis of the positive and negative effects that the identified critical issues have on the mapped innovations is that the actions to manage such an extensive set of barriers, drivers, opportunities and threats might need to be implemented by multiple actors with different managerial roles and responsibilities. Due to government’s ability to change legal and administrative structures and procedures, one important role for government and the public sector is related to changing and/or adapting such infrastructures in a way that would support the implementation, scaling, diffusion and institutionalization of electric mobility innovations. Not only monetary resources are of importance, but also the positive acknowledgement and general support, e.g., through awareness raising activities and campaigns, is a task in which the public sector can assist the development, up-scaling and institutionalization processes. An important task for civil society is related to campaigning and awareness raising activities. Thoughtful marketing and an effective issue communication could help in stipulating behavioral changes within people, a task that reoccurs at all three levels for civil society, as well as it could enhance further community engagement. Similar to government and civil society, also businesses have reoccurring tasks and responsibilities. Such responsibilities are mostly concerned with the provision of various kinds of resources, both tangible and intangible. The sharing of knowledge regarding appropriate business models and strategies, their development and implementation, is of great interest. Additionally, businesses are encouraged to engage in networks and to cooperate and collaborate with partners and other relevant stakeholders in order to enhance future battery technologies’ and their recycling potential. Research and education are supporting social innovation by fundamental but practical relevant research, including evaluation of programs and initiatives and the development of tools and methods for (up) scaling electric mobility innovations. This also comprises of giving access to research results and tools for the public (social innovators) and an own engagement in up-scaling processes.
Roaa Sait
Emerging Technologies Research Centre, UK
Title: Synthesis and characterization of TiN NWs towards neural electrode application
Time : 16:50-17:10
Biography:
Roaa Sait is currently a PhD student at De Montfort University in the UK. She has been active in the area of material science and nanotechnology. Recently she has published a paper on synthesis and characterization of sputtered TiN as a nucleation layer. Her current research involves the study of neural electrode interface materials for improving recording and stimulation of neurons in the brain. She focuses on controlling the properties titanium nitride nanostructures.
Abstract:
In neurophysiological measurements, a neural electrode interface material plays a critical role in eliciting action potentials without damaging the tissue of interest. However, the need to minimize electrode dimensions and reduce invasiveness and the activation of glial cells has rendered the choice of a suitable interface material. Platinum, iridium oxide and gold are currently the most utilized microelectrode material due to their apposite electrical and mechanical properties, however their performance becomes limited when electrode dimensions are reduced; as the total surface area decreases, limitations are placed on the successful transfer of charge or charge injection into the tissue for stimulation. Research on nanostructured surfaces has shown a great potential for improving the electrochemical and mechanical properties. Thin films of titanium nitride (TiN) have been implemented in neural electrode applications previously due to its useful properties e.g., TiN has a higher charge injection (2.2-3.5 mC/cm2) as compared to that of Pt (0.02-0.15 mC/cm2). Moreover TiN nanowires (NWs) have not been synthesized previously towards for neural interface application, which is the aim of the work described here. The synthesis involves the low temperature and cost effective hydrothermal growth of Titanium Oxide NWs (TiO2-NWs) grown, for the first time, from a TiN sputtered layer optimized elsewhere. The growth is followed by a novel nitridation process. The effects of the hydrothermal growth parameters (e.g. seeding layer thickness, time and temperature) on the properties of the TiO2 nanowires were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Cyclic voltammetry (CV) for morphological, structural and electrochemical studies respectively. Aspect ratio as well as crystalline structure, electrical resistivity and capacitance will be presented and distilled here. The ease and convenience to tune the nanowires properties bring this approach great potential for building an optimum neural electrode interface material.
Silvia Villa
University of Genoa, Italy
Title: Biocompatible multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles for possible applications in nanomedicine
Time : 17:10-17:30
Biography:
Silvia Villa has received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Sciences from University of Genoa, Italy. Later, she began a Fellowship on the synthesis of iron oxides NPs as MRI contrast agents at the Italian Institute of Technology, Pisa, Italy. She is currently pursuing PhD at the University of Genoa, Italy, working on magnetic nanoparticles for environmental and biomedical applications. During her PhD, she had the opportunity to work on magnetic ferrites for hyperthermia studies at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Abstract:
Multifunctional nanoprobes combining magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with organic dyes have attracted great interest due to their promising applications in biomedical field. Among the wide selection of different nanoprobes, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), loaded with different functionalities, provide promising application in the drug delivery therapy. In cancer treatment, a possible drug delivery approach is the well-known prodrug monotherapy (PMT), in which the drug is released by enzymes naturally overexpressed in tumor tissues. A recognized enzyme suitable for this method is plasmin, a serine protease. A combination of the two approaches can enhance the cancer treatment because, under the influence of an external magnetic field, it is possible to orient the magnetic nanoparticles to the tumor site and concentrate the drug in the ill tissue. In this perspective, our project aimed at optimizing this approach, planning a superparamagnetic probe based on iron oxide NPs and conjugating a fluorescent tag through a tripeptide linker. This peculiar system has been designed to be cleaved by plasmin with the resulting release of the fluorescent tag. Therefore, this original system could find applications either in the imaging diagnostic or in the drug delivery fields. Herein, we present the synthesis and the characterization of the two components (SPIONs and the tripeptide linked to a fluorescent tag) and the study of their conjugation. Furthermore, we present the preliminary results of the enzymatic cleavage, as proof of concept of our project.