BrainMap

Mr. Adrian PIRNAU

researcher - 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/2807994/adrian-pirnau/

Curriculum Vitae (18/07/2023)

Expertise & keywords

Molecular aggregation pathway, and in silico inhibitors screening of cataract-associated gamma D-crystallin congenital defect Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de cercetare exploratorie - PCE-2021
PN-III-P4-PCE-2021-0316 2022 - 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)

Affiliation:

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

Abstract:

Cataract is a major cause of blindness worldwide, either as a result of age-related degenerative modifications, or genetic mutations, causing abnormal aggregation of eye lens crystallins. While age-related cataracts occur only in adults, inherited congenital cataracts manifest in early childhood. Currently the only effective treatment that can be applied for cataract is surgery, without any possibility of prevention. A complete elucidation of the molecular mechanism of crystallin aggregation is essential for understanding cataract formation. The proposed research aim to investigate the molecular aggregation pathway of the Pro23Thr mutation in human gamma D-crystallin (hγD-P23T), as a representative variant causing congenital cataract. We plan to get new insights into the interaction mechanism inside the eye lens causing hγD-P23T aggregation, and its escape from chaperone surveillance. In addition, potential inhibitors interfering with the phase-separation mechanism, will be tested against hγD-P23T aggregation.
This work will involve methods that allow structural, and interactions details inside eye lens, primarily NMR spectroscopy, ITC, in silico inhibitors screening, aggregation supperssion bioassay in vitro, and molecular docking. Combining this integrated structural biology approach to study cataract, is a promising perspective for the anti-cataract drug development.

Wine fingerprint recognition based on spectroscopic methods and Artificial Intelligence Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-1095 2022 - 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)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/winerec-ai/index.html

Abstract:

One of the most important questions in enology and prevention of wines adulteration are related to the correct assessment of geographical origin, cultivar and vintage. Apart from the continuous improvement of analytical methods, an important aspect is related to the development of reliable data processing tools. Metabolomics represents the comprehensive and nonselective analytical chemistry approach aimed to prove a global description of all the metabolites present in a biological sample at any given time. The main methods of metabolomic analysis rely on spectroscopic detection. Two basic approaches are used in metabolomics: target and nontargeted (profiling and fingerprinting) analysis. Presently, the main analytical techniques that are used for food metabolomics studies are nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as well as mass spectrometry (MS)- based techniques. Beside these, Raman spectroscopy also proved a high potential for the development of new recognition models for food and beverage differentiation and starts to benefit by an increase interest from research and control laboratories in this regard. Nowadays, an emerging step in the development of food and beverages authentication tools is given by the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for the construction of recognition models with respect to predefined criteria (i.e. geographical origin, cultivar, vintage). The project aims the development of an innovative web application for wine authenticity control which will rely on new recognition models for wine discrimination according to geographical origin, cultivar and vintage. The models will be built using artificial intelligence (AI) for the advanced data processing of the 1H-NMR and Raman spectra. Different Machine Learning algorithms (ML) will be used for the models’ development. The approach based on which the best recognition models will be built will be further used for the web application development.

SYNERGICSTIC ACTIVES SYSTEMS FOR REGENERATIVE COSMETICS Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect de transfer la operatorul economic
PN-III-P2-2.1-PTE-2021-0303 2022 - 2024

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: SANIMED INTERNATIONAL IMPEX S.R.L.

Project partners: SANIMED INTERNATIONAL IMPEX S.R.L. (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

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

Project website: https://www.sanimed.ro/proiect-grace_36.html

Abstract:

The GRACE project aims to obtain and characterize a range of integrative products, designed to regenerate the epidermis affected by superficial lesions, solar radiation, radiation therapy, or bedsores, using specifically functionalized hydrogels with complexes of inclusion of active ingredients in host molecules. These supramolecular complexes will represent the innovative component in the formulation of a new range of products with applications in the field of regenerative cosmetics. In concrete terms, the GRACE project aims to obtain a range of 3 products: single-dose hydrogel (for superficial lesions), cream gel (for skin affected by radiation) and cleansing gel (for gentle debris removal and cleaning of superficial lesions). In this sense, the project will stimulate the investment in research - technological development from the beneficiary company, as well as the consolidation of the company's potential actor on the domestic and international market, highly competitive, of dermato-cosmetic products. In the alternative, the project will develop the company's traditional partnerships with scientific research institutions, in order to connect Romanian applied research to the requirements of the national and European socio-economic environment.

