The BioExcel Summer School on Biomolecular Simulations is an annual summer school organized by BioExcel, the leading European Centre of Excellence for Computational Biomolecular Research.
Taking place from June 16 to 21, the 2024th edition was held at the Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Italy. The event is primarily intended for PhD and post-doctoral researchers using or planning to use biomolecular modeling and simulation in their research, providing a comprehensive combination of lectures and tutorial sessions on biomolecular modeling and simulations using modern applications and tools.
The summer school included lectures and hands-on sessions on the following topics: Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Biomolecular Docking, Free Energy Calculations, Advanced Sampling Methods, And Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics.
The RELIANCE project was represented by our partners from the University of Patras (UPAT). During this event, two poster sessions were held, where the UPAT team displayed their work regarding the structural dynamics of keratin-derived antimicrobial peptides (KAMPs) in dilute and semi-dilute solutions. Furthermore, the team’s recent work on the study the KAMPs’ interactions with model Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial membranes was also presented, along with the examination of the alternative approaches to the problem, involving the construction of a pre-defined pore for the assessment of the latter’s stability. Moreover, an overview of the peptidoglycan model that has been utilized was also provided during the presentation.
The 1st International Conference “Materials Week 2024” took place on June 17th-21rst 2024 at the “Crowne Plaza Hotel” Limassol, Cyprus. It was an international conference on innovative and sustainable materials, a nexus of nanotechnology, digital Transformation and collaborative approaches. The main goal is to bring together the various small and large Research and Innovation (R&I) communities, driving advances in materials innovation across different value chains and industrial markets. The conference provides a cross-disciplinary meeting venue for communication and collaboration over and beyond traditional community boundaries. The aim of the meeting is to combine insights, theories and methods from different fields to address complex issues. In addition, the meeting emphasizes the fluidity of disciplinary boundaries and encourages the free flow of ideas and methods between different fields.
The recent international conference on innovative materials represented a significant advancement in the field of material science and technology. The event brought together experts, researchers, and industry leaders from all over the world to discuss the latest progress and future trends in sustainable materials, nanotechnology and digital transformation. The conference highlighted the importance of sustainability in material development, emphasizing the importance of environmentally friendly and high-performing materials.
Nanotechnology was a central theme. This cutting-edge field offers the potential to revolutionize material properties, providing unprecedented levels of strength, flexibility and conductivity. Discussions centered around the application of nanomaterials in various sectors, such as healthcare and aerospace, to enhance product performance and durability.
Digital transformation’s role in material science was also explored extensively. The integration of digital technologies in material development processes can enhance efficiency, predictive modeling of performance, and collaboration across disciplines and borders. Collaboration was a recurring theme throughout the conference, with many speakers advocating for a multidisciplinary approach to material innovation. By merging knowledge from different fields, researchers can accelerate the development of new materials and find holistic solutions to complex problems.
The conference concluded with a call to action for continued collaboration and knowledge exchange. The establishment of international partnerships and networks was encouraged to foster innovation and drive progress in creating materials that will shape a sustainable and technologically advanced future.
The insights and discussions from this conference have set the stage for a new era of material science, characterized by innovation, sustainability, and collaboration. Moving forward, the integration of these elements will be crucial for developing materials that meet the demands of our evolving world.
During the Conference, a joint meeting of Innovation and Collaboration took place among five sister projects: RELIANCE, NOVA, STOP, SUSAAN and NANOBLOC – fostering an environment of mutual growth and discovery though the exchanged insights and experiences. The gathering became a platform for discussions on common challenges, exploring synergies and brainstorming for future cooperative endeavors. It provided an opportunity for each participant to bring their unique perspectives to the table, contributing to a collective pool of knowledge that could drive their projects to new heights.
Such gatherings are crucial in today’s fast-paced world, where interdisciplinary approaches and Collaborative efforts can lead to breakthroughs that no single entity could achieve alone. By collaborating, RELIANCE, NOVA, STOP, SUSAAN and NANOBLOC enhance their individual projects and at the same time contribute to the broader goal of advancing their respective fields.
The day was filled with engaging conversations, interactive sessions and workshops allowing participants to delve deeper into specific areas of interest. The exchange of ideas extended beyond present projects to potential future collaborations that could reshape the landscape of antimicrobial nanocoating innovation.
Undoubtedly, the spirit of cooperation during this joint meeting influenced the following conference days, inspiring attendees with the demonstrated power of unity in diversity. The bar was set high, making it exciting to see what new developments unfold as these organizations continue to interact and learn from each another.
The main topics the conference tackled for the rest of the week were as follows:
Market Needs, Challenges & Opportunities for Materials R&I
Digital Innovation – Catalyzing the Green & Digital Transition for Innovative Advanced
Materials and Products
Digital Transformation – Computational Tools & Platforms for Materials R&I
Acceleration
Digital Transformation – Towards a common Materials’ Data Ecosystem
Frameworks & Methodologies for Materials Safety & Sustainability
Sustainability & Circularity driven by Advanced Materials
Materials Innovation & collaborative Approaches for Resilience
Infrastructure & Methods Requirements for Materials Innovation
RELIANCE partners from the Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences (ISBD) of Italy attended the conference and reported on results obtained within the project through the presentation of two scientific posters.
