Research projects

 

„SmartCERIALS – Smart CERIum dioxide-based nanocomposites for AntimicrobiaL Surface applications“ is a collaborative research project of the Bio-Nano Group at PLUS, the Phornano Holding GmbH, Korneuburg (4n), Austria, and the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) that AIMs at the green development of novel nanocomposite raw materials for smart surface coatings by additive synthesis of different nanomaterials allowing for the combination of different desired functionalities. These combined functionalities comprise (i) superior anti-microbial properties that can be (ii) monitored for microbial binding and deactivation and (iii) contain a long-term tracing feature for coating stability. 

 

„NanoProCoV – Nanoformulations protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection“ is a scientific & technological cooperation programme of the Bio-Nano Group at PLUS with the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), funded by the Austrian BMBWF and the Chinese MOST, for establishing cooperative research based on mobility of researchers and developing online training in nanomedicine with the aim to combat viral infection of the respiratory system.

  • NanoProCoV – Nanoformulations protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection

 

Nanotechnology-enabled products with enhanced functions and durability have entered the international markets. These products extend to skincare, electronics, textiles, sports equipment, and to applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. The rapid growth of nanotechnology economy has, upon significant funding by the European Commission, been accompanied by research in nanosafety assessment having resulted in the establishment of risk governance procedures and safe-by-design strategies. In the upcoming framework program termed Horizon Europe (2021-2027) this safety-related knowledge will be transferred to aid sustainable innovation, combat emerging contaminants of ecological concern, and tackle environmental challenges such as micro- and nanoplastics. Specific sources of emerging contaminants of ecological concern are nanomaterials-derived particulates, sanitizers and active pharmaceutical ingredients leaching into the environment. While the risk assessment of such substances in their individual state is rather straight forward and obligation of the producers, the one of mixture effects is much more complex and the resulting risk vs. revenue estimation basically remains with societal stakeholders including regulators or community authorities. The Austrian partner, the Bio-Nano Group at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS) has built up a strong track record in nanosafety assessment focusing on human health, while the South African partner group at the University of Pretoria (UP) focuses on environmental aspects of emerging contaminants including nanomaterials. The “africa uninet” project PUSH will thus form a nucleation for future synergistic research and teaching for both partners.

  • The PLUS-UP European-African university network for Sustainable innovation and Health – PUSH

 

NanoCommons is a EU Research Infrastructure Activity to promote data FAIRness in nanosciences. The initiative, furthermore, serves the scientific community by means of consultancy and services providing e-tools for:
– design and implementation of experimental workflows
– data processing and analysis
– data visualization and predictive models
– data storage and metadata completeness
…to improve scientific quality assurance in the field of nanosafety assessment. NanoCommons offers as part of its  Knowledge Infrastructure, a  Knowledge Base and a Data Warehouse. The PLUS partner is responsible for education & training activities.

 

The EU NanoSafety Cluster Working Group A (WG-A) focuses on cross-linking all currently active projects in the EU NanoSafety Cluster. In addition, WG-A endeavors to align all training offers in nanosafety projects and beyond. This effort shall be including the research fields of microplastics’, advanced/innovative materials’, or nanomedicines’ safety assessment. Joint educational strategies are developed with representatives from the currently ongoing projects. The main activity to facilitate this essential and fruitful cross-talk between the people that are actively involved in the work of the projects is executed by informative webinars and virtual training sessions.

 

Nan-O-Style is an interdisciplinary research project, which investigates interactions between nanomaterials (NMs) in consumer products with substances from daily life with a special focus on modern lifestyle products (MLPs) used by adolescents.

 
In order to perform clinical studies with candidate recombinant allergens the physicochemical properties of these molecules have to be determined according to high-quality standards. As the allergy research group is well-endowed with high-end analytical instruments we aim to improve the existing and develop new bioanalytical tools for allergen standardization.
 
