NATIONAL RESEARCH AND

DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

FOR NON-FERROUS AND

R A R E M E TA L S – I M N R

Medical applications

April 2018

102 Biruintei Blvd., Pantelimon, Ilfov County, Romania

(T) +4021.352.20.46; (F) +4021.352 20 49

imnr@imnr.ro; www.imnr.ro

WH

O W

E A

RE

01 July 1966

IMNR is established from:• ICEM research team

• ICECHIM research team

• IPRAN design team

1990-2004

IMNR S.A. is a state-owned company

24 December 2004

IMNR becomes National R&D Institute

RESEARCH• technologies for obtaining metals from

Romanian primary resources:

Cu, Zn–Pb, Al, TR, Mg, Li

• technologies for capitalizing on secondary

resources:

In, Bi, Cd, Au, Ag, Sb, Se, Mo, W

• technologies for new materials for other

industries: nuclear, aeronautics, chemistry,

medicine

DESIGN• technological installations for the

recovery of: Cd, Se, In, Au, Ag, Sb

• application of licenses: Outokumpu (Cu),

ISP (Zn-Pb), Pechiney (Al), Kowa Seiko

(pyrite ashes)

SMALL SCALE MANUFACTURE• non-ferrous alloys

• Mo salts from elctro-technical waste for

the chemical industry

• other custom made products

BA

CK

GR

OU

ND

GE

NE

RA

L A

CT

IVIT

Y (

196

6-2

004)

WH

AT

WE

DO

IMNR aims to be a competitive institute recognized

for the quality of R&D services at national and

European level in the field of materials science

and engineering based on non-ferrous and rare

metals, meeting the needs of governmental and

industry partners, as well as innovative SMEs.

• generating new knowledge: competitive, top-

level scientific results

• raising the competitiveness of the Romanian

economy: innovation and transfer of

knowledge to economic agents

• improving quality of life: technological

solutions with societal and environmental

impact (recycling, recovery, re-use,

biomaterials for regenerative medicine)

MIS

SIO

NS

TR

AT

EG

IC A

IMS

MA

IN D

IRE

CT

ION

S I

N R

&D

AN

D T

EC

HN

OL

OG

Y T

RA

NS

FE

R technologies for advanced metal-basedmaterials and their compounds’ synthesis

new chemical processes for raw and

secondary materials: autoclave

solubilization in controlled atmosphere,

microwave processing

mild chemistry methods for advanced

nanomaterials synthesis (oxides,

composites, hybrids): hydrothermal /

solvothermal, high pressure, spray

drying, encapsulation and core-shell

materials

new technologies for capitalizing advanced

materials: - thin film coatings and deposition (EB-PVD)

- electro-deposition in aqueous solutions and

molten salts

- hydrothermal-electrochemical deposition with

on-line monitoring via RAMAN

R&

D P

RO

JE

CT

S

EU projects: H2020, ERA-NET, COST, RSRP, LIFE+, FP7

Structural funds

projects: POSCCE, POSDRU,

POC

National Core Program

(12 projects)

National R&D

projects

12

51

23

41 R&D PROJECTS2013-2017

2 NATIONAL CLUSTERS

3 EU NETWORKS (COST)2016-2020

4 EU PLATFORMS• ETP Raw Materials

• EIP Raw Nanovalue

• ETP Nanomedicine

• JTI Nanofutures

• ROHEALTH – Medicine

• MHTC Magurele – Physics & Engineering

• HERALD: Hooking together European

Research in Atomic Layer Deposition

(MP14102)

• CRM EXTREME: Replacement of Critical

Raw Materials for Extreme Environmental

Conditions (CA15012)

• BIONECA: Biomaterials and Advanced

Physical Techniques for Regenerative

Cardiology and Neurology (CA16122)

EX

PE

RT

ISE • nano-bio-materials (ceramics, composites, hybrid

inorganic-organic systems) for regenerative medicine

and tissue engineering.

