Bioactive nanomaterials with 2D crystal structure

Scope of research:

• development of production methods and characterization of innovative nanomaterials with 2D crystal structure
• development of effective methods of delamination of innovative nanomaterials with 2D crystal structure and methods of separating the nanocolloidal fraction,
• optimization of reagents concentration, reaction conditions as well as morphology and physicochemical properties of the final product in terms of achieving the best bioactivity and selectivity of the developed 2D nanomaterials,
• morphological and structural characterization of created 2D nanomaterials - microscopic characterization of morphology, analysis of the method and efficiency of dispersion of metal nanoparticles on the surface or in the volume of a ceramic particle.
• physicochemical characterization of developed 2D nanomaterials - surface area, pore volume and diameter analysis, pycnometric density, elemental composition and chemical state analysis (valence state of atoms),
• microbiological characterization of the developed materials - studies of antibacterial and antifungal properties in relation to selected bacterial strains,
• microscopic analysis of preferential sites for the adsorption of the studied microorganisms, together with the assessment of the effectiveness of bacterial adsorption,
• surface electrostatic charge research - zeta potential in real time of adsorption duration and a wide pH range, analysis of the influence of surface electric charge of sorbents and bacteria, their morphology, structure and physical chemistry of the surface on the phenomenon of bacterial sorption and electrostatic interactions between sorbent and bacteria,
• nanomaterials research using FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy
• analysis of the impact in relation to the natural environment (algae, beneficial microorganisms isolated from the natural environment, higher plants and simple aquatic organisms, e.g., crustaceans),
• comparison of properties of various 2D nanomaterials produced with the developed methods and evaluation of their application value.
   

Research activities

• Studies of bioactive and anticancer properties of 2D nanomaterials developed and mechanisms of interaction with respect to composition, morphology and structure
• Development of methods for surface modification of developed 2D nanomaterials with organic macromolecules and studies of the effect of modifications on the application value
• Development of methods for surface modification of the developed nanomaterials with 2D ceramic and metallic nanoparticles and studies of the effect of modifications on the application value
• Development of effective methods of delamination of MXenes phases for 2D flakes and methods of nanocolloid fraction separation
• Studies on the influence of morphology, structure and physicochemical properties of graphene modified with nanocomposite particles on their biological activity and antimicrobial efficacy
• Manufacturing of nanomaterials using sol-gel and hydro- and solvothermal methods
• Modification of the properties of bioactive and photocatalytic titanium oxide nanoparticles, using the processes of ion-doping and modification with metal nanoparticles
• Development of bioactive nanosorbents - modified with noble nanometals, for use as drinking water filters
   

Research offer

• Synthesis of nanomaterials and modification thereof using hydro- and solvothermal methods
• Research on the adsorption of microorganisms on the surface of materials by scanning electron microscopy and in situ analysis using the zeta potential
• Stability tests of nano-colloidal systems - zeta potential research
• Studies on particle size of nano-colloidal systems using the DLS method
• Examination of the specific surface area and porosity of powders by means of sorption of physical nitrogen
• Toxicity analysis
•  Analysis of the chemical composition of the surface of nanomaterials using infrared spectrometry
• Analysis of nanocolloids and concentration of chemical compounds using UV-VIS spectroscopy
   

Research infrastructure

• Particle size and zeta potential analyzer Zetasizer Nano-ZS from Malvern Instruments, equipped with an automatic titrator and titration media degasser
• Equipment for specific surface characterization and porosity Quadrasorb SI from Quantachrome, equipped with Flo Vac degasser
• SONICS VCX 750 ultrasonic homogenizer
• Rotina 420 laboratory centrifuge from Hettich Zentrifugen
• Reaction system for the synthesis of composite nanopowders using the sol-gel method with a fume cupboard
• Binder vacuum laboratory dryer up to 200 ° C
• Orbital Shaker-Incubator ES-80 from Grant Instruments Ltd., 50 to 250 rpm, digital control of time, temperature and shaking speed control, temperature range from +25 to + 80ºC.
• Double-beam UV-VIS Evolution 210 Thermo Scientific spectrometer, xenon lamp, 190-1100 nm range equipped with a reflectance system for measuring solid samples
• FTIR spectrometer, Nicolet iS5, Thermo Scientific, DRIFT, ATR (diamond and germanium crystal)
• Alpha 2-4 LD Plus freeze dryer from Martin Christ, up to -85 ° C, flat vessels with max. 300 mm, capacity 4 kg ice / 24h, additional manifold with 8 chemically resistant rubber valves, glass cover, pressure control valve, flasks for freeze-drying max. capacity 75 ml
• Ertec MAGNUM v2 microwave reactor, 600 W, 2.45 GHz, capacity 110 ml with automatic control system, 110 ml pressure vessels with 110 bar fuse strength made of isostatically-pressed Hostaflen-1500.
• Two analytical balances from Radwag and a weight dryer (Radwag) with a power of 450 W, equipped with a halogen radiator, max. drying temperature 250 ° C, weighing pan ø 90 mm, weighing pan hight 8 mm, max. solid sample height 20 mm, accuracy of humidity reading 0.001%.
• Laboratory refridgerator with 130 L capacity for samples storing
• Laboratory freezer for storing and freezing samples for freeze drying at 201 L, temperature from -10 ° C to -45 ° C.
• Water purification system MicroPure UV from Thermo Scientific, with UV lamp, for obtaining ultra pure water, ASTM type I, according to PN-EN ISO 3696, degree of purity 1, with parameters 0.055 µS / cm = 18.2 MΩxcm and TOC 1 - 5 ppb, capacity 15 L/day, recirculation pump prevents the growth of microorganisms during longer downtimes, for applications such as trace analysis, HPLC, ICP-MS, IC. Absorption speed not less than 1 L / min.
• HEIDOLPH rotary laboratory evaporator, Hei-VAP Precision; G3, equipped with a vertical cooler, LCD display, full vacuum control, automatic solvent removal programs, max. vol. 5 L, bath temperature 20-210 ° C.
   

Projects

• Research on anticancer properties of nano-crystals of 2D carbides and titanium nitrides - MXenes phases, implementation
• Studies on the bio-active properties of new two-dimensional structures of light transition metal carbides, implementation
• Advanced techniques for in situ research on the phenomenon of sorption of bacteria on the surface of new nanohybryd graphene sorbents in water systems, implementation period
   

Research collaboration

• University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics
• AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, Cracow
• Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw
• West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin
• Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Research & Development Centre for the Graphic Arts in Warsaw
• Tulane University, Faculty of Physics, USA
• Drexel University, USA
• ICA Research and Development SRL, Romania
• Technical University of Cluj Napoca, North Universitary Center of Baia Mare, Romania
• Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj Napoca, Romania
• Fabryka Kart Trefl-Kraków Sp. z o.o.
• Amii Sp. z o.o.
• Paper Cups Factory Sp. z o.o.
• Linegal Chemicals Sp. z o.o.
• UST-M Sp. z o.o.
• NANONET
• Natural Fibers Advanced Technologies (NFAT)
• Kancelaria Doradztwa Gospodarczego Milczarek i Maciąg S.C.
   

Contact

Professor Agnieszka Jastrzębska
agnieszka.jastrzebska@pw.edu.pl
+48 22 234 74 49
Division of Ceramic Materials and Polymers