Unveiling the mystery behind the strong polydopamine adhesion: an original approach by introducing local isotopic markers Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie, 2020
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-1463 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)

Affiliation:

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

Abstract:

Polydopamine (PDA) was discovered in 2007 as a biomimetic solution for the underwater strong adhesion of mussels. Since then, the interest in using PDA as an intermediate layer for developing functional surfaces has grown exponentially, due to many favorable properties: simple deposition process, strong adhesion to virtually any substrate, biocompatibility, and chemical reactivity. Despite the growing number of PDA applications, the exact mechanism by which it adheres so strongly to virtually any substrate is a fundamental challenge remained unsolved in the field. Conventional analytical techniques, including solid-state NMR applied on natural abundance samples, can give only global information, with no selectivity to the interactions between substrate and PDA molecular sites. In this context, the solution we propose here is to introduce local markers in PDA that can “report” about their interaction with the atoms at the substrate’s surface. The idea is implemented by 2H/13C/15N isotopic labeling of each distinct chemical site in dopamine monomer (selective labeling): the selectively labelled monomers will be used to synthesize multiple PDA@substrate samples, of which investigation by ss-NMR will give information with atomic resolution. The proposed scheme is original, representing the first proposed experimental approach that can address the problem of PDA adhesion at the atomic level in a realistic way, thus going well beyond the current state of the art in the field.

Transylvanian spirits – from story to local fingerprint Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-1699 2020 - 2022

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)

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/transyprint/index_files/index_ro.htm

Abstract:

The project scope is to strength the expertise of our laboratory, through the development of new analytical services, able to assure the fruits distillates authentication, with respect to the geographical and botanical origin, based on acknowledged and emerging techniques for this purpose.
To achieve the main scope of the project, the identification of isotopic and elemental fingerprint of some Transylvanian distillate types (plums, pears, apples, cherry and apricots) will be performed. Thus, this project will allow the development of the first Romanian database which would contain traceability markers for the correct classification of Transylvanian fruits spirits. By the corroboration of this markers, through supervised chemometric methods, the development of chemometric models able to differentiate among geographical origin as well as, the fruit variety which was the precursor of obtained distillates will be generated.
The novelty elements of the project at national and international will consist in: i) The first isotopic and elemental fingerprinting of Transylvanian fruit distillates with the main aim of their further certification in accordance with the EU legislation; ii) Development of new chemometric models for geographical and varietal origin discrimination of distillates; iii) Application of metabolomics (based on vibrational and 1H-NMR spectroscopies) for the classification with respect to geographical origin and variety of Transylvanian fruit spirits; iv) Identification of specific fingerprint of Transylvanian distillates with respect to the fruit variety which was used as raw material.
The achievement of project objectives will contribute to the international and national promotion of the Transylvanian distillates based on scientific argument, using different dissemination tools (i.e. paper publication in high impact ISI journals, results presentations in scientific events as well as to the economic environment).

Underwater geological structures prone to the generation and accumulation of biogases - associated geo-biogeochemical processes Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0178 2018 - 2021

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU GEOLOGIE SI GEOECOLOGIE MARINA - GEOECOMAR

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU GEOLOGIE SI GEOECOLOGIE MARINA - GEOECOMAR (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO); INSTITUTUL NAŢIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE MARINĂ "GRIGORE ANTIPA"-I.N.C.D.M. CONSTANŢA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH (RO)

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

Project website: https://sites.google.com/view/ubiogas

Abstract:

In comparison with the accumulations of thermogenic methane, the accumulations of biogenic ones are formed in more predictable geological settings. At global level it has been assessed that more than 20% of the total methane reserves are biogenic. In the last decade in Romania the interest for the biogenic methane has increased constantly and the most important discovery, with reserves that can cover the entire needs for methane of Romania for 6-8 years, is methane of biogenic origin. This finding of biogenic methane is in the Domino geological structure, offshore Black Sea, in the Romanian economic exclusive zone.
The present research program, uBioGas, by its 3 projects: (10 Plio-Quaternary geological structures favorable to the generation and accumulation of biogenic methane in the Romanian zone at the Black Sea; (2) Determination of bio-geochemical parameters associated to the geological structures evidenced in the project (1), requested for 1D modelling of the methane generation processes and development of analogies regarding the generation and accumulation processes that take place in the Plio-Quaternary pile of sediments.
(3) Paleogeographic evolution of the studied region, in the framework of nowadays and Quaternary environment - climate changes, their influence against the processes of generation and accumulation of methane.
According with the project’s topic and with the structure of the consortium that performs the research program, the project is an interdisciplinary one, with researchers from geosciences (geologists, geophysicists, geochemists), natural sciences (chemistry, physics, biology), from almost all Romanian regions.
The projects valorize the available Romanian research infrastructure, but will also contributes to the further development of it, by adding new equipments and updates to the ones needed to perform the researches, in accordance with the global developments, including the training of researchers in using the new technologies.

