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Romania
Citizenship:
Romania
Ph.D. degree award:
2013
Mrs.
Lia-Mara
Ditu
Associate professor
-
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI
Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer
10
years
Personal public profile link.
Curriculum Vitae (17/01/2019)
Expertise & keywords
Microbiology, Immunology, Micology
Medical microbiology, Health care,
Projects
Publications & Patents
Entrepreneurship
Reviewer section
Microbial communities associated with romanian rare plants from a natural habitat
Call name:
13054/2017
2017
-
2018
Role in this project:
Project coordinator
Coordinating institution:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI
Project partners:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Affiliation:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Project website:
http://icub.unibuc.ro/index.php/application/young-researchers-grant-ub/2-uncategorised/75-young-researchers-grant-ub-awarded-in-2017
Abstract:
Plants do not grow axenically in nature, but host a diverse community of microorganisms, termed as plant microbiota, colonizing different niches, both inside and outside their tissues, in the endosphere and ectosphere, respectively. The phylogenetic composition of these communities is composed by relatively few bacterial phyla, including Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria [1]. These microorganisms are involved in major physiological processes, such as plant nutrition and plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors [2].
Our focus is oriented to several rare plant species from natural habitats of Romania which were naturalized and cultivated in the Botanical Garden of University of Bucharest: Adonis vernalis, Opopanax chironium, Paeonia tenuifolia, Potentilla emilii-popii, Asphodeline lutea. The selected plant species are listed with different degrees of danger in the "Red Book vascular plants in Romania" [3] [Dihoru & Negrean 2009], Red Lists IUCN, Bern Convention Habitats Directive, CITES. For Asphodeline lutea (L.) Rchb., the northern boundary of its spreading area in Europe is Northern Dobrogea. Plant growth–promoting microorganisms are mainly soil- and rhizosphere-derived organisms that are able to colonize significantly the plant roots and exhibit a positive effect on the plant growth under certain environmental and soil conditions [6]. A wide range of microorganisms found in the rhizhosphere are able to produce substances that regulate plant growth and development. Bacterial and fungal production of phytohormones such as auxins and cytokinins can affect cell proliferation in the shoot leading to tumoral growth as in the case of Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Ustilago maydis infection, or modify root system architecture by overproduction of lateral roots and root hairs with a subsequent increase of nutrient and water uptake [7]. The purpose of the research is to investigate the normal microbiota of rare plant species (listed with different degrees of danger in the "Red Book vascular plants in Romania", Red Lists, IUCN, Bern Convention Habitats Directive, CITES), found in natural habitats, in order to define some microbiological associate with soil composition that could be further used as parameters for measuring the plant growth.
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Bioceramic composites with local applications in antibacterial therapy
Call name:
Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0005
2014
-
2017
Role in this project:
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO); SPITALUL CLINIC DE URGENTA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); BIOSINTEX SRL (RO)
Affiliation:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Project website:
http://www.infim.ro/ro/projects/compozite-bioceramice-cu-aplicatii-locale-terapia-antibacteriana
Abstract:
In recent years, much attention has been paid to the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials because of their interesting properties, which mainly come from the high surface/volume ratio. Hydroxyapatite incorporated with antimicrobial agents is able to prevent or cure infections by releasing directly the antimicrobial agents to local regions. HAp incorporated with Ag/Ag+, Cu2+/Zn2+, ampicillin and doxycycline have been studied to evaluate their antibacterial effect. Among those, Ag incorporation has gained more attention due to its broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. On the other hand in the latest years, the development and the use of antimicrobian agents in treating acute or chronic cutaneous lesions reached a development from the stage of clinical research to the appearance of some commercial products series.
Our project is based on a multidisciplinary approach involving physics, chemistry, microbiology, human toxicology and medicine. The project objectives are to highlight the major contributions that could be made by nanoengineered particles of hydroxyapatites for biomedical applications such inhibition and prevention of bacterial infections. The project will test methods to synthesis silver doped hydroxyapatite and collagen/silver doped hydroxyapatite able to inhibit the bacterial activity of different species of bacteria in the laboratory that will be implemented in real infected sites.
The decisive aim of this project is to develop specific nanoparticles/composites to prevent and remediate bacterial infections, without using antibiotics. For this reason, the new biomaterial based on nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite doped with silver and collagen/silver doped hydroxyapatites composites,will have antimicrobial properties due to their characteristics, but there is no risk to develop bacterial resistance.
