Nanoporous materials as multiple therapeutic agents

Although nitric oxide (NO) is very toxic in low concentrations it plays a key role in the regulation of several biological systems of the human body. Solid carriers have potential biomedical interest in the delivery of exogenous NO for anti-bacterial, anti-thrombic and wound healing applications. In this research line, we prepare and modify nanoporous materials with the main goal of studying its potential in the field of storage and release of nitric oxide for therapeutic applications. This project (IF/00993/2012/CP0172/CT0013) is funded in part by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

 

The objectives of the project are:

• Development of material for gas storage and release
• Preliminary assessment of toxicity of materials
• Understanding the molecular interaction of the stored gas with the material’s surface

 

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New applications for composites of polyurethane and recycled rubber

Rubber from end-of-life tires is being used to develop composite foams with interesting properties for some applications. After grinding, the rubber obtained from the tires can be incorporated in the polyurethane foams. This project is funded by Valorpneu.

 

The objectives of the project are:

• Development of foam formulations with recycled rubber.
• Testing and characterization of the composite foams
• Development of applications with composite foams

Test of prototypes manufactured with composite foams

 

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Variable pressure solid-state NMR methods to study gas-surface interactions in nanoporous sorbent materials for industrial post/precombustion CO2 capture

This project aims at developing high-resolution in-situ solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) methods, adapted to variable pressure measurements, to gain an atomic-level understanding of the surface interactions between nanoporous inorganic-organic hybrid sorbent materials and gas mixtures mimicking industrial flue gas streams relevant in low- and high-pressure (postand pre-combustion) CO2 capture. We focus on the elucidation of CO2 adducts formed at CO2 partial pressures in post- (<0.5 bar) and pre-combustion (~10-50 bar) processes using isotopically-labelled 13CO2. The study of surface species derived from flue gas contaminants is also envisaged.

This project (PTDC/QEQ-QAN/6373/2014) is funded in part by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

 

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NEMOSINE - Innovative packaging solutions for storage and conservation of 20th century cultural heritage of artefacts based on cellulose derivative

A huge percentage of the recent European cultural heritage (CH) can be found in movies, photographies, posters and slides produced between 1895 and 1970 were made using cellulose derivates. More than 75 years of visual and audio memories are in serious danger to be lost due to the natural instability cellulose acetate (CA).

NEMOSINE improves the traditional storage solutions, such as freeze storage (below 5ºC), by developing an innovative package with the main goal of energy saving and extent conservation time.

See NEMOSINE project website

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 760801

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