BrainMap

Mrs. Adriana Vulcu

Dr

Scientific Researcher III - INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Researcher

Web of Science ResearcherID: https://publons.com/researcher/2386884/adriana-e-vulcu/

Curriculum Vitae (07/07/2021)

Expertise & keywords

TiO2 nanotubes/graphene-based nanomaterials to address the emerging contaminants pollution Call name: EEA Grants - Proiecte Colaborative de Cercetare
RO-NO-2019-0616 2020 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO); University of South-Eastern Norway (NO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/graftid/

Abstract:

For the past century, the environment suffers from rapid deterioration due to the explosive development of chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Large quantities of drugs, personal care products, detergents, pesticides, food additives have been released in the aquatic system. The pollutants of emerging concern are not yet monitored and well regulated by authorities while there is an increased awareness of their impact on human health. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2018 states that “An estimated 80% of all industrial and municipal wastewater is released to the environment without any prior treatment, resulting in a growing deterioration of overall water quality with detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems”. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) based on photocatalysis are the most powerful and viable alternative to the conventional wastewater treatment technologies that still have some limitations (e.g., high operation costs, energy consumption, or reduce efficiency due to the chemical stability of pollutants and/or the complexity of their degradation). Thus, the development of solar-driven catalysts with improved photocatalytic activity for the environment-friendly and facile treatment of aquatic systems remains an important target to environment remediation.

Portable integrated system for rapid and selective Sunset Yellow Detection Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-2410 2021 - 2023

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO); SITEX 45 SRL (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/porta-syd

Abstract:

Synthetic colorants – commonly referred to as ‘food additives’- have been usually allowed and intensively used in food industry to replace natural color in thousand of products, thus artificial food dye consumption has increased by 500% in the last 50 years, and children are the biggest consumers. The controversies concerning azo-dyes use date back to the 1920s, when increasing evidence indicated that their consumption pose potential risks to humans, causing severe health adverse effects. In this context, the current project research proposal is motivated by the necessity to tackle few of the current society requirements regarding the need to regulate food quality and to provide safety assurances for consumers by developing portable, cheap and sensitive detection devices with direct applicability in preventing the increased use of highly toxic color additives in food industry and reducing the potential negative side-effects associated with artificial food dye consumption on human’s health. Our main goal is to take a new nanocomposite polymer/graphene-based material out of the lab and transfer it into a real world applications which exploits at maximum the extraordinary and versatile graphene properties, by integration of modified electrodes in novel electronic systems that can revolutionize multiple industries, especially the sensor applications, with direct beneficial impact in health and life sciences. The research team targets to take use of the high sensitivity and selectivity of an already existing modified electrode obtained in our group (from the surface area modification of a glassy-carbon electrode, with a new type of chitosan/graphene nanocomposite material) in order to fabricate a low cost sensing electrochemical platform adapted for the rapid, on-site and real time quantitative analysis of trace levels of SY from commercially available food and beverage products.

Formic acid/carbon dioxide, a couple for renewable catalytic hydrogen storage Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - RUTE -2014 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-1326 2015 - 2017

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: http://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/ru143/Home.htm

Abstract:

The growing need for energy requires development of new energy sources/carriers and more efficient utilization of energy. Hydrogen is the ideal energy carrier due to its natural abundance and non-polluting nature.

The development of hydrogen storage technologies for mobile applications still requires overcoming some technical barriers.

Different hydrogen storage paths have been envisaged: from the classical storage technologies, namely pressurization and cryogenic liquefaction, to the solid phase storage in metal hydrides, or physisorbed on a solid surface (metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks) and the organic liquid hydrogen carrier (LC) under ambient conditions.

Chemical hydrogen storage can became competitive if the storage material fulfils some requierements: high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen content under ambient conditions, energy-efficient reversible charge and discharge, the absence of byproducts, long-term stability, low toxicity, easily available at a large scale and at a low price. The challenge is to find suitable organic carriers.