Understanding the mechanisms of systemic drug hypersensitivity also involves studying drug metabolism and methods of organochemical synthesis and bioconjugation. In the immunological context drugs are usually referred to as haptens eliciting adverse reaction solely upon covalent binding to carrier molecules. Solid diagnosis of drug allergy (skin testing) is thus often eluded by the lack of IgE receptor crosslinking capability of small molecules unless coupled to high molecular weight carriers. We therefore establish methods of preparing and analyzing drug-carrier conjugates also taking into account the possible immunological importance of metabolic drug intermediates.
 

Project overview

 

Principle Investigator

2022 – 2025SmartCERIALS – Smart CERIum dioxide-based nanocomposites for AntimicrobiaL Surface applications, BMK, FFG, 890610
2022 – 2024NanoProCoV – Nanoformulations protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection, WTZ, BMBWF, OeAD, CN 06/2021
2021 – 2024PUSH – The PLUS-UP European-African university network for Sustainable innovation and Health, BMBWF, OeAD, P023_South Africa
2020 – 2022 Biological Standardization Programme – BSP163, Conseil de l’Europe & European Directorate for Quality of Medicine & Healthcare (EDQM)
2019Nan-O-Style FeMED, BMVIT, FFG, 874754
2018FeMINT physics and bioeffects, BMVIT, FFG, 870755
2017 – 2019Nan-O-Style, Nanotechnology ↔ Modern Lifestyle, Sparkling Science, BMWFW, P144200_25
2006 – 2013Development of bioanalytical tools for standardization of allergen products, Biomay, BIO062004
2010 – 2012Bioanalysis of allergen extracts and allergoids, Diater, P144250_9
2011 – 2012 Bioanalysis of monomeric allergoids, Lofarma, P144250_9
2006 – 2011 Mechanism of drug-induced hypersensitivity against NSAIDs, FWF P18820-B13
2010Patterns of exposure and mechanisms of sensitization in allergic asthma caused by tropical mites, FFG 2108908, P144250_6
2010Managing Th1 and Th2 immune responses for cancer immunotherapy, Boehringer-Ingelheim Fonds, P144250_10
2009 – 2010 Comparative bioanalysis of allergen extracts, Lofarma, P144250_9
2009Molecule-based diagnosis of allergy and related diseases caused by mites, FFG 823964, P144250_6
2007 – 2009Biological Standardization Programme – BSP090, Conseil de l’Europe & European Directorate for Quality of Medicine & Healthcare (EDQM)
2006 – 2008 Bioanalysis of allergen extracts and allergoids, Leti, BIO062004

 

Project participation

2019 – 2023 H2020 NANORIGO “NANOtechnology RIsk GOvernance“. EU H2020, 814530  www.nanorigo.eu
2018 – 2022 H2020 NanoCommons „The European Nanotechnology Community Informatics Platform: Bridging data and disciplinary gaps for industry and regulators“. EU H2020, 731032   www.nanocommons.eu
2016 – 2021 ICA – Immunity in Cancer and Allergy, International PhD Program, FWF, W01213    www.ica.sbg.ac.at
2016 – 2019 PANDORA – Probing safety of nano-objects by defining immune responses of environmental organisms, EU H2020, 671881,  www.pandora-h2020.eu
2016 – 2019 H2020 EC4SafeNano “European Centre for Risk Management and Safe Innovation in Nanomaterials Nanotechnologies – EC4SafeNano“. EU H2020, 723623    www.ec4safenano.eu/
2014 – 2017 HUMUNITY – Cell-Based Models of Human Mucosal Immunity with Multiple Commercial Applications, 316383,  www.humunity.eu
2013 – 2015 ALRAUNE – Allergieforschung in ruralen, alpinen und urbanen Netzen, BMWFW, OeAD, Sparkling Science
2012 – 2016 Regulation of activation-induced deaminase by lysine modifications, FWF, P24619
2012 – 2015 NanoTOES – Nanotechnology Training of Experts in Safety, EU FP7, 264506,  www.nanotoes.eu
2012 – 2015 NanoValid – Developing reference methods for nanomaterials, EU FP7, 263147,  www.nanovalid.eu
2012 – 2015 NanoEIS – Nanotechnology Education for Industry and Society, EU FP7, 319054,  www.nanoeis.eu