Final Report Summary - NANO_GUARD (Fullerene-based systems for oxidative inactivation of airborne microbial pathogens)
The main goal of this project was to establish a long-lasting collaboration and create a network of the research centers of excellence from Europe and Third Countries aimed at development of the Fullerene-based systems for oxidative inactivation of airborne pathogens.
This goal was achieved by undertaken of joint research activities via collaboration of a multidisciplinary consortium in molecular microbiology, molecular virology, health care, environmental physics, green chemistry and material science, facilitated by individual mobility of the researchers between Europe and Third Countries.
The main research objectives of the proposal were:
• To elaborate novel fullerene-based composites in form of thin and thick films, membranes and individual fullerene molecules imbedded in porous matrixes.
• To evaluate the ability of the fullerene-based materials of different morphology to produce singled oxygen under light irradiation.
• To evaluate the performance of the elaborated C60– based oxidative systems to inactivate the airborne pathogens — bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold spores.
• To design and elaborate the lab-scale fullerene-based oxidative system Prototypes to be submitted to a tough testing of the performance criteria towards airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations.
New objectives established during the course of work and new lines of research were:
• To elaborate novel nanometal oxides-based composites
• To evaluate their ability to produce Reactive Oxygen Species [ROS] by light irradiation
• To design and elaborate the lab-scale Prototype nanometal oxides-based oxidative system to be submitted to a tough testing of the performance criteria towards airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations
• To evaluate the performance and the abilities of the elaborated nanometal oxides-based composites towards the electrons transfer upon irradiation to produce electricity.
• To evaluate the performance of the elaborated C60– based oxidative composites towards nanomedical application, namely towards possibilities to inhibit the Alzheimer amyloids formation.
Other objectives of the proposed collaboration were aimed at:
• increasing individual mobility and career prospects of each person involved;
• facilitating transfer of knowledge between research groups involved via exchange visits;
• providing training opportunities for early stage researchers;
• disseminating results of the exchange activities;
The joint investigations were carried out via transfer of knowledge and networking activities between the four teams from Member States and Associated Country and four teams from the countries with an S&T agreement. The project reinforced and strengthened the existing bilateral scientific links (PT–BR; PT–UA, SW–RU, SW–IL, RU IL) and transforming them into a larger network which also includes another academic and non-academic Partners from Portugal, Ukraine, France, Finland, Spain, USA and Belarus. It is providing momentum for long-term collaboration between the partners, and the project findings and deliverables are lay the foundation for other actions in the PEOPLE Programme. Namely, two the RISE Marie Curie scheme projects NANOGUARD2AR and HUNTER signed the Grant Agreements with REA aiming at further development and consolidation of the European Research Area. It also supports the strategic objective of the PEOPLE programme to make Europe attractive for the best researchers from outside the EU.
The NANOGUARD project was also focused on several objectives identified in NMP Theme, particularly strengthening European position in the research activities related to nanoelectronics and nanotechnologies for Green Building, Cultural Heritage Protection and Renewable Energy fields. It is a multi- and inter-disciplinary project, which generated new knowledge by studying phenomena and manipulating matter at the nanoscale level. It included several fields of science, such as molecular microbiology, health care, molecular virology, environmental physics, green chemistry, and material science. The results of this work would be also of relevance to Theme: Life Science, particularly to the Nanomedicine and Nanobiology fields.
For the achievement of the project goal four basic objectives were elaborated during four project years via transfer of R&D knowledge between partners. They are the followed:
1. SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION FULLERENE-BASED COMPOSITES
• Elaboration of the novel fullerene-based systems in the form of thin films with controlled crystalline structure and oxygen content deposited on (a) bulk substrates and (b) nanostructured substrates by method of vacuum deposition.
• Elaboration of the fullerene-based composites with thick films of plate and indented surface relief, originated from ZrO2, Al2O3, 3Al2O3*2SiO2 and polymer-oxide nanopowder composites with controlled structure, porosity and surface state using tape casting, print screen and high pressure compacting methods.
• Elaboration of the systems consisting of individual fullerene molecules (or small aggregates) embedded into the surface of the porous matrices, namely commercial metal organic frameworks (MIL-47, MIL-53), on the surface zeolites (commercial ZSM-5 and developed by Portuguese team) and into original zirconia, alumina nano-ceramics and ceramic-polymer composites developed by Ukrainian team.
