The scientific aim of enVIRO is to develop novel low-cost paper-based microfluidic systems for the detection of waterborne pathogens. Norovirus and E. coli will be the exemplar targets as they are the primary agents of global gastrointestinal infections caused by contaminated drinking and bathing water. Three-dimensional microfluidic paper analytical devices (µPADs) will be implemented with isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology (INAAT) for sensitive quantitation of pathogens in environmental samples. This will only be possible by joining the expertise in molecular biology and nanotechnology at the University of Southampton (UoS) with the pioneering excellence in paper-based microfluidics at the group of the inventor of the field, George Whitesides, at Harvard University (HU). The enVIRO project will be primarily a research-driven training programme with a 24-month outgoing period spent at HU, for development of novel prototype 3D INAAT µPADs for environmental samples, and a 12-month re-integration phase at UoS in ERA, for knowledge dissemination and prototype implementation that addresses increasing global and European needs in tackling water contamination and infection issues.

Here is proposed nano-scale synthesis and combinatorial screening of medium sized peptide-transition metal catalyst libraries with the aim of producing libraries for screening highly selective catalysts for development of nano-medicines. The implementation of catalytic molecules as medicines is a new paradigm in treatment that can overcome a number of the difficulties with present drugs. As with real enzymes the enzyme capacity of these catalysts comes from productive and selective binding of the TS of reaction. The aim is to develop enzyme like molecules: Organozymes, characterized by high turnover as well as both high chemo- and high regio-selectivity. Novel ligands for transition metals containing functional groups will be synthesized and incorporated into encoded solid phase combinatorial libraries on bio-compatible resins. Encoding ensures extremely fast and simple structure/activity assessment. The screening of split-mix combinatorial libraries of organozymes will have the distinct purpose of developing of artificial proteases as drugs. This involves e. g. Fe, Zn and Cu peptide complexes and combinatorial FRET-substrate screening for proteolytic activity to identify artificial organozyme proteases that act as nano-medicine towards marker proteins in Alzheimers disease. Nano-container delivery of catalytic drugs to target tissue will be developed.

AquaCat aims to design greener chemical processes by combining the use of lipase catalysis to that of aqueous biphasic reaction media with a specific view to the synthesis of poly(lactone) nanoparticles and sugar esters for pharmaceutical, cosmetical and chemical applications. A multidisciplinary approach encompassing physical chemistry and polymer science as well as industrial biotechnology, biocatalysis and enzyme technology will be followed to cover the various relevant scales. AquaCat will tailor the lipases microenvironment, design the reaction medium making lipase function as synthetic catalyst of confined organic substrates and identify the relevant parameters for industrial scale up of these processes. AquaCat will thus circumvent major problems in the current manufacturing processes making the use of organometallic catalysts, hazardous organic solvents, high energy consumption and multi-steps for nanoparticle elaboration obsolete. Lipases will be used to catalyze the ring-opening polymerization in nano-emulsions consisting of lactone nanodroplets dispersed in aqueous or aqueous-biphasic systems. The most innovative aspect of AquaCat is to directly synthesize the core-shell poly(lactone) in one step in water. The same principle will be applied to the synthesis of important specialty chemicals like sugar esters based on renewable feedstock. A trademark of this project will thus be the possibility to transfer and merge the expert's fundamental background in colloid/polymer science, industrial biotechnology and biocatalysis from the third country into the EU giving novel insights into the basic reaction mechanisms and the influence of the emulsion properties on enzyme catalysis. Thus, AquaCat will create mutually-beneficial research co-operations and enable the application of results to other valuable substrates and could soon become a feasible strategy for the European industry to design sustainable processes for high value-added products.

« Mass Spectrometry has become a routine analytical tool in modern biological research, and has gained in recent years a foothold in the realm of clinical diagnostic and screening. However, it is still costly, complex and because its principle relies on ionization, it is incapable of analyzing biomolecules with masses greater than a few MDa. Averaging more than 100 million particles per measurement, it is also incapable of characterizing the diversity of such heavy entities. ENLIGHTENED aims at demonstrating a breakthrough concept based on Photonic Nano-Mechanical Mass Spectrometry, able to perform analysis of bioparticles of high biomedical significance, of ultra-high mass, never so far characterized, with single-molecule sensitivity and unprecedented resolution. The long-term vision beyond the current proposal is to provide the biologists with a tool which will be transformative for fundamental knowledge, and to make possible cheap, handheld devices for personalized medicine. ENLIGHTENED proposes to use photons to shed light on unexplored species at the individual level, which is of high biomedical significance and will expand our understanding of simple life forms.'

