US patent was granted (US 10,322,001) to protect the process of preparing a multilayer bioactive coating on porous surface of titanium-based bone implants. THe main component of the multilayer coating is nanoparticulate bioactive glass, introduced in the implant surface layer. I a biological environment, bioactive glass dissolves and helps to form bone, thereby improving the osteointegration of a titnuaim-based implant. The patent is based on previous expertise developed by a member of the program group, dr. Nataša Drnovšek, who has developed an innovative process of chemical synthesis of nanoparticular bioactive glass as part of her doctoral dissertation entitled Development of coatings on Ti6Al4 alloy for a new generation of bone implants with improved osseointegration [COBISS.SI-ID 26571559]. The synthesis enables the preparation of small particles of bioactive glass with high purity and bioactivity even in simpler compositions. As part of the program activities, we upgraded the composition of nanoparticular bioactive glass to develop a new multicomponent bioceramic cement for endodontic dental care. The inventors of the process of preparation of the new preparation, Andraž Kocjan, Nataša Drnovšek and Sebastjan Perko, established in 2018 a spin-out company of JSI, Genuine Technologies d.o.o., on the basis of the Technical Improvement of JSI (2017) (COBISS.SI-ID 30665255). In 2018, the company obtained the CE mark (CE1101) for the RS+ product and the production company's compliance with the ISO 13485 standard, which sets requirements for the quality management system of medical devices, thus placing RS+ on the Slovenian and European medical devices market as a result of Slovenian knowledge. Based on the expertise of knowledge about bioactive glasses, we were also successful in 2020 in approval and implementation on bioactive glasses and other calcium-silicate cements has been successfully exploited under the framework of granted ARRS project J3-2519, entitled Post-radiation caries in head and neck cancer patients: Aetiology and prevention, conducted in collaboration with University Medical Centre Ljubljana (lead party). The project aims to understand the mechanism of the formation of deep caries lesions in patients being cancer treated by the radiation.
F.20 Company spin off
COBISS.SI-ID: 25845031In a collaboration with the Department for Materials synthesis JSI simple and scalable method for the preparation of high-surface area ?-Al2O3 nanocomposite with a high loading of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was developed. A two-step process where AlOOH coating is formed by hydrolysis of AlN powder (an expertise of P2-0087) in aqueous suspension of magnetic nanoparticles without any additional compound. Then AlOOH is thermally transformed to ?-Al2O3, yielding magnetic alumina nanocomposite particles. Nanocomposite exhibits high surface area and large pore volume. The particles can be dispersed in various media such as water, alcohols and hydrocarbons from which they are rapidly separated using external magnets and showed relatively large capacity for heavy metal cations uptake, suggesting their potential application in water treatment. In addition, using nanocomposite as framework, Ru nanoparticles-based catalyst was prepared by solvothermal reduction of Ru3+ in the suspension of nanocomposite. Homogeneously deposited Ru nanoparticles demonstrated high activity and selectivity for hydrogenation of furfural to furfurly alcohol. The magnetic iron-oxide particles inside the nanocomposite catalyst enable fast magnetic separation and selective heating of the catalysts using AC-magnetic fields. AC-field assisted conversion using surplus renewable electricity to create chemicals such as fuels, monomers or solvents could become one of the decarburization strategies. It has been pointed out recently that the ability to use AC-field to deliver heat where needed is an enabling technology suited to push many catalytic reactions beyond the reactor heat transfer limits, to the limits of the process kinetics. The patent application-based knowledge yielded several high-impact research papers and involvement in EU2020 Horizon project ORACLE (H2020-LC-SC3-2020; Novel Routes and Catalysts for Synthesis of Ammonia as Alternative Renewable Fuel). Several projects are being applied and negotiations with companies for IP exploitation. The patent application received all clearances and is about to be patneted in Great Britain.
F.10 Improvements to an existing technological process or technology
COBISS.SI-ID: 32193319Know-how transferred to ID Creations company (Finland). The knowledge and procedure for the preparation of TiO2 coatings on titanium alloys as part of Nataša. Drnovšek's doctoral thesis were succesfully transferred (sold) and optimized for the preparation of coatings on dental pins and implants of the ID Creations company`s portfolio. With the acquired know how, the company replaced the application process of titanium dioxide (TiO2) via sol-gel synthesis with hydrothermal synthesis process that is simpler, more environmentally benign and human-friendly, and eliminates the problem of adhesion between the oxide coating and the metal. Significantly improves soft tissue ingrowth, as confirmed by in vitro studies. In addition to the knowledge transferred, the results of the joint development, that was conducted under the framewrok of the P2-0087 program, and the know how sale are also a filed patent application at the Finnish Office and international patents (US, Japanese and European application). o Kangasniemi, I., Perez, J.P., Drnovšek, N., Lorenzetti, M., A coating for improved soft tissue adhesion: FI 08503307, FI, Mar 2017. o Kangasniemi, I., Perez, J.P., Drnovšek, N., Lorenzetti, M., A coating for improved soft tissue adhesion: EP3429650A1, JP2019511346A, US2019151503A1, May 2019
F.07 Improvements to an existing product
COBISS.SI-ID: 46927875As part of an ongoing long-term EUROfusion's European fusion program, we continued our research of the tungsten-carbide composites (W-W2C) and binder-less tungsten carbide (WC) for the DEMO demonstration fusion power plant. The composition and the process of preparation of the W-W2C composite materials were optimized based on the study of the interdependent relationships between the initial and final composition of the material directly affecting its temperature-dependent (room temperature to 1000 ° C) mechanical and thermal properties. The main criterion for selecting the optimal composition was the resistance of the material to thermal shocks during high heat fluxes testing (HHFT). Based on the promising thermo-mechanical properties and HHFT determined in previous 2019 campaign, W-11WC composition was selected for fabrication of monoblock components, which were successfully produced and shaped to the specified dimensions. The samples will be joined to a CuCrZr cooling structure and subjected to HHF tests in an actively cooled mockup divertor system. The encouraging results of the previous programme period and the approval of a new programme funding period by EUROfusion is paving the way of using the results and materials developed in the framework of research activities within P2-0087 (and P2-0405 Fusion Technologies*) to produce monobloc components as part of the final divertor prototype to be used at the DEMO fusion demonstration plant planned to be finalised in 2050. * Prof. Saša Novak Krmpotič was an active member of programme group P2-0087 until the newly established research program Fusion Technologies P2-0405, which she joined. Dr. Petra Jenuš, Ph.D. Aljaž Ivekovič, Ph.D. Anže Abram and Matej Kocen remain involved in research conducted in P2-0087 co-financed by EUROfusion.
F.08 Development and manufacture of a prototype
COBISS.SI-ID: 50148099Assist. Prof. Andraž Kocjan has received prestigious, early career award "Young Scientist Award" given by the European Ceramic Society (ECerS) for outstanding contributions to the ceramic sciences given at the biannual 16th ECerS Conference held in Turin, Italy. At the ceremony dr. Kocjan gave a talk entitled "From unusual to innovative and sustainable processing of ceramics."
E.02 International awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 32436519