• Corrective actions of the C60-based oxidative system design according to the materials photosensitization testing.
2. PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF NOVEL COMPOSITES
• Comprehensive investigation of fullerene-based systems of different morphology and surface state to produce singled oxygen under visible light irradiation.
• Evaluation of photosensitization mechanism in the reference onset of the fullerene-based materials composites under Solar irradiation.
• Comprehensive investigation of nanometal oxides-based systems of to generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) under visible light irradiation.
• Evaluation of photosensitization mechanism in the reference onset of the nanometal oxides-based materials composites aimed at electrons transfer and electricity production.
3. PATHOGENS INACTIVATION TESTING
• Comprehensive study of C60-based materials interaction with various biological pathogens–bacteria, fungi, molds spores and viral pathogens influenza viruses (including, pandemic A(H1N1), A(H5N1), RS-viruses, adenoviruses, and other respiratory viruses).
• Evaluation of the performance of the reference onset of the C60– based and nanometal oxides-based composites to oxidative inactivation of the biological and viral pathogens.
• Evaluation of the biocompatibility of the tested materials to mammalian and human cells in culture.
• Evaluation of the performance of the reference onset of C60– based composites towards inhibition of the amyloid fibrils formation
• Optimization of the conditions (light energy, contact time with surface, pathogens concentration) for inactivation of the pathogens in liquid and gaseous media.
4. PROTOTYPE C60-based oxidative system
• Corrective actions towards the C60-based and Nanometal oxides-based systems design based on the results of the materials testing on photosensitization and antimicrobial abilities.
• Coordination of the progress monitoring and risk assessment.
• Elaboration of the lab-scale Prototype C60-based and the lab-scale Prototype nanometal oxides-based oxidative system to be submitted to a tough testing of the performance criteria towards airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations.
THE MAIN DELIVERED SCIENTIFIC RESULTS are the followed:
• Novel fullerene–based and nanometals-based composites with optimal system design of high antimicrobial and/or antiviral performance under light irradiation.
• Prototype fullerene–based oxidative system and Prototype nanometal oxides based oxidative system to be submitted to a tough testing of airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations.
This goal was achieved by undertaken of joint research activities via collaboration of a multidisciplinary consortium in molecular microbiology, molecular virology, health care, environmental physics, green chemistry and material science, facilitated by individual mobility of the researchers between Europe and Third Countries.
The main research objectives of the proposal were:
• To elaborate novel fullerene-based composites in form of thin and thick films, membranes and individual fullerene molecules imbedded in porous matrixes.
• To evaluate the ability of the fullerene-based materials of different morphology to produce singled oxygen under light irradiation.
• To evaluate the performance of the elaborated C60– based oxidative systems to inactivate the airborne pathogens — bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold spores.
• To design and elaborate the lab-scale fullerene-based oxidative system Prototypes to be submitted to a tough testing of the performance criteria towards airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations.
New objectives established during the course of work and new lines of research were:
• To elaborate novel nanometal oxides-based composites
• To evaluate their ability to produce Reactive Oxygen Species [ROS] by light irradiation
• To design and elaborate the lab-scale Prototype nanometal oxides-based oxidative system to be submitted to a tough testing of the performance criteria towards airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations
• To evaluate the performance and the abilities of the elaborated nanometal oxides-based composites towards the electrons transfer upon irradiation to produce electricity.
• To evaluate the performance of the elaborated C60– based oxidative composites towards nanomedical application, namely towards possibilities to inhibit the Alzheimer amyloids formation.
Other objectives of the proposed collaboration were aimed at:
• increasing individual mobility and career prospects of each person involved;
• facilitating transfer of knowledge between research groups involved via exchange visits;
• providing training opportunities for early stage researchers;
• disseminating results of the exchange activities;
The joint investigations were carried out via transfer of knowledge and networking activities between the four teams from Member States and Associated Country and four teams from the countries with an S&T agreement. The project reinforced and strengthened the existing bilateral scientific links (PT–BR; PT–UA, SW–RU, SW–IL, RU IL) and transforming them into a larger network which also includes another academic and non-academic Partners from Portugal, Ukraine, France, Finland, Spain, USA and Belarus. It is providing momentum for long-term collaboration between the partners, and the project findings and deliverables are lay the foundation for other actions in the PEOPLE Programme. Namely, two the RISE Marie Curie scheme projects NANOGUARD2AR and HUNTER signed the Grant Agreements with REA aiming at further development and consolidation of the European Research Area. It also supports the strategic objective of the PEOPLE programme to make Europe attractive for the best researchers from outside the EU.
