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Group members Mateo Celinić, M.Pharm. and Nikolina Peranić, PhD, M.Chem., participated in the AFM BioMed Summer School, which took place from July 6 to 10, 2026, in Marseille, France. The school’s program consisted of lectures by experts in the field of biomedical applications of atomic force microscopy (AFM), hands-on demonstrations on various instruments at the DyNaMo Lab, and a short course on data analysis.

At the DyNaMo Lab, the summer school participants had the opportunity to see three different configurations of high-speed AFM, which is used to study the dynamic processes of biological molecules such as DNA and proteins. Additionally, the hands-on demonstrations included cell mapping using the Nanowizard 4 atomic force microscope. Data processing was conducted using software developed by members of the DyNaMo Lab, which included the analysis of force curves of cells or single molecules, as well as image data processing.

The 23rd International Congress of the European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV 2026) was held from June 29 to July 2, 2026, in Maastricht, Netherlands. Focused on the inspiring theme “Ensuring Safety, Advancing Science: Bridging to the Future with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)”, the congress aimed to explore the transformative impact of NAMs in ensuring safety, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of toxicology.

Team members Nikolina Peranić, PhD, and Mateo Celinić, MPharm, participated in the congress with poster presentations. With her poster presentation titled “Chemical mixture driven androgen receptor disruption”, Nikolina Peranić, PhD, emphasized the importance of studying chemical mixtures. Mateo Celinić, MPharm, presented the latest results in his poster presentation, “Metabolic and cytotoxic readouts differentiate responses of 2D and 3D in vitro pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma models to 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel.

New IMROH Research: Paper on the Effects of Nanoplastics and Pharmaceuticals Accepted in journal Environmental Science: Nano

The scientific paper “Plastic nanoparticles amplify endocrine activity of paracetamol and ibuprofen mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations,” authored by researchers from the Institute and the partner institution Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) from Germany, has been published in the prestigious international journal Environmental Science: Nano.

The study investigated the effects of plastic nanoparticles in combination with paracetamol and ibuprofen—two widely used pharmaceuticals increasingly recognized as environmental contaminants. The results demonstrated that plastic nanoparticles can amplify the endocrine activity of these pharmaceuticals when present in mixtures, even though they do not exhibit the same effect individually.

This research further underscores the critical importance of studying the combined effects of different contaminants rather than focusing solely on individual substances. The findings represent a valuable contribution to understanding the risks associated with the simultaneous presence of nanoplastics and pharmaceuticals in the environment, as well as to developing more modern approaches for assessing their potential impact on health and the environment.

Link to the paper: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2026/en/d6en00308g

Our Team Leader, Titular Prof. Dr. Ivana Vinković Vrček, Scientific Adviser Tenure, participated as the Head of the Croatian Delegation at the OECD’s 26th Meeting of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), held on June 24–25, 2026, in Paris.

A member of our Nanobiofaces team, Anamaria Gojanović Rajić, DVM, participated in the 5th Global Nanotechnology Conference #NanoSeries2026, held from June 15–17, 2026, in Turin, Italy. She presented a poster titled “Safety Evaluation of Quatsomes Following Repeated Subcutaneous Administration in Wistar Rats”.

The kick-off meeting for the MagBIO project (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-SE-01-01) was held at Aston University in Birmingham on June 4th and 5th, 2026.

The meeting was attended by the research group leader, Assoc. Prof. Ivana Vinković Vrček, PhD, and group member Nikolina Peranić, PhD. Representatives from all partner institutions within the consortium participated in the meeting with the aim of launching project activities, aligning work plans, and defining key steps for successful project implementation.

During the two-day meeting, the partners presented their research areas, laboratory infrastructure, available equipment, and previous experience relevant to the project. The consortium members exchanged ideas and insights, defined priorities for the upcoming period, and laid the foundation for future cooperation.

Members of the research team led by Dr. Ivana Vinković Vrček, in collaboration with international partners, have published a new paper on the potential endocrine effects of nanoplastics in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology, titled “Surface-driven endocrine activity of nanoplastics: polymer- and size-dependent estrogen and androgen receptors modulation without steroidogenesis perturbation”.

The study shows that the effects of nanoplastic particles on estrogen and androgen receptors depend on the type of polymer, particle size, and their mixtures, opening new questions for the risk and safety assessment of nanoplastics exposure.

The results of this study shift the assessment of the endocrine effects of nanoplastics beyond the previously often-used polystyrene models and provide an important foundation for future exposure monitoring and risk assessment in real environmental conditions and consumer exposure.

The paper was supported by European and national projects, including PARC, PlasticsFate, as well as the infrastructure and development support of the Institute.

Link to the paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12989-026-00692-7

Innovations Driving the Industry

EIT Community Hub Croatia, the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMEUP), and the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth are organizing the event ‘EIT and industry in the Horizon Europe Programme’, aimed at strengthening cooperation between industry, the research sector, and the innovation ecosystem. The programme focuses on concrete opportunities for industry, ranging from project participation and access to funding to connecting with researchers, startups, and international partners. Through presentations, practical examples, a panel discussion, and interactive networking, participants will gain insight into industry priorities, current open calls, and ways to actively engage in European innovation initiatives.

Location: National and University Library in Zagreb

Date: 18/6/2026

Time: 9:00 – 14:30

Working language: Croatian

Registration link: https://share.hsforms.com/1aRodBoH9S62vMrXsdKLDVw5b9de

As part of the presentation and panel discussion titled ‘Opportunities for Industry in the Horizon Europe Programme’, our team leader, Assoc. Prof. Ivana Vinković Vrček, PhD, will participate as a panelist in the presentation of the Industry area within Cluster 4.

As part of the presentation and panel discussion titled ‘Opportunities for Industry in the Horizon Europe Programme’, our team leader, Assoc. Prof. Ivana Vinković Vrček, PhD, will participate as a panelist in the presentation of the Industry area within Cluster 4.

📺 The conference recording is available here:

LINK TO THE RECORDING<<

📂 The speakers’ presentations can be accessed via the link:

[new] LINK TO SPEAKERS’ PRESENTATIONS<<

Share your opinion

If you didn’t get a chance to do so during the conference, we would highly appreciate it if you could fill out a short evaluation questionnaire and help us improve for next time.

LINK TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE<

Let’s stay connected

🔗 EIT Community Croatia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eit-community-hub-croatia

📧 EI Community Croatia email: croatia@eitcommunity.eu

Thank you once again for your participation. We look forward to future meetings, collaborations, and jointly strengthening the Croatian innovation ecosystem.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a new edition of its guidelines titled “Guidance on Sample Preparation and Dosimetry for Manufactured Nanomaterials (2025 Edition).” The document introduces updated standards for sample preparation and dosimetry in nanomaterial safety testing, reflecting the latest scientific developments in the field.

Titular professor Ivana Vinković Vrček, PhD, from the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI), participated in the development of this international standard. Alongside Tommaso Serchi (LIST, Luxembourg), she led the drafting of Chapter VII, which focuses on toxicological testing, including both in vitro and in vivo methods. The participation of IMI scientists in these working groups continuously contributes to the harmonization of global and national protocols for the safe application of new technologies.

The complete document is available via the OECD iLibrary