Upgrading the capacity of NIRDTP to develop sensing applications for biomedicine using magnetic nanomaterials and nanostructured materials (NANOSENS)

Framework: FP7 — Capacities
Programme: Research Potential
Destination: Unlocking and developing the Research Potential of research entities established in the EU�s Convergence regions and Outermost Regions
Action type: Coordination and support actions
Countries involved: Romania
Call:  (FP7-REGPOT-2012-2013-1, 2012)
Start date: 2013-06-01
End date: 2016-11-30
Duration (months): 42.0
Total project cost (EUR): 2713017.94
EU funding (EUR): 2422076.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The overall aim of the NANOSENS project is to upgrade the research and innovation capacity of the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics (NIRDTP) to the highest European level in microsensors for medical applications and biosensors based on magnetic nanoparticles and nanowires. NIRDTP is a very promising European research organisation in the fields of nanoscience and microsystems. The Institute has a total staff of 73 persons (researchers and administrative). NIRDTP’s existing scientific expertise and facilities will be further developed through a range of research and innovation capacity building activities derived from NIRDTP’s SWOT analysis. The activities will increase NIRDTP’s visibility, society/regional responsiveness and innovation potential for the most advanced topics of microsensors and biosensors: Research Topic A: Microsensors for Medical Applications A1. Acoustic microsensors based on nano- and microwires for medical applications; A2. Implantable magnetic microsensors based on nanostructured materials for medical applications; Research Topic B: Biosensors based on Nanoparticles and Barcode Nanowires B1. Sensors based on nanosized detection elements for applications in nanomedicine; B2. Biosensors based on multilayered nanowires for the detection of biomolecules. Central to the activities are twinning partnerships with six specialist research organisations: 1. Sheffield Centre for Advanced Magnetic Materials and Devices within the Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, UK (SCAMMD); 2. Department of Materials for Information Technologies in the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, Spain (ICMM-CSIC); 3. Siemens Corporate Technology, Erlangen, Germany (SIEMENS); 4. Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group in the Institut Català de Nanotecnologia, Barcelona, Spain (ICN); 5. Solid State Physics group within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, UK (UGLA); 6. Materials Science Electron Microscopy Department at the University of Ulm, Germany (UULM). NIRDTP will increase its human potential by hiring seven experienced researchers, one IP manager and one Innovation Manager, as well as organising know-how exchanges and trainings for existing and new staff with twinning partners. NIRDTP will increase its technology potential by purchasing a scanning Auger nanoprobe equipment, upgrading its RF sputtering equipment with laser ablation capabilities, and purchasing a gel electrophoresis system. Finally, to ensure its research quality and innovation capability, NIRDTP will be ex-post evaluated by a team of international, independent experts nominated by the Commission.

Keywords: acoustic microsensors,nanowires,microwires,medical applications,nanoparticles,barcode wires,biosensors,implantable