Materials define progress. Organic-inorganic hybrid materials based on the perovskite crystal structure have recently attracted a great deal of attention in the field of new and emerging photovoltaics, where photo-conversion efficiencies of over 15% have been demonstrated (with independent verification at 14.1%). These recent developments are the first examples of a truly low-cost photovoltaic system based on earth-abundant materials yielding efficiencies that are competitive with traditional photovoltaic technologies. It was recently shown that photovoltaics based on hybrid perovskites can operate in a thin-film architecture. The thin-film architecture enables simplified processing, potentially better control, provided the method of processing is carefully chosen, and a greater availability of analytical tools compared to solution processing. Crucially, it is possible to transfer over 30 years of existing, proven thin-film photovoltaic technology into the new system such as photonic management in light-trapping techniques and a whole host of electronic contact engineering knowledge thus rapidly progressing State of the Art. Understanding thin-film formation and properties is paramount to the development of this technology beyond the State of the Art. The application of advanced thin-film deposition techniques such as pulsed-laser deposition allows the formation of atomically smooth films and crucially it allows control over the material stoichiometry and composition, thereby enabling control over material properties. Furthermore, sophisticated instrumentation to monitor thin-film growth in-situ thus allowing the researcher to carefully probe the processes in thin-film formation exists. Another imminent challenge is to gain control over the material crystallisation and film formation, achieving this will lead to better reproducibility thus help devise realistic industrial scale-up strategies

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and debilitating neurodegenerative movement disorder that is set to rise in incidence with a rapidly ageing global population. As current clinical treatments offer only symptomatic control with no curative options, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches that can delay further neurodegeneration and enhance the overall quality of life in PD patients. Recent emerging evidence on the prion-like spreading neuronal accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein proteins as well as the oxidative stress induced demise of dopaminergic neurons have revealed promising molecular targets for potential disease modifying therapies. Capitalising on the facile synthesis, low cytotoxicities and unique optical properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we propose the development of two types of novel AuNPs bearing leptin-receptor targeting peptides, namely (a) leptin-poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)-poly(ethyleneimine)(PEI)-AuNP and (b) α-synuclein inhibitor-/leptin-PEG-AuNP for the respective delivery of the Nrf-2 antioxidant gene (pNrf-2) and α-synuclein peptide inhibitor across the blood brain barrier (BBB). In this study, detailed physicochemical characterisation as well as the evaluation of the cytotoxic and inflammatory properties of the functionalised AuNPs will be studied in a panel of brain-relevant cell types. The BBB permeability of the functionalised AuNPs and pNrf-2 complexes will be evaluated in a well-characterised in vitro transwell co-culture model; with cellular localisation examined using advanced microscopic techniques. The neuroprotective effects of inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation and upregulation of Nrf-2 antioxidant proteins using the functionalised AuNPs will be examined in a dopaminergic cell line. It is envisioned that upon the successful establishment of their respective neuroprotective effects, both types of functionalised AuNPs could be simultaneously administered for maximal clinical benefits.

Energy Storage Technologies have long been a subject of great interest from both academia and industry and are crucial for achieving the European climate energy objectives as defined in the European Union's (EU) '20-20-20' targets and in the European Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050. The focus of this proposal is on Latent Heat Storage which is currently a key international priority and is based on the use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs). One of the major challenges in the development of compact high performance Latent Heat Storage systems is the low heat conductivity of such PCMs. The main objective of this project is to perform systematic rheological, micro-structural and morphological analysis of the PCM composites with a combination of various nano-carbon additives with up to 5 wt%. Such parameters as the geometrical shape, orientation, alignment, cohesion, dispersion, distribution and interaction (contact) of nano-carbon particles with each other and PCM matrix will have a most significant influence and define the thermo-physical properties of PCM composites. Two types of PCMs will be investigated which includes organic (paraffin) and inorganic (crystallohydrate) materials with operating temperatures in the range between 60 and 100 deg.C. A correlation will be established between the rheology, micro-structure and morphology parameters and thermo-physical properties of the PCM composites. Such correlation will be used in manufacturing advanced cost effective PCM composites with optimised rheology, morphology and microstructure parameters and thermo-physical properties. Additionally thermal cycling tests of the selected new PCM composites will be performed to determine deterioration of thermal properties in time. Outcomes of the project will be used by a number of industrial companies across EU engaged in production of PCMs and Latent Heat Storage systems for various industrial and domestic applications.

