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Surface modification of TiO2/TiN Bilayers via Nitrogen Diffusion and Gold Functionalization for Advanced Photocatalysis
No full textIn this study, we investigate the design of TiO2/TiN bilayer thin films for photocatalysis by combining nitrogen diffusion and surface gold functionalization. The bilayers, deposited via reactive sputtering, were subjected to post-deposition annealing at 600 °C in air to promote nitrogen diffusion from the TiN sublayer into the oxygen-deficient TiO2 top layer. This thermally induced diffusion facilitated the incorporation of nitrogen into both substitutional and interstitial sites, as confirmed by XPS analysis. The nitrogen incorporation resulted in the formation of mid-gap energy states, reducing the effective bandgap from 3.2 to 2.6 eV and enhancing visible light absorption. Photocatalytic activity, assessed through methylene blue degradation under simulated sunlight, showed up to 30% improvement for optimized nitrogen concentrations (1–3 at%). The best performance was observed in samples with a balanced ratio of interstitial and substitutional nitrogen species, demonstrating the importance of controlled nitrogen distribution. Furthermore, additional enhancement was achieved by functionalizing the surface with a 3 nm gold buffer layer, which improved charge separation and further suppressed electron-hole recombination through plasmonic effects. These results highlight the synergistic effects of interfacial engineering and noble metal functionalization in tailoring the surface and electronic properties of TiO2-based thin films. The TiO2/TiN/Au composite system offers a promising route toward scalable and efficient photocatalytic materials for environmental remediation applications, particularly in solar-driven degradation of organic pollutants.5th International Meeting on Materials Science for Energy Related Applications, September 25-26, 2025, Belgrade
Engineering a biocompatible microscale surface topography for promoting the hard tissue implant’s mechanical properties and cell response
No full textThis study evaluated methods to improve the long-term durability and performance of the metallic hard-tissue implant materials under physiological conditions, using the β-type Ti-45Nb (mass%) alloy as an example. The focus was on enhancing surface characteristics, mechanical behavior, and biocompatibility of the bio-metallic alloy through a combination of severe plastic deformation and surface modification techniques. High-pressure torsion (HPT), as a severe plastic deformation procedure, was used to refine the alloy’s microstructure, and attained results showed that a significant reduction of the grain size was achieved without inducing phase transformations. Subsequent laser surface treatment was employed to modify the surface chemistry and topography of the investigated alloy, and surface analysis that followed revealed increased roughness and the formation of a passive oxide layer. These microstructural and surface changes led to improved mechanical properties and enhanced bioactivity of the Ti-45Nb alloy in simulated physiological environments. Overall, the combined use of plastic deformation and laser treatment significantly enhanced the performance of Ti-45Nb alloy for biomedical applications
Primena ugljeničnih kriogelova dopiranih azotom i sumporom za uklanjanje teških metala i farmaceutika u procesu prečišćavanja voda
No full textU ovom radu ispitana je primena sintetisanih N-dopiranih i N, S kodopiranih ugljeničnih kriogelova kao adsorbenata u procesu uklanjanja odabranih teških metala (Zn, Cd, Hg) i farmaceutika (karbamazepin, naproksen, diazepam i diklofenak) iz voda. Rezultati strukturne i površinske analize su pokazali da je: ugradnjom azota/azota-sumpora sačuvana turbostratična struktura ugljeničnog kriogela, došlo do značajnog povećanja specifične površine i promene u površinskoj hemiji za dopirane/kodopirane uzorke. U cilju ispitivanja adsorpcionih performansi i optimizacije procesa urađena je serija adsorpcionih eksperimenata. Rezultati su pokazali da najbolje adsorpcione performanse pokazuju dopirani/kodopirani uzorci sa najvećom vrednosti specifične površine i veličinom pora. Njihovi adsorpcioni kapaciteti, dobijeni primenom Lengmirove izoterme, su veći za uklanjanje i teških metala i farmaceutika u odnosu na nemodifikovani uzorak kriogela. Dobijeni rezultati potvrdili su pozitivan uticaj ugradnje heteroatoma na površinske i strukturne karakteristike kao i na adsorptivne performanse materijala.12. memorijalni naučni skup iz zaštite životne sredine "Docent dr Milena Dalmacija" : 01. - 03. 04. 2025, Novi Sad