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Innovative nanostructured materials and coatings with antimicrobial activity for medical applications
Call name:
Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1292
2014
-
2017
Role in this project:
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU INGINERIE ELECTRICA ICPE - CA BUCURESTI
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU INGINERIE ELECTRICA ICPE - CA BUCURESTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); MGM STAR CONSTRUCT S.R.L. (RO)
Affiliation:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Project website:
http://www.icpe-ca.ro/proiecte/proiecte-nationale/pn-2014/inmatco.pdf
Abstract:
The project aims to develop novel products and knowledge in antimicrobial nanostructured coatings for medical applications like critical surgical instruments (scalpels, knives, forceps and scissors) to reduce superficial and deep surgical site infections and to improve quality of life. Nanostructured materials of MeNPs/MeONPs type (MeNPs = Ag, Cu, MeONPs = CaO, MgO, ZnO, TiO2) with average MeNPs size of 10-20 nm and average MeONPs size of 30-50 nm) and high antimicrobial activity will be obtained by an innovative chemical synthesis of colloidal suspensions containing ecological NPs with 0.1-0.5 wt.% MeNPs and 1-3 wt.% MeONPs. Chemical deposition of MeNPs on MeONPs supports will be realized by a self-assembled nanolayers coating process, being a new and efficient approach in control of NPs size and stability. A higher content of MeNPs will be obtained in comparison with the existent solutions. The MeNPs and MeONPs mixtures will show synergistic effects of antimicrobial properties compared with those of MeNPs and MeONPs used alone. Ecological and efficient processing methods will be used to obtain and deposit the bioactive agents designed to inhibit the adhesion of microorganisms on stainless steel supports that show lack of antibacterial properties. The MeNPs/MeONPs composite powders will be deposited by different methods such as Thermal Evaporation, EBPVD (e-gun), Sputtering Deposition (Magnetron) and Arc-PVD (Plasmotron) on the metallic substrates with ensuring a good adhesion without changing the substrates original properties. Nanostructured coatings with homogenous and dense surface without any faults (pinholes and cracks) will be achieved at low temperatures to not affect the materials properties. Optimized coatings will be developed by a graded structure and adjusting stress level. Other original and innovative aspect is related by sputtering targets development from selected nanostructured materials by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process, where nanostructure features are maintained since grain growth and the development of equilibrium states are suppressed. The project addresses to the priority thematic of the PARTNERSHIPS PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4 program, Domain 7. “Materials, processes and innovative products“, Research field 7.1 Advanced materials, Thematic Area 7.1.6. “Advanced materials and biomaterials for health quality increasing“ with a direct impact in Domain 4. “Health” and European Research Area (ERA)-Nanomaterials. The project has inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary nature being carried out by high skilled specialists with complementary expertise. Certified prototypes and end-products of critical stainless steel surgical instruments coated with antimicrobial MeNPs/MeONPs nanostructured materials with uniform and homogeneous mono/multilayer with thickness ranging 0.1-50 µm will be obtained. The coatings will have high resistance to mechanical wear, high resistance to heat stresses, high hardness, low friction coefficient and good adhesion to substrate. The novel products will be introduced on the market only after their certification granted by the Health Ministry from Romania. The coated products will be at a competitive cost with uncoated ones, contributing to the requests of the global and national socio-economic environment in the field of advanced materials and health with a major impact in reducing surgical site infections. Knowledge protection will be made by two patent applications registered to the national State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM). Results dissemination will be made on a large scale by publishing scientific papers in ISI ranked journals, attendance at national and international events, setting up and updating project web site, elaboration of dissemination materials.
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Innovative antibacterial and self-cleaning photocatalytic textiles
Call name:
Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0419
2014
-
2017
Role in this project:
Coordinating institution:
INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEXTILE SI PIELARIE - INCDTP BUCURESTI
Project partners:
INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEXTILE SI PIELARIE - INCDTP BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); STOFE BUHUSI S.A. (RO); C & A COMPANY IMPEX SRL (RO)
Affiliation:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Project website:
http://cleantexproject.ro/
Abstract:
The negative impact of pollution on human health and environment pushed the R&D efforts to develop clean technologies and products according to the green chemistry principles, making regulation, control, clean-up and remediation unnecessary.
The project’ target is the development of new multifunctional textiles providing simultaneously photocatalytic, auto-sterilizing, self-cleaning and enhanced antimicrobial properties based on innovative graphene oxide/TiO2 nanocomposites able to decompose pollutants in safe, non-toxic compounds, using only solar light.
The present project aims at developing the 4th generation of green photocatalysts by:
• synthesis of graphene oxide/doped titanium oxide (GOT) with efficient absorption under UV and visible light
• formulation of GOT composites as highly adherent solution;
• development of photocatalytic textiles by deposition of photocatalytic compounds in one-step technology;
• evaluation of photocatalytic/self-cleaning/antimicrobial performances of synthesized photocatalysts and textiles against usual pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms,
• biocompatibility/cytotoxicity testing of cells cultures toward photocatalytic compounds.
The original contribution of the project consists in:
• optimal assembly and interfacial coupling of the TiO2 nanoparticles over the graphene oxide sheets;
• innovative adhesive graphene oxide/TiO2 (GOT) formulations, ensuring a high and stable dispersion and a strong adherence of the composites to the textile substrate, while preserving the genuine physical and mechanical properties of textile;
• homogeneously and firmly adherent photocatalytic coatings by one step deposition of GOT at room temperature, reducing the raw materials, utilities and manpower consumption;
• new investigations on graphene/TiO2 cytotoxicity and biocompatibiliy.
