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Nanotechcenter LLC (NTC)

Mainly contributing to WP1-WP4 and supporting WP7 and WP8.

In platform Case Study 4 (CS4), the titanium oxide will be obtained in various forms (rutile / anatase or a combination thereof) depending on the application. From the view point of the SABYDOMA concept, the NTC plans 3 tasks:

1. In the frame of WP1, WP2, the Rate Controlled Reaction synthesis with feedback loop on the composition of the gas phase. The control of nanoparticles “hanged” in outlet gas phase. This feedback loop could be established with the aid of membrane (definition of actual ToxScore).

There are 2 options:

a. regulation of the amount of nanoparticles “hanging” in the gas phase, which should be trapped (technology safety in equipment design) and

b. regulation of water vapour partial pressure, which defines the morphology of nanoparticles and the anatase/rutile ratio (safety in product design). In this case, round-shaped nanoparticles are safer than needle-shaped particles.

2. From the point of view of safety in applications, all of these particles (three types of shape) will be the subject of biomedical experiments in the NTC team to establish their actual ToxScore values from complex biological screening. In-silico modelling of the newly designed feedback loops will be also provided in the general trend of the proposal. Biomedical experiments with animals (rats) will be carried out in the framework of sub- contract with Bogomoletz Medical University which has official permission for such researches. The biomedical research will return ToxScore values.

3. The WP3 and Demonstration WP4 will be designed in cooperation with other teams: i) the mesoporous titania nanopowders for photocatalysts need metal nanoparticles deposited on their surface. This task could be fruitfully accomplished in co-operation with CS1 (nanosilver) team or CS3 (electroplated with silver or nickel); ii) adoption of bio-membrane from Leeds in feedback loop (see task 2).

NTC plans to effectively contribute to the WP7 on dissemination of results and to the WP8 on management.

NTC expertise is in synthesis of particulate nanomaterial, their pilot scale production & characterization exactly corresponds to project activities. Present basic knowledge, know-how in technology, skilled and young team, well established labs and pilot shops, experience in the international projects will be solid background for the implementation of the proposed research plan. This expertise will be exploited in the project for the establishing the new feedback loop on existing pilot furnaces through the SbD collaboration from TRL 4 to 6 and the incorporation of high throughput screening in WPs 1 – 3, in the development of protocols for release testing and the interpretation of results in WP4. The NTC team is experienced in numerous EU and international collaborative projects.