We are part of cutting-edge research. The AMULET project is dedicated to the materials of the future
The Faculty of Science of J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem has joined the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme’s major project AMULET (Advanced MUltiscaLe materials for key Enabling Technologies) since 1 January 2024. The project focuses on the research of advanced multiscale materials for key enabling technologies, which have a wide range of applications in the field of biomedicine, catalysis or environmental applications.
The contribution of the Faculty of Science of UJEP to the AMULET project is the scientific investigations of advanced materials that have a wide range of applications. For example, scientists here focus on biomaterials for medicine, nanomaterials with unique properties, ultrathin layers or special structures for gas trapping. Their work thus opens the way to innovations in medicine, ecology and industry.
“Our faculty is now focusing more intensively on the development of nanomaterials with antimicrobial effects, such as antibacterial coatings for biomedical devices and medical materials. We are a small, all-female team of six colleagues, we work part-time, yet we have already managed to publish three scientific papers focused on biomaterials and antimicrobial coatings,” says Prof. Zdeňka Kolská from the Faculty of Science of the Jagiellonian University.
The first one is devoted to the stability, biological response and cytotoxicity of gold nanoparticles prepared by sputtering Au into various PEG liquid media. Cytotoxicity was tested on human osteoblasts and fibroblasts, i.e. bone and tissue cells. The results showed that the nanoparticles prepared in this way are non-cytotoxic and therefore these dispersions are safe for potential use in biomedical applications, especially in drug delivery, diagnostics and therapy.
The other two papers have already dealt with different nanolayers and nanostructures on solid substrates, such as glass, polymers, steel, etc. with antimicrobial effects, thus applicable specifically for antimicrobial coatings of e.g. biomedical devices. The first describes the annealing process of thin copper nanolayers sputtered on glass.
“Biological testing of the samples prepared in this way has shown significant bactericidal effects against certain bacteria, and the results show that these layers could serve as antibacterial coatings for biomedical devices,” explains Kolská.
The latter work points to an “easier” and more environmentally friendly method of preparing materials with antimicrobial surfaces based on activating the substrate with UV radiation of the appropriate wavelength and then grafting certain chemicals, such as cysteamine. Surfaces treated in this way not only exhibit antibacterial activity against certain types of bacteria, but also resistance to algal growth, and may thus find application not only in the manufacture or modification of biomedical equipment, but also, for example, in the field of packaging materials, etc.
The main coordinator of the AMULET project is the J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the CAS, v. v. i., while the Faculty of Science of UJEP is one of the eight partner institutions involved. The members of the consortium, together with the University of Ústí nad Labem, are the Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the CAS, v. v. i., the Institute of Physics of the CAS, v. v. i., the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, v. v. i., the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and the Faculty of Science of Charles University, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the CAS, v. v. i., and the University of Chemical Technology in Prague.
The project received financial support from the Jan Amos Komenský OP of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and is co-financed by EU funds.
The AMULET project is a significant step towards the development of new materials with high application potential and UJEP is a proud partner of this scientific initiative.