New antimicrobial surfaces based on silica mesoporous nanoparticles functionalized with bioactive compounds
These nanoparticles (SMIN), containing metallic copper (Cu) within their structure, are modified with the addition of active compounds of biological origin. These compounds include essential oils (EO) and antimicrobial peptides (AMP), synergistically enhanced with Cu to improve the overall antibacterial and antiviral efficiency of the materials. The functionalization of EOs into the porous substrate enables controlled release of the bioactive compound, regulated by variations in pH or temperature. Additionally, AMPs and Cu, known for well-documented antimicrobial properties, ensure long-term duration of the action. Upon contact with bacteria, Cu ions are released, interfering with various cellular processes essential for microbial survival, including cellular metabolism and DNA synthesis. This synergic action results in growth inhibition or bacterial death. Regarding the viruses, Cu ion binding and cross-linking between the genome strands lead to the damage of viral genomes. Moreover, Cu toxicity from generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) represents another mechanism for destroying viruses. Therefore, the effective viral inactivation occurs through the combined action of Cu ion attack and ROS generation.
Paper-based electrochemical sensor for the detection of essential oils and SARS-COV-2 virus
These biosensors are capable of selectively detecting target analytes in different fields, including biomedical, environmental, agrifood and defence. The ability to detect analytes of different natures, such as organic molecules or biomolecules, makes these sensors extremely versatile and useful in a variety of contexts, from medical to environmental, to food industry and food safety. Colleagues from UNITOV and ISBD have developed an electrochemical paper-based device for the detection of essential oils (thymol, eugenol and carvacrol), by adding few μL of solution onto the electrode preliminary modified with carbon black, as well as by sampling the target analyte on the surface and in the aerosol phase. To assess the efficacy of surfaces treated with antimicrobial agents, as part of the RELIANCE project objectives, it is crucial to monitor the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. In pursuit of this in an eco-friendly manner, a paper-based origami immunosensor to reveal Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been designed.
The Advancing Antimicrobial Nanocoating Technologies Community Day was held as a key event during the Materials Week 2024 conference in Cyprus, from 17 to 21 June 2024. It was organized by the Horizon Europe projects NOVA, RELIANCE, STOP, SUSAAN and NANOBLOC, as a thriving networking opportunity, tailored to a diverse interdisciplinary audience while aiming to bridge communities, from scientists to industry leaders, in their collective fight against the transmission of disease through surfaces.
More than 30 people joined the event in person at the beachfront Crowne Plaza hotel in Limassol, eager to hear the latest insights from the community working on groundbreaking nanocoating innovations. The attendees were honored to have as opening keynote speaker Prof. Rui Reis, University of Minho in Braga and Guimarães, founding Director of the 3B’s Research Group, part of the Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics of the university. In his engaging talk on “Tissue engineering and antimicrobial strategies stemming from natural sources and biomimetic materials”, he highlighted the significance of advanced research approaches to combating the growing peril of antimicrobial resistance.
The first morning session, moderated by SUSAAN’s Fotis Katsaros, Research Director at the National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, unraveled the complexities of the next generation of antimicrobial nanomaterials and showcased the main innovation materials appealed to in each of the sister projects through an overview of the inorganic and biobased nanocoatings towards industrial and medical applications.
A specialized session designed for materials scientists interested in microbiology, microbial resistance and antimicrobial mechanisms delved deep into the critical challenges posed by microbial resistance. The presentation of Prof. Izabela Radecka, University of Wolverhampton walked participants though the multifaceted interactions between pathogens and antimicrobial surfaces, examined the escalating threat of resistance and addressed the hurdles in testing antimicrobial efficacy. Microbiological knowledge was flawlessly transferred to the field of materials science, fostering interdisciplinary understanding and innovation.
The topic of harmonizing antimicrobial efficacy with environmental integrity and health took the floor in the afternoon. The conversation encompassed the intricate interplay between antimicrobial action and its implications for living organisms and ecosystems, starting with an overview of the Safe and Sustainability by Design concept in the EU and further highlighting life cycle and social impact assessments through the lens of SUSAAN, RELIANCE, NOVA and NANOBLOC projects. Special emphasis was placed on the current regulatory frameworks that govern the deployment of these newly developed innovative materials and the challenges to commercialization stemming from the results heterogeneity from lab to pilot to industrial scale. The discussion derived a central conclusion that most regulations do not yet account for the technology used to produce the novel nanomaterials.
“It is noteworthy that, for instance, nanoparticles with surface treatments designed to enhance antimicrobial activity and/or mitigate toxicological behavior are not adequately addressed by the regulations or relevant guidelines, despite the Biocidal Product Regulation containing a definition and several specific provisions for nanomaterials”
Giovanni Maria Condina, Regulatory Expert, Intertek
The absence of clear guidelines and comprehensive regulatory frameworks for complex antimicrobial nanomaterials could pose significant impediments to the go-to-market pathway of novel biocidal products, leading to potentially lowering the innovative approaches applied in the field.
The Community Day ended with industry experts outlining industrialization requirements, while underscoring the importance of a unified approach to validating antimicrobial performance under specific use conditions. During the coffee breaks, participants enjoyed an abundance of information on the works within each of the projects, presented in a session of 14 impressive posters.
One Mission
The sister projects present and involved in the organization of the Community Day at Materials Week 2024 Conference are committed to a common goal:
● Synergy Creation: to cultivate a collaborative ecosystem among projects, industries and scientific bodies working on antimicrobial coatings
● Networking & Alignment: to strengthen connections and harmonize objectives within the antimicrobial coating community
● Knowledge Sharing: to share lessons learned and promote smarter, more effective future endeavors while establishing a shared space for disseminating research, findings and upcoming events.
● Awareness & Dialogue: to enhance mutual understanding and foster open discussions on community challenges.
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