Spectroscopy is one of the fundamental tool in condensed matter physics, materials science and nanoscience. Resonant spectroscopies, like Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS) and angle resolved Resonant PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (RPES), offer invaluable information on the system under investigation, being able to probe different types of excitations, from electron-hole pairs (excitons), to spin-flip, to collective excitations, to orbital and magnetic excitations. This proposal aims at improving the present theoretical description of these two powerful spectroscopies, in order to gain a better understanding of moderately correlated systems and, on the long term, to offer a future tool to describe resonant spectra of strongly correlated systems. The proposal relies on the combination of efforts between the candidate (whose experience is mainly in X-ray spectroscopy) and the community working in low energy excitations mainly via many body perturbation theory. Such joint effort is necessary given the difficult task of being able to describe both deep core level excitations and low energy excitations, with finite momentum transfer, which can both give signatures of the many body physics in the system. The project is mainly devoted to the improvement in the description of RIXS, in particular in the extension of the first (ab-initio) attempts done recently by collaborators of the host group to the complicated case of indirect RIXS. On the side, the candidate aims at making her previous work on RPES available to the vast community working in photoemission, creating an interface with a well established and well structured tool widely used for interpreting X-ray results. The impact of the outcomes of such proposal are huge: it will connect theoretical communities working in different energy ranges, and it will represent an invaluable tool for interpreting the huge amount of experimental output on resonant spectrscopies from European synchrotron radiation facilities.

Through the realization of MagBioVin project, the Institute of Nuclear Sciences 'Vinca', University of Belgrade (Serbia) receives important community support to upgrade its capacities related to the highly specialized research on activated magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and radionuclide labeled magnetic nanoparticles for application in biosciences, pharmacy and medicine. This is planned to be realized by a set of comprehensive actions, such as engagement of eminent expert in the field (ERA Chair holder), bringing experimental facilities up to the most advanced EU-competitive level, cutting-edge trainings in reputable EU research institutions and intensive dissemination towards ERA, Universities and stakeholders. The Project foresees the key role of ERA Chair holder in improvement of organizational structure, research excellence and especially in communication with stakeholders. Organization of seven dedicated international workshops led by EU experts in the field, six extensive training programs for MagBioVin team members and the accent on intensified international collaboration, are few of the activities anticipated through Project implementation. These are designed to set solid foundations for a final goal: to rise both human and experimental capacities of the 'Vinca' Institute to the level that ensures considerable scientific and technological impact within ERA and its ability to compete with leading EU research institutions on an equal basis.

The World Health Organization and the American Cancer Society states that colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in Europe and in USA. Surgery is the primary form of treatment. Nevertheless, recurrence following surgery is a major problem and is often the ultimate cause of death. Previous therapies have not provided sufficient specificity and structural guidance to promote tumour inhibition after remission, as well as the full regeneration of injury tissue after surgery. Accordingly, our specific aim is to target colorectal tumours cells with hydrogels-drug-siRNA nanorods conjugates after surgery removal of the tumour in in vivo mice models of colorectal cancer. Drug conjugates (i.e. Bevacizumab, Cetuximab, Panitumumab) will be designed to specifically target cancer related growth factor receptors. These drugs will be associated with siRNA molecules against key genes in colorectal cancer progression (EpHB2, EGFR, Wnt) that will be specifically and local delivered in tumour cells. The ultimate goal of the project is to create a sort of patch made of the bioresorbable biomaterial like hydrogels impregnated with drug-siRNA conjugates for locally release in colorectal tumoral cells. At the same time, the hydrogel-nanoparticles functionalized with adhesion proteins like collagen, fibronectin and RGD will be designed as a scaffold with a polymeric core and an adhesive shell for enhanced attachment, proliferation, and phenotypic maintenance of intestinal endothelial and stem cells, as well as for the release of growth factors like insulin and EGF. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a multi-parallel solution to in vivo gene/drug delivery combined to soft tissue engineering applications to promote endothelial and stem cell adhesion, proliferation and migration is proposed. This proposal achieves the aims of the European Research Area and is highly relevant to the Marie Curie Programme and to long-term carreer development.