Poster: A dual-function green approach based on membrane technology for the extraction and encapsulation of the bioactive compound parthenolide
No full textPoster presented at: 23rd International Symposium on Microencapsulation, 10-12 September 2025, Ferrara, Italy.Abstract
Rapid Monitoring of the Stress Responses and Toxicity in Green Microalgae Cultures Using Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) Fluorometry
No full textGreen microalgae are widely used as model organisms in ecotoxicology due to their sensitivity to environmental stressors and their critical role in aquatic ecosystems as primary producers at the bottom of the food web. Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) chlorophyll fluorometry is a non-destructive, rapid and informative method for assessing photosynthetic efficiency and culture health, particularly through parameters such as the maximum photochemical activity of PSII (Fv/Fm) and effective PSII activity (ΦPSII). Despite the growing number of studies utilizing PAM as an indicator rather than as a direct tool to evaluate microalgal stress responses, there remains a lack of standardized, accessible data for these key photosynthetic indicators. In this review, we analyze 38 sources, including 35 original research articles and 3 foundational references, to compile and compare reported values of Fv/Fm and ΦPSII across various green microalgae species exposed to a wide range of chemical and environmental stressors. We highlight species-specific differences in sensitivity, identify underrepresented contaminants such as ionic liquids and artificial sweeteners, and emphasize the need for systematic numerical reporting in future research. PAM is an excellent and reliable technique for rapidly assessing culture health of green microalgae and their photosynthetic performance in various culture conditions and the vast array of chemical and physical stressors
Antibacterial Potential and Cytotoxicity Assessment of Zinc-Based Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvents: Towards Innovative Applications in Dental Medicine
No full textZn-based ternary deep eutectic solvents (TDESs) have attracted significant attention due to their good biodegradability, stability, and sustainability. In this work, TDESs composed of choline chloride:urea (ChCl:U) and zinc salts, ZnCl2, Zn(CH3COO)2, and ZnSO4 were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI MS). Their antibacterial activity against cariogenic Streptococcus species isolates was determined by microdilution assay, while their cytotoxic potential and effect on the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction were analyzed on the MRC-5 fibroblast cell line by XTT, trypan blue, and DCF assays, respectively. FTIR confirmed that hydrogen bonds prevail in the molecular structure of ChCl:U:Zn salts, while LDI MS revealed the interactions between zinc salts and ChCl:U. The antibacterial TDES potential was high, especially against Streptococcus sanguinis, with ChCl:U:ZnCl2 displaying the most promising effects (MICs 1.13–18.12 µg/mL). Cytotoxicity assessment showed that concentrations up to 100 µg/mL of all TDESs did not display significant cytotoxicity, while higher concentrations significantly reduced cell viability by increasing ROS production and cell membrane damage, outlining the safety window of up to 100 µg/mL. Strong antibacterial activity of low TDESs concentrations combined with their good biocompatibility highlights their potential as innovative candidates for biomedical application
New Approach for Targeting Small-Molecule Candidates for Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
No full textIntrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), such as the Alzheimer’s-associated tau protein, pose challenges for conventional drug discovery. This study applied the Informational Spectrum Method for Small Molecules (ISM-SM), a computational technique utilizing electron–ion interaction potentials (EIIPs), to identify potential tau modulators. Characteristic interaction frequencies derived from known ligands and conserved mammalian tau sequences were used to screen DrugBank and the COCONUT natural product database. The screening identified approved drugs previously reported to indirectly influence tau pathology or Alzheimer’s disease pathways, alongside natural products including Bryostatin-14, which is known to modulate kinases involved in tau phosphorylation. These findings suggest that ISM-SM can serve as an in silico tool to identify candidate small molecules, including repurposed drugs and natural products, with potential relevance to tau function and pathology, complementing other IDP drug discovery strategies
