Periodic Reporting for period 1 - eBio-hub (EBIO-HUB: CHAIR OF RESEARCH CENTRE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-01-01 bis 2024-03-31
The ambitious aim of the project is to establish eBio-hub- research centre in Biomedical Engineering within National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (POLITEHNICA Bucharest) leaded by Era Chair holder. The goal of the eBio-hub project is to unlock and foster excellent research in biomedical engineering, capitalizing the existing knowledge in POLITEHNICA Bucharest and integrating with local research and clinical expertise from University of Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy and local hospitals as well as making use of the newly created research infrastructure (INOVABIOMED) by setting up a strong research group and attracting top academics in the field, rising the competitiveness of POLITEHNICA Bucharest research in the European Research Area (ERA). The development of biomedical engineering is in line with the Romanian National Strategy for R&D. The Chair and the eBio-hub centre will address the main barriers faced in POLITEHNICA Bucharest such as lack of institutional organization in linking university research teams with different expertise and linking the existing research teams with other local research institution, and lack of financing. By establishing a Chair Holder with excellent research credentials and leadership competences, by creating a research team with broad expertise and wide network for collaboration, will greatly improve the research culture and research performance at POLITEHNICA Bucharest. Sustainability will be granted by research funding procurement for projects, structured cooperation with local or international industrial and public research and educational entities, establishment of a new study field in the doctoral programs at POLITEHNICA Bucharest, PhD summer school and other training programs. By setting a best practice example and through a well-thought outreach campaign the project will stimulate structural changes throughout POLITEHNICA Bucharest.
The vision of eBio-hub is to establish an interdisciplinary research centre that works at the interface between chemistry, biology, IT, micro- and nanotechnology, and medicine, designed to develop micro-, nano- and bio-integrated solutions for approaching the major global challenging. The aim of the eBio-hub research centre is to increase the attractiveness and impact of the POLITEHNICA Bucharest through research excellence (illustrated quantitatively and qualitatively through indicators such as publications in peer reviewed journals, national and international collaboration or grants), to contribute toward the growth of Romanian and EU economy by attracting and nurturing research talents, creating portfolios of intellectual property, supporting the local industry or commercializing new technologies.
The vision of eBio-hub is to establish an interdisciplinary research centre that works at the interface between chemistry, biology, IT, micro- and nanotechnology, and medicine, designed to develop micro-, nano- and bio-integrated solutions for approaching the major global challenging. The aim of the eBio-hub research centre is to increase the attractiveness and impact of the POLITEHNICA Bucharest through research excellence (illustrated quantitatively and qualitatively through indicators such as publications in peer reviewed journals, national and international collaboration or grants), to contribute toward the growth of Romanian and EU economy by attracting and nurturing research talents, creating portfolios of intellectual property, supporting the local industry or commercializing new technologies.
During the first period the scientific and technical target was to establish the research directions (Molecular Diagnostics-MD; Transdermal Drug Delivery-TDD; Nanomedicine -NM; e-Tattoo (e-Skin) ) in correlation with the existing experience of the team members; to initiate the research, as well as to establish a network - especially with clinics – for developing projects.
So far, 5 scientific publications are produced within eBio-hub, while two research directions (MD and TTD) are well outlined and advanced, having a number of experiments performed.
Further, 2 national and 2 international postdoc researchers joined the eBio-hub team, being attracted by the competitive salaries, the cutting-edge infrastructure and interdisciplinarity of the research team.
So far, 5 scientific publications are produced within eBio-hub, while two research directions (MD and TTD) are well outlined and advanced, having a number of experiments performed.
Further, 2 national and 2 international postdoc researchers joined the eBio-hub team, being attracted by the competitive salaries, the cutting-edge infrastructure and interdisciplinarity of the research team.
The results of two project developed within eBio-hub so far can be considered beyond the state of the art:
1. The photothermal and catalytic antimicrobial effect of Au/ZnO nanoparticles in the visible range can have a practical application in medicine (bacterial free rooms), or in coating of the medical instruments, working cabinets etc. An effective sterilization process can be obtained in blue light (but it works also in the white light) at an exposure time of less than 10 min.
2. Method for concentration of nucleic acid on the paper using thermal gradients. Currently, we make efforts for fully understand the phenomenology and characterize the effect. It can be very important aspects for paper-based microfluidics, cheap paper test for molecular diagnostics.
1. The photothermal and catalytic antimicrobial effect of Au/ZnO nanoparticles in the visible range can have a practical application in medicine (bacterial free rooms), or in coating of the medical instruments, working cabinets etc. An effective sterilization process can be obtained in blue light (but it works also in the white light) at an exposure time of less than 10 min.
2. Method for concentration of nucleic acid on the paper using thermal gradients. Currently, we make efforts for fully understand the phenomenology and characterize the effect. It can be very important aspects for paper-based microfluidics, cheap paper test for molecular diagnostics.