Research Projects for Young Independent Teams - 2021 Call

Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-0963, TE13/2022

Project title: Hybrid electrodes for detection and degradation of the cytostatics from water

Project Acronym: DDCyT

Total Funging: 450.000,00 lei

Project duration: 24 months

Project Leader: CS II Dr.ing. Cornelia BANDAS

https://www.brainmap.ro/cornelia-elena-bandas-ratiu

Contact:

Tel: 0256222119

Fax: 0256201382

e-mail: cornelia.bandas@gmail.com

Financing Authority: Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS - UEFISCDI

Host Institution: National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter Timisoara -INCEMC

Project Abstract

Cytostatic drugs, are a group of pharmaceuticals which are employed in cancer treatment and consumed in large quantities all over the world. These compounds are considered the most hazardous contaminants in the water cycle, because of their cytotoxic, mutagenic/teratogenic properties and are supposed to be harmful for human and wildlife even at very low concentration. The classical detection methods used for eliminating cytostatic drugs present in wastewater presents a several disadvantages, but electrochemical methods present distinctive advantages. Development of electrochemical sensors for the analysis of pharmaceutically compounds with respect to their sensitivity, accuracy and simplicity, has been study lately. Chemically modified electrodes have become an important subject of research and have been used vastly for the electrochemical sensing of biologically important compounds due to their significant advantages.

This project aim is the development of hybrid electrodes based on Ti-TiO₂-rGO/Au/Ag and Zn-ZnO-rGO/Au/Ag with dual function, detection and degradation of cytostatics from water. These hybrid electrodes combine the synergistic properties of the proposed structures, characterized by structural, morphological and electrochemical specific properties suitable for electrochemical detection and photoelectrochemical degradation of cytostatic (doxorubicine-DOX).

Project objectives

OI. Development and characterization of hybrid electrodes based on Ti-TiO₂-rGO/Au/Ag (type I) and Zn-ZnO-rGO/Au/Ag (type II)

OII. Testing and demonstrating the functionality of hybrid electrodes for electrochemical detection and photoelectrochemical degradation of DOX.

OIII. Comparative studies on the performances of the hybrid electrodes in the detection processes, as well as the degradation efficiency of the DOX from simulated water.

OIV. Dissemination of the project results. 4 scientific papers ISI; 6 presentations of international conferences; 2 requested patents application

Project Team

Eng. Cornelia BANDAS, PhD – scientific reasearcher II, project leader - will coordinate research activities according to the established work plan, will ensure the proper management of funds; will plan the acquisition procedures stipulated in this proposal for the optimal supply of the required materials within the project time. She has research expertise in the synthesis of micro/nanonostructured materials based on TiO₂, development of synthesis installations for obtaining new materials with multiple applications.

Eng. Corina ORHA, PhD. – scientific researcher III - her research activity is focused on the synthesis of micro- and nano-materials based on functionalized materials and TiO₂; morpho-structural characterization of materials (SEM/EDX, UV-VIS); synthesis of nanomaterials; electrochemical techniques for pollutants removal.

Eng. Aniela POP, PhD. – lecturer - lecturer at the „Politehnica” University of Timisoara, her scientific research activity focused on the directions: water and wastewater treatment by electrochemical methods; electrochemical and electroanalytical techniques; new sensor development based on carbon structures

Phys. Mihaela-Ionela BIRDEANU, PhD. – scientific researcher II - high expertise in morphological analysis (especially surface topography of various organic and inorganic (nano) materials through AFM), multiple synthesis methods and characterization of pseudo-binary oxide (nano) materials.

Phys. Cristian CASUT –PhD student at the „West” University of Timisoara, as scientific researcher at INCEMC, his research expertise is related to synthesis of semiconductor materials, structural characterization of the samples by XRD and UV-VIS methods.

Chem. Eng. Mina-Ionela POPESCU – PhD student at the „Politehnica” University of Timisoara, as scientific researcher at INCEMC, has research expertise in the synthesis of micro/nanostructured materials; photocatalytic techniques process; inorganic chemistry synthesis.

Eng. Mircea NICOLAESCU – PhD student at the „Politehnica” University of Timisoara, as scientific researcher at INCEMC, his research expertise is focused on the development of laboratory installation; materials synthesis and characterization; films deposition by spin-coating and Dr. Blade; development of the supports for electrodes.

REZULTATE 2022:

In cadrul etapei I „Dezvoltarea si caracterizarea morfo-structurala si electrochimica a electrozilor hibrizi pe baza de Ti-TiO₂-rGO/Au/Ag (tipul I) si Zn-ZnO-rGO/Au/Ag (tipul II)” au fost realizate activitati stiintifice de cercetare care au presupus obtinerea si caracterizarea morfologica, structurala, optica si electrochimica a electrozilor hibrizi pe baza de Ti-TiO₂-rGO si Ti-TiO₂-rGO/Au/Ag (tipul I) precum si a electrozilor hibrizi pe baza de Zn-ZnO-rGO si Zn-ZnO-rGO/Au/Ag (tipul II).

In cadrul acestei etape au fost obtinute urmatoarele rezultate:

ü electrozii hibrizi pe baza de Ti-TiO₂-rGO si Ti-TiO₂-rGO/Au/Ag (tipul I) au fost obtinuti prin mai multe metode de depunere: metoda „spin-coating”, „dip-coating” si metoda „in-situ” in conditii hidrotermale in camp de microunde.

ümetoda de obtinere in-situ in conditii hidrotermale in camp de microunde pentru obtinerea electrozilor de Ti-TiO₂-rGO reprezinta o noutate pe plan national si international fiind brevetata in cadrul proiectului (cerere de brevet depusa OSIM A/00482/09.08.2022).

ü electrozilor hibrizi pe baza de Zn-ZnO-rGO si Zn-ZnO-rGO/Au/Ag (tipul II) s-a realizat prin doua metode de depunere: in-situ in conditii hidrotermale in camp de microunde si metoda „dip-coating”.

ü pe baza rezultatelor morfo-structurale a fost selectata ca si metode de depunere, metoda in-situ in conditii hidrotermale in camp de microunde si metoda „dip-coating”, pentru ambele tipuri de electrozi hibrizi dezvoltati