The NanoFaces group hosted a guest junior researcher from the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technology, Jena, Germany, from December 9th to 16th. PhD student Ekaterina Podlesnaia is working on method development for anisotropic gold nanoparticle synthesis, and is planning to expand her work to other nanoparticle types.
The aim of her visit was to observe and learn methods for the synthesis of silver and selenium nanoparticles of different shapes and sizes. NanoFaces group also benefited from her experience. The visit resulted in strengthening of Croatian-German collaboration through the Bilateral project and the exchange of knowledge was for the benefit of both parties.
PhD student Barbara Pem spent time at the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technology in Jena, Germany from November 11th to December 7th 2019, as a part of the research visits financed by the Bilateral project Germany-Croatia.
Student Pem learned the technique localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and performed the experiments to monitor fibrinogen binding to the gold nanoparticle surface, which directly continues the line of research of other students in the NanoFaceS group. Also, during her stay she performed preliminary measurements of protein-nanoparticle interactions by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Her newly acquired knowledge she can apply to the continuation of the research after coming back to Zagreb.
On Friday November 29th, the DNA Middle Germany Meeting was held at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Leipzig, Germany. The meeting was co-organised by Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technology from Jena and the University of Potsdam. The aim was to gather experts on DNA research and nanoparticle development for sensing and diagnostic applications.
PhD student Barbara Pem held a short presentation about the NanoFaceS project titled: “Interaction of metallic nanoparticles with biomolecules: the implications for nano-bio interface”.
The presentation is available by following this link.
PhD student Krunoslav Ilić stayed at University of Marseille (U1067 Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS), France, from October 21st to November 21st 2019. in the Atomic Force Microscopy group led by dr. Felix Rico. During that time he performed research on the effect of nanoparticles on mechanical properties of cells, and the biophysical parameters of interactions at nano-bio interface. The stay was funded by French Embassy in Croatia.
The Synergy Symposium for NanoBioMedicine was held on November 4th and 5th 2019 in Zagreb. The event, co-organized by nanotechnology groups from the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry and Ruđer Bošković Institute, brought together the collaborators from five projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation.
The projects OrDeN (IP-2016-06-1137), NanoFaces (IP-2016-06-2436), CaPBiomimNanocomp (IP-2018-01-1493), NanoFlavNeuroProtect (IP-2016-06-8415), and NutriNTENSe (IP-2018-01-8119) are focused on nanotechnology and development of new systems for biomedical applications. This event provided the opportunity for researchers to present their work, learn more about the different experimental and theoretical approaches to the nanobiomedical field and create new connections and collaborations. It was also a great occasion for PhD students to show their progress.
The Symposium hosted two invited international speakers that are each renowned experts in their fields of study. Prof Heinrich Lang from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Germany held a lecture “From: Small Tailor-made Molecules To: New Materials”. Prof Konrad Kowalski from the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Łódz, Poland presented the lecture “Organometallic Xeno-Nucleic Acid Nucleosides: Synthesis and Biological Activity”. Afterwards, the PhD students from all five projects presented some of their results. The event was concluded with the discussion and networking activities.
Prof Konrad Kowalski holding the lecture on organometallic nucleobase derivatives
On November 4th – 5th, the Synergy Symposium for NanoBioMedicine will be held at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry and Rudjer Boskovic Institute in Zagreb. The Symposium is organized by the collaborators from four projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation: OrDeN (IP-2016-06-1137), NanoFaces (IP-2016-06-2436), CaPBiomimNanocomp (IP-2018-01-1493), NanoFlavNeuroProtect (IP-2016-06-8415), and NutriNTENSe (IP-2018-01-8119)
The aim of the symposium is to bring together the researchers from nanomedicine-focused projects in Croatia, to foster collaboration and communication, encourage the exchange of knowledge and skills and provide the opportunity for PhD students to present their work. The symposium will host esteemed international guests: Prof Heinrich Lang from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Germany and Prof Konrad Kowalski from the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Łódz, Poland, who will be holding the keynote lectures.
The first conference of the COST Action CA17140 Nano2Clinic (Cancer nanomedicine: from the bench to the bedside) was held from 15th to 17th October 2019 in Riga, Latvia. The Conference gathered leading experts in nanomedicine from all over the world to discuss the latest breakthroughs in
Dr Ivana Vinković Vrček, as the workpackage 2 leader, was the chair of one of the lecture sessions. PhD student Barbara Pem held a short talk titled: “Effect of particle shape and size on the interactions of gold nanoparticles with proteins of different glycosylation status”, which can be found on the following link.
PhD candidate Rafael Ramírez Jiménez from the ICMA – Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain spent one month, from September 14 2019 to October 14 2019, at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health for his Short Term Scientific Mission application within the COST Action CA17140 NANO2CLINIC.
His STSM project was focused on understanding of the mechanism of action of nano-enabled medical agents, their enhanced biocompatibility and safety. He was trained in the Safe-by-Design approach to development of nano-enabled drug delivery system for anticancer therapy. At the same time, the NanoFaceS group benefited from his experience in the design and synthesis of nano-drug delivery agents. The mission provided the know-how necessary to provide further insight into specific aspects of medical applications of nanomaterials, in particularly for anticancer therapy by utilizing more efficient and safer-by-design nanomaterials.
From October 10th to 11th 2019 in Zagreb, the symposium of the Humboldt College Zagreb was held in the honor of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Alexander von Humboldt.
Named: “Science and educational challenges facing Europe in the next decade”, the symposium was organized with the aim of uniting scientists from different fields, from Croatia and Europe, to encourage the exchange of knowledge, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and direct the attention of the scientific community towards finding solutions to the obstacles in the way of scientific progress.
PhD student Barbara Pem presented the NanoFaceS project to the international audience with the poster: “Challenges and obstacles to study nano-bio interface”.
The one-day expert meeting “A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society” was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia on October 4th 2019, organised by Slovenian Engineering Academy, SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) and University of Ljubljana.
The meeting included an expert panel, in which Dr Ivana Vinković Vrček was an invited guest. She discussed the safety and risk assessment of micro and nanoplastic materials.