Cytotoxicity profile of choline chloride-malonic acid DES on normal human fibroblast cells
No full textDeep eutectic solvents (DES) are gaining increasing attention as biocompatible alternatives to conventional organic solvents. In recent years, their possible application as drug delivery systems has been extensively explored, especially for enhanced drug solubility and bioavailability. Previous studies indicated that DES composed of choline chloride (ChCl), as a hydrogen bond acceptor, and organic acids, as hydrogen bond donors, such as malonic acid, could possess beneficial biological effects, but also cytotoxic activity; however, research regarding their effects on normal cells remains limited. In this work, we aimed to analyze the cytotoxic profile of DES composed of choline chloride and malonic acid (ChCl:Mal), on the human fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). ChCl:Mal was formulated in 1:1 molar ratio, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was performed for DES characterization. The analysis of FTIR spectra confirmed the successful synthesis of DES. Cytotoxicity of the obtained DES was evaluated using XTT viability assay, in a concentration range of 0.1–4 mg/mL. The results showed that lower concentrations (0.1–0.8 mg/mL) exert a stimulatory effect on cell proliferation, seen as increased cell viability compared to the untreated control, indicating their good compatibility with cellular systems. On the contrary, higher concentrations of 1–2 mg/mL induced minor cell viability reduction, while a significant cytotoxic effect was detected at the concentration of 4 mg/mL, outlining cytotoxicity of higher concentrations. The results of the present study indicate that ChCl:Mal has promising potential as a novel green solvent system for biomedical applications, with favorable biocompatibility at concentrations up to 2 mg/mL.5th International Student Conference – DISC2025, 11-12th December 2025, Novi Sad
Metrology Requirements for the Integrated Luminosity Measurement Using Small-Angle Bhabha Scattering at ILC
No full textPrecision measurement of the integrated luminosity at future Higgs factories, including the International Linear Collider (ILC), is of crucial importance for the cross-section measurements, and in particular for the line-shape measurements at the Z-pole. Since there is no up-to-date estimate of the integrated luminosity uncertainties arising from metrology effects at ILC, here we review the metrology requirements for the targeted precision of at foreseen ILC center-of-mass energies: 91.2 GeV, 250 GeV, 500 GeV and 1 TeV, using small-angle Bhabha scattering. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Physical Society of Japan
Polyaniline prepared by Fe3O4 catalysed eco-friendly synthesis as electrocatalyst for efficient water electrolysis
No full textPreparing cost-effective and highly active catalysts for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is crucial for developing hydrogen-based technologies. Hence, four conductive polyanilines, prepared by the environmentally-friendly approach using Fe3O4 nanoparticles/H2O2 as the catalyst/main oxidant system (PANI/Fe3O4), were investigated for the first time as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media (0.1 M H2SO4) by using voltammetry and chronoamperometry. PANI/Fe3O4 electrodes exhibited Tafel slope values in the-171 to-246 mV dec-1 range depending on the synthesis conditions ‒ Fe3O4/aniline mass ratio and polymerization time. The sample PANI/Fe3O4-II(3) prepared with shorter reaction time and higher Fe3O4/aniline mass ratio showed the best electrocatalytic behaviour reflected in the lowest onset potential (-0.286 V), the lowest overpotential to reach a current density of-10 mA cm-2, the highest current density, the lowest HER activation energy (10 kJ mol-1), and the lowest charge-transfer resistance (5.3 Ω) under HER conditions. Materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and differences in their electrocatalytic HER performance were explained by differences in their content of Fe3O4, surface and electrical properties. Moreover, the possibility of using PANI/Fe3O4-II(3) as HER electrocatalyst in a wider range of pH (i.e. in alkaline media as well) and as a bifunctional electrocatalyst, i.e. for oxygen evolution reaction beside HER, was also examined. ©2024 by the authors