A new chemometric approach for white wines authentication, based on unconventional markers Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2016-1025 2017 - 2018

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); UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (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/chemwine/

Abstract:

One of the most important questions in enology and prevention of adulteration in wine are grape varieties, geographical origin of wine and year of vintage assessment. The falsification may be more or less sophisticated and the quality of falsification as well as its cost increases with the improvement of analytical methods, and there is always a competitive technical race between the falsifier and the researcher in the detection of food adulteration.
The general objective of project is to increase the analytical capacity of Mass Spectrometry, Chromatography and Ion Physics Laboratory from National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, in terms of wine authentication capabilities, by the development of new lab-validated models that would be possible to be transferred to economic agents together with the existing accredited methods for which our laboratory is already recognized at European level like Official Laboratory for Wine Control. The novelty degree of the proposed project is given by the corroboration of some unconventional techniques for white wine authentication with new chemometric methods for the processing of analytical data, using various fuzzy algorithms.

Homogenous immunoassay technique based on functionalized nanoparticles. Application to detection of pesticide contaminant 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from alimentary and environmental samples Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-0402 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO); 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://proiecte.nipne.ro/pn2/138-proiecte.html

Abstract:

Immunological methods such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are increasingly becoming important for pesticides residual analysis due to the high specificity of detecting molecules like antibodies. These immunoassay methods are highly specific, sensitive (nanogram or picogram) and accuracy for the detection of low molecular weight contaminants presents in our environment. ELISA is a technique based on the ability of non-labeled antigen (e.g. pesticide) in a specific volume of standard solution or in an unknown sample to compete with a fixed of amount of enzymatic labeled antigen for a limited number of binding sites of a specific binding antibody protein. The objective of the project is to develop a new and innovative immunochemical technique based on functionalized nanoparticles, homogenous enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (HnELISA) technique for detection of pesticide contaminant 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) from alimentary and environmental samples. 2,4D is one of the most used herbicide in agriculture to control and destroy of the weeds that can affect agricultural crops. The remanence of this organochlorurate compound in alimentary products, transfer and contamination of ground water in the areas where this pesticide is used require the analysis of this chemical in order to establish the contamination level of the alimentary products and the environmental factors (water, soil).
The objective of the project is to develop an immunoassay technique with improved qualities in comparison with traditionally ELISA technique existed on the market for detection of pesticide contaminants from alimentary and environmental factors. Qualitative characteristics as sensitivity, accuracy, stability of the nanoimmunosorbent and low cost per assay are finally taken in account. Development of HnELISA technique would have practical application in monitoring of the pesticide contaminant 2,4D from alimentary and environmental samples.

Bioligand - macromolecule intermolecular interactions as probed by spectroscopic and microcalorimetric techniques Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0032 2011 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Tehnologii Izotopice si Moleculare, Cluj-Napoca

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Tehnologii Izotopice si Moleculare, Cluj-Napoca (RO)

Affiliation: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Tehnologii Izotopice si Moleculare, Cluj-Napoca (RO)

Project website: http://itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/idei8/

Abstract:

The study of intermolecular interactions in solutions is of central importance to most chemical and biochemical disciplines. The solution behaviour of bio and macromolecules, their aggregation or intermolecular interactions is relevant for their biological activity. The binding affinity and the molecular recognition capacity can be described by the dissociation constant and the number of binding sites on the macromolecule. Any interaction that interferes with the binding of a bio-molecule to its receptor, such as competitive binding, may affect the pharmacological activity. The purpose of this project consist in the characterization of the molecular binding process between bio-ligands and receptors, using a variety of spectroscopic (nmr, uv/vis and fluorescence) and calorimetric techniques (ITC). Moreover, we intend to investigate the competitive binding process of two ligands to a macromolecular receptor and of two receptors to a bio-ligand. NMR is the major technique used to analyze the interaction between a bio-ligand and a receptor giving useful information about the, stoichiometry, stability, specific and non-specific binding sites. ITC is one of the most powerful and precise technique currently available to characterize the energetics of intermolecular interactions. It allows the binding functions ΔG, ΔH and ΔS to be determined within a single experiment and an accurate determination of the reaction stoichiometry and the dissociation constant.

APPLICATION OF 2H NMR FOR AUTHENTIFICATION OF WINES AND NATURAL JUICES. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN LEGISLATION EEC 2676/90 Call name:
PN-II-RU-PD-2009-1 code 130 2010 - 2012

Role in this project: Project coordinator

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 ()

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

Project website: http://www.itim-cj.ro/PNCDI/ru130/

Abstract:

The requirements for quality food products have been increasing in recent years and the interest in the quality and purity of spirits, wines and fruit juices has grown in this connection as well. In the early 90`s the EU adopted the 2H-NMR method for wine analysis as an official method (EEC 2676/90), in order to tackle the problem of over-chapitalization of wines in Europe. A deuterium natural abundance quantitative NMR method (SNIF-NMR) was developed as an efficient and powerful tool capable of characterizing the chemical origins of organic molecules and distinguishing their biological and geographical origin. The purpose of this project is to implement the SNIF-NMR technique in our Institute in order to determine the authenticity of wine and fruit juices, according to EEC 2676/90.

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