• thin films and advanced coatings by hydrothermal

– electrochemical processes for sensors;

• functionally graded materials for non-conventional

energy

• new materials and functionalities for creative

manufacturing

• thermodynamic and kinetic modelling and

simulation

NA

NO

ST

RU

CT

UR

ED

MA

TE

RIA

LS

RE

SE

AR

CH

EQ

UIP

ME

NT

freeze dryer

DSC Maya F3 Netzschautoclave with in-situ

RAMAN monitoringscratch test / AFM

computer-controlled

hydrothermal /

electrochemical system spin coater + UV cure

FT-IR spectrometer Zetasizer ZS90

3D Bioscaffolder SEM Quanta 250

drop shape analyzer

high T chamber and tubular

furnaces

Zortrax M-200

spray-dryer

ME

DIC

AL

AP

PL

ICA

TIO

NS

ORBIMPLANT ProjectPN II – PCCA Type 2 (2014-2016)

Grant no. 114/01.10.2014

NANOPOWDERS & 3D-STRUCTURES

FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

The project aimed to

design a new type of

orbital implant made of

nanocomposite material

based on hydroxyapatite

and polyurethane: a

composite scaffold with a

higher rate of vascular

proliferation within the

implant that allows

shortening of the waiting

time for final prosthesis

and preserving the

integrity of the eyelid.

HYBRID NANOPOWDERShydrothermal synthesis at high pressures from synthetic

raw materials (calcium and phosphorus salts;

polyurethane), followed by spray-drying of the hybrid

organic-inorganic nanocomposites

PASTES FOR 3D-PRINTINGpreparation of controlled-composition pastes for

deposition of 3D structures based on hybrid

nanopowders and non-cytotoxic crosslinking agents

(commercial organic polymers)

3D STRUCTURES FOR ORBITAL IMPLANTS3D printing of structures with controlled properties, using

a BioScaffolder; the implants have undergone successful

animal testingCO

NT

RIB

UT

ION

ME

DIC

AL

AP

PL

ICA

TIO

NS

NANOVIBER ProjectEURONANOMED II ERA-NET

Grant no. 1/2017 (2017-2019)

MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES FOR

VIBRATIONAL ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY

The project aims to

translate – at patient level –

a tumour vibrational therapy

for glioblastoma, involving

spintronic particles and a

low-cost device.

The translational

nanomedicine approach

also aims to boost

nanotechnology innovation

at a faster and safer pace

towards patients. CO

NT

RIB

UT

ION

NANOPOWDER

CHARACTERIZATIONcharacterization methodology

for functionalized nanoparticles,

using:• particle size distribution and

zetapotential measurements

• quantitative chemical analysis

• inductively coupled plasma

optical emission spectrometry

(ICP-OES)

• X-ray diffraction (XRD)

• UV-VIS spectrophotometry

• FT-IR spectroscopy

• optical microscopy (MO)

• scanning electron microscopy

(SEM)

• complex thermal analysis

(DSC-TG)

NV6

NV5

NV4

Inte

ns

ity (

CP

S)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2-Theta - Scale

14 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

NV4

NV5

NV6

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

G

G

GG

G

NV4

NV5

NV6

NV7

T [

%]

[cm-1]

G

XRD analysis

FT-IR analysis

ME

DIC

AL

AP

PL

ICA

TIO

NS

NANOCAGE ProjectRSRP JRP IZERZO

Grant no. 142141 (2012-2016)

The project aimed to

develop iron oxide

nanoparticles decorated

with PPI/PEI dendrimers

having attached folic acid

as a way to achieve active

targeting of tumour cells

and carrying antisense

survivin oligonucleotides

as an imaging contrast

agent. CO

NT

RIB

UT

ION

IRON OXIDE BASED NANOMATERIALSAS CONTRAST AGENTS FOR CANCER DETECTION

MAGNETIC HYBRID NANOMATERIALS• development of new magnetic hybrid nanomaterials that display controlled

composition, morphology, structure, magnetic properties and bioactivity

• biological interaction of these hybrid nanomaterials with MSC cells in vitro showed no

cytotoxic effect and preservation of the cells morphology

• the cells proliferated in the presence of hybrid nanostructures.