The indicators proposed to be achieved:
- eco-friendly products: minimum 2 types of composites nanopowders; min. 2 types of textile materials with high photocatalytic and antibacterial efficacy; self-cleaning and antibacterial work wear and protective equipment; clean technologies: one step synthesis of powder composites; one step deposition and fixation of synthesized compounds on textiles;
- innovations: 1 patent describing the innovative GOT synthesis and one-step deposition of nanocomposites; minimum 2 ISI rated scientific papers, minimum 2 presentations at national and international conferences.
The innovative approach for the production of high quality photocatalytic textiles is based on an efficient, environmentally clean and easily implementable at industrial-scale process, one step deposition and fixation of environmentally friendly nano composites. This finishing technology combined with a proper adhesive photocatalysts formulation will eliminate the post-treatment steps, and consequently high consumption of chemicals, water and energy and will allow the achievement of highly adherent, durable, uniform coating thin layers preserving the genuine physical properties and colour of the textiles. The easy application on conventionally existing production lines, ensure a wide spread of the finishing technology. The approval of the present project will contribute to concentration of human and material resources with the aim to achieve the above mentioned research tasks and the implementation of results in Romania, with special amelioration of the economic situation of SMEs active in textiles and chemical industry and significant improvements of human health and environment quality.
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Inovative, multidisciplinary research to investigate the probiotic effects of new lactic acid bacteria strains and consortia
Call name:
Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-0969
2012
-
2016
Role in this project:
Coordinating institution:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI
Project partners:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL DE BIOLOGIE (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRONOMICE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA (RO)
Affiliation:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Project website:
http://genetmicroproiecte.blogspot.ro/search/label/PROLAB%2077
Abstract:
The emergence of bacterial resistance and multiresistance to antibiotics represent a major public health problem in Romania and also in the entire world. In Romania, there is an increasing trend of the incidence of infections with bacterial strains highly resistant to antibiotics, whose prognosis is often worsened by the producing of bacterial biofilms on the tissues and biomaterials used in medicine. In our country, the problem of development of some alternative strategies for the prevention and treatment of the infections with multiresistant and biofilm forming bacteria is less studied, despite their great application potential in biomedicine and their utility in the recovery of the balanced or eubiosis state of the normal microbiota, after the negative impact of the antibiotics on bacterial communities. One of the most viable alternatives is represented by probiotics products which by administration in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on human organism. For the best use of the probiotic microorganisms, the mechanisms by which they work should be better understood. The selection of an appropriate probiotic strain for its inclusion in a probiotic preparation should be made on the basis of its capacity to induce an improved host response without modification of the intestinal homeostasis.
The main goal of this project imply complex studies of probiotic strains (lactic acid bacteria newly isolated) and multispecific consortium in order to improve the experimental protocol for the optimal selection of human use probiotics, based on their anti-infective and immunomodulatory activities.
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Novel nanostructured prosthetic tubular devices with antibacterial and antibiofilm properties induced by physico-chemical and morphological changes
Call name:
Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-0284
2012
-
2016
Role in this project:
Key expert
Coordinating institution:
UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI
Project partners:
UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO); I.C.P.E. BISTRITA S.A. (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Affiliation:
UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)
Project website:
http://www.antibiotube.ficai.eu
Abstract:
The project is intended to overcome the bacterial colonization of the prosthetic tubular devices, this being one of the most common reason of the tubular devices failures. The main objectives of the project include the surface modifications of the existing prosthetic tubular devices but, also bulk modifications will be tested, especially from the point of view of drug release properties. As surface modifications techniques, chemically modifications will be tested because it allows strong interactions between substrate and coating. Based on the existing expertise of P1-INCERPLAST, the only Romanian prosthetic tubular devices manufacturer, the PVC based devices will be used as substrate. The surface modifications will involve the partial substitution of Cl with HO followed by different chemical reaction: 1) alkylation/acylation when hydrophobic groups are intended to be attached on the surface of the tubular devices (in this way, the adhesion of bacteria is not favored); 2) thin polyurethane or silicon layer deposition starting from synthesized prepolymers, the withdrawal reaction being between prepolymer and hydroxyl groups of partially substituted PVC support; 3)coating of the tubular devices surfaces with antimicrobial nanoparticles, the stability of the coating being improved by proper functionalization of the substrate (if nanoAg are intended to be deposited on the PVC tubular devices, chloride will be partially substituted with SH; 4) the tubular prosthetic devices will be impregnated with antimicrobial/antibiofilm/anti-fouling agents, chemical bonding being prefered; and 5) new tubular devices will be obtained, the wall acting as a support for drug delivery. All these devices will be carefully selected and will be the subject of various scientific publications and patents. The ultimate goal of the project is the CE certification and finally their commercialization.
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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
[T: 0.3602, O: 189]