A study “Development of technology for creating a new composite material with desired medical and biological properties”, in which a researcher at the Centre for Applied Physics of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at JINR, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Ilia Vinogradov under the guidance of Head of the Sector Alexandr Nechaev, was considered the best at the All-Russian Youth Competition between scientific projects #ВЦЕНТРЕНАУКИ (English “in the heart of science”). The final stage was held during the 3rd Young Scientists Congress in the Sirius Park of Science and Art.

Ilia Vinogradov informed about the conducted study, “The scientific project submitted for the Competition is aimed at interdisciplinary research related to the development of technology for creating a new composite material with desired medical and biological properties for regenerative and personalised medicine. The technology combines a track membrane with nanofiber layer of biopolymers (chitosan, collagen, hyaluronic acid) obtained by electrospinning.”

Microphotograph of cross-section of composite material with desired medical and biological properties (black bidirectional arrow – nanofiber layer, white bidirectional arrow – PET TM + Ti)

The new materials have been developed at the FLNR JINR Centre for Applied Physics. As for the medical and biological studies, they have been carried out at the National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (FSBI NMRC RB of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation). The conducted studies have resulted in the development of a new porous composite material that reduces the regeneration time of skin, eliminates wound infection, and inhibits immunoinflammatory cellular reactions.

The uniqueness of the technology lies in the fact that it allows combining two incompatible materials — a nanofiber layer made of biopolymers (obtained by electrospinning) and a track membrane. Thin layers of metal (titanium, silver, etc.) are used as a joining layer, which are sprayed onto the surface of track membranes by magnetron sputtering. This technology made it possible to strengthen the nanofiber biopolymer layer and finely adjust the membrane processes to ensure steam and gas exchange of the wound bed with the environment, creating favorable conditions for the fast skin regeneration.

Based on the results of the competition, Sirius University of Science and Technology has offered the project team mutual cooperation to develop new innovative medical products. The project team included the JINR employee, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Ilya Vinogradov and four specialists from FSBI NMRC RB of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

The All-Russian Youth Competition between scientific projects #ВЦЕНТРЕНАУКИ (English “in the heart of science”) is aimed at attracting talented young specialists to the interdisciplinary solution of scientific and technological priorities of the country.

The Competition was held on 1 – 30 November 2023, to which a total of 37 individual and collective applications were submitted. During their consideration, the research novelty, scientific and practical significance, methods of solving the selected technological case, experience in participating in scientific projects, awards, scientific prizes and publications in the field of the case were evaluated. 11 teams including 28 participants, young researchers or youth interdisciplinary research teams, reached the final stage.

The Competition was organised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia. Its partners were the Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare world-class scientific centre, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Belgorod State National Research University, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Sirius University, Neurotrend Group of Companies, Semiconductor Genetic Technologies LLC, and Syntol LLC.