The NANOGUARD project was also focused on several objectives identified in NMP Theme, particularly strengthening European position in the research activities related to nanoelectronics and nanotechnologies for Green Building, Cultural Heritage Protection and Renewable Energy fields. It is a multi- and inter-disciplinary project, which generated new knowledge by studying phenomena and manipulating matter at the nanoscale level. It included several fields of science, such as molecular microbiology, health care, molecular virology, environmental physics, green chemistry, and material science. The results of this work would be also of relevance to Theme: Life Science, particularly to the Nanomedicine and Nanobiology fields.
For the achievement of the project goal four basic objectives were elaborated during four project years via transfer of R&D knowledge between partners. They are the followed:
1. SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION FULLERENE-BASED COMPOSITES
• Elaboration of the novel fullerene-based systems in the form of thin films with controlled crystalline structure and oxygen content deposited on (a) bulk substrates and (b) nanostructured substrates by method of vacuum deposition.
• Elaboration of the fullerene-based composites with thick films of plate and indented surface relief, originated from ZrO2, Al2O3, 3Al2O3*2SiO2 and polymer-oxide nanopowder composites with controlled structure, porosity and surface state using tape casting, print screen and high pressure compacting methods.
• Elaboration of the systems consisting of individual fullerene molecules (or small aggregates) embedded into the surface of the porous matrices, namely commercial metal organic frameworks (MIL-47, MIL-53), on the surface zeolites (commercial ZSM-5 and developed by Portuguese team) and into original zirconia, alumina nano-ceramics and ceramic-polymer composites developed by Ukrainian team.
• Corrective actions of the C60-based oxidative system design according to the materials photosensitization testing.
2. PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF NOVEL COMPOSITES
• Comprehensive investigation of fullerene-based systems of different morphology and surface state to produce singled oxygen under visible light irradiation.
• Evaluation of photosensitization mechanism in the reference onset of the fullerene-based materials composites under Solar irradiation.
• Comprehensive investigation of nanometal oxides-based systems of to generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) under visible light irradiation.
• Evaluation of photosensitization mechanism in the reference onset of the nanometal oxides-based materials composites aimed at electrons transfer and electricity production.
3. PATHOGENS INACTIVATION TESTING
• Comprehensive study of C60-based materials interaction with various biological pathogens–bacteria, fungi, molds spores and viral pathogens influenza viruses (including, pandemic A(H1N1), A(H5N1), RS-viruses, adenoviruses, and other respiratory viruses).
• Evaluation of the performance of the reference onset of the C60– based and nanometal oxides-based composites to oxidative inactivation of the biological and viral pathogens.
• Evaluation of the biocompatibility of the tested materials to mammalian and human cells in culture.
• Evaluation of the performance of the reference onset of C60– based composites towards inhibition of the amyloid fibrils formation
• Optimization of the conditions (light energy, contact time with surface, pathogens concentration) for inactivation of the pathogens in liquid and gaseous media.
4. PROTOTYPE C60-based oxidative system
• Corrective actions towards the C60-based and Nanometal oxides-based systems design based on the results of the materials testing on photosensitization and antimicrobial abilities.
• Coordination of the progress monitoring and risk assessment.
• Elaboration of the lab-scale Prototype C60-based and the lab-scale Prototype nanometal oxides-based oxidative system to be submitted to a tough testing of the performance criteria towards airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations.
THE MAIN DELIVERED SCIENTIFIC RESULTS are the followed:
• Novel fullerene–based and nanometals-based composites with optimal system design of high antimicrobial and/or antiviral performance under light irradiation.
• Prototype fullerene–based oxidative system and Prototype nanometal oxides based oxidative system to be submitted to a tough testing of airborne pathogens inactivation in air-conditioning installations.