HRTEM images for iron oxide: dendrimer ratio=0.5

ME

DIC

AL

AP

PL

ICA

TIO

NS

RETE-β-DENT ProjectCEEX (2005-2008)

Grant no. 46

The project aimed to

develop advanced

biocompatible

structures for dental

implants based on new

Ti alloys and new

methods for thin film

deposition, multilayer

structure deposition,

analysis and

characterization of

nanostructured hybrid

films. CO

NT

RIB

UT

ION

ADVANCED BIOCOMPATIBLE

STRUCTURES FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS

THIN FILM DEPOSITION ON 3D SUBSTRATEShydrothermal-electrochemical deposition of hybrid organic

-inorganic nanopowders on cylindrical Ti alloy.

ANIMAL TESTINGinsertion of implant in rabbit bone

macroscopic image of a

cylindrical implant made of

hybrid organic-inorganic

nanopowders deposited

on TiAlNb alloy, inserted in

rabbit’s bone

HYBRID NANOPOWDERShydrothermal synthesis at high pressures of hydroxyapatite – maleic copolymer

hybrid nanopowders

ME

DIC

AL

AP

PL

ICA

TIO

NS

TROPSENSE ProjectMSCA RISE HORIZON 2020

Grant no. 645758 (2016-2019)

BIOSENSORS FOR TROPICAL AND

RARE DISEASES’ DETECTION

The project aims to

demonstrate the feasibility

of a non-invasive, safe and

patient-friendly methodology

for on-site rapid diagnosis of

tropical diseases

(Hydatidosis, Leishmaniasis

and Dengue), based on

breath samples analyses,

which are easy to obtain

and present no discomfort

or risk for patients’ health.

CO

NT

RIB

UT

ION THIN FILM DEPOSITION

hydrothermal – electrochemical deposition

of gold functionalized with carbon

nanotubes (MWCNT), polymers or CNT-

functionalized with polymers.

THIN FILMS CHARACTERIZATIONmicroscopy (AFM, SEM), FT-IR spectroscopy

SUBSTRATES FOR DEPOSITIONcommercial interdigitated DROPSENS

electrodes (Au/glass, Au/alumina) or

specially designed gold electrodes

hydrothermal-electrochemical

deposition system: CORTEST

autoclave and VOLTALAB /

potentiostat / HVB booster

cyclic voltammetry of gold-

cysteine hybrid deposited on

commercial Au-glass electrode

AFM analysis:

surface topography SEM analysis:

film thickness

ME

DIC

AL

AP

PL

ICA

TIO

NS

SENSGAS ProjectPNII – PCCA 2 (2012-2016)

Grant no. 198/2012

The project aimed to to

develop new multi-

functional materials

based on doped BST for

sensors with specific

sensitivity in detecting

each of the following

gases: NH3, SO2 and

H2S, as close to room

temperature as possible,

with a detection range

between 0-100 ppm.

CO

NT

RIB

UT

ION

SENSORS FOR TOXIC GAS

DETECTION (NH3, SO2, H2S)

Cu-DOPED BST NANOPOWDERShydrothermal synthesis of nanostructured

perovskite materials: Cu-doped BST nanopowders

with high specific surface area (low temperature

<200⁰C, high pressure >100 atm)

NANOPOWDER CHARACTERIZATIONchemical analysis (ICP-OES), structural analysis

(XRD), morphological analysis (SEM), thermal

analysis (DSC/TG), DLS analysis (Zetasizer)

DEPOSITED SENSORserigraphic deposition of the

sensitive layer on a

commercial sensor

Berghoff autoclave

deposited sensor

INTEGRATED SENSORintegrated sensors with a

0-100 ppm detection range

for NH3, SO2 and H2S in air

integrated sensor

CO

NTA

CT

National R&D Institute for Non-

ferrous and Rare Metals – IMNR

102 Biruintei Blvd.

Pantelimon, Ilfov

077145 - Romania

phone +4021 3522048

fax +4021 3522049

e-mail: imnr@imnr.ro

website: www.imnr.ro

General Manager

Roxana Mioara Piticescu, PhD

e-mail: roxana.piticescu@imnr.ro

Find us on Facebook:

IMNR