BrainMap

Lucian Baia

Dr.

Professor - UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer | PhD supervisor

Curriculum Vitae (17/06/2025)

Expertise & keywords

Nanocomposites based on recycled cellulose and carbon nanohorns for building materials with improved fire action resistance Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-3156 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO); ACADEMIA DE POLITIE "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: http://icdisna.institute.ubbcluj.ro/grants/recell4safe/indexRO.html

Abstract:

The aim of the project is to develop thermal