Formic acid is a promising candidate for reversible hydrogen storage. The aim of this project is to study formic acid decomposition/formation using a new type of catalysts: metallic nanoparticles confined in metal-organic frameworks, to exploit the nanoparticles confinement and the nanoscale properties for reactions of formic acid dehydrogenation and carbon dioxide reduction under mild conditions.

New nanocomposites based on biocompatible polymers and graphene for dental applications Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1282 2014 - 2017

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca (RO); APEL LASER S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: http://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/biograf/

Abstract:

In modern dentistry, both the early prevention of tooth decay and the development of new and efficient restorative materials are generally targeted. Although tremendous efforts have been made in promoting oral hygiene and fluoridation, the prevention of early caries lesions are still challenges for dental research and public health. Recent studies have indicated that nanotechnology might provide novel strategies in dentistry.

Graphene consists in a one-atom-thick planar sheet of sp2–bonded carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Graphene is considered to be the “thinnest and strongest material in the universe” and therefore it has remarkable physical and chemical properties, including superior Young’s modulus (1 TPa) and tensile strength (130 GPa). Recent studies have shown that graphene can be used as nanofiller and can dramatically improve the properties of polymer-based composites at a very low loading (0.1-5 wt.%).The results so far reported in the literature indicated that graphene/polymer composites are promising multifunctional materials with significantly improved tensile strength and elastic modulus, electrical and thermal conductivity. Despite some challenges and the fact that carbon nanotubes/polymer composites are sometimes better in some particular performance, graphene/polymer composites may have wide applications in dentistry due to their outstanding properties and the availability of graphene in a large quantity and at low cost.

Within the BIOGRAF project we plan to develop: ► a new nanocomposite material based on biocompatible polymers and graphene to be used in dental restorations ► new ex vivo tests to identify the host reaction to this material, in relationship with some biologic risk indicators. The final aim of the project is to develop modern and standardized therapies of caries lesions through the development of the novel nanocomposite material based on biocompatible polymers and graphene.

The present research project fits very well into the research domain 7. Materials, processes and innovative products since a new nanocomposite material with graphene will be manufactured which will fulfill the bio-safety criteria and have biocompatible properties with the local cellular environment. By its specific objectives BIOGRAF corresponds to the research thematic 7.1.6. Advanced materials and biomaterials for improving the quality of life (health, sport, education) because: ► a new nanocomposite material with graphene will be developed, for better medical treatments ► complex inter-/multidisciplinary studies will be performed, in order to elaborate and validate new standardized therapies based on advanced materials ►the development of a new perspective in dentistry, based on advanced theoretical and practical knowledge ► a research network will be developed which can ensure human resources for the top scientific research ► articles will be published in highly-ranked journals (ISI) ► research papers will be presented at international conferences ►valuable information will be disseminated among PhD/PostDoc students and researchers in the field of nanocomposite materials ►the equipments that will be purchased will develop the existing R&D infrastructure.

BIOGRAF project is aiming to deliver the following end-product(s)/ expected results:

► a new nanocomposite material with graphene, to be used in dental restoration therapy

► one laboratory technology for the synthesis of the nanocomposite material

►3 ISI papers, in highly ranked journals

►a patent.

Dermatological Products based on Hybrid Biomaterials Obtained from Anthocyanins and Metallic Nanoparticles Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-0914 2012 - 2016

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Project website: http://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/natnanomed/pag%201.html

Abstract:

The main concept of the project proposal is the study of the influence of the application of some new therapies involving the use of new biomaterials based on metallic nanoparticles and natural organic compounds separated from fruits (anthocyanins, aminoacids, poliphenols) at skin level. The macroscopic and microscopic changes induced by metallic nanoparticles (nanomaterials) applied topically on skin can be evaluated by using high frequency ultrasound. By means of the obtained results, a mathematical model of how the nanoparticles help organic molecules to penetrate the skin and to influence the evolution of collagen layer will be developed.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects	Download (62.81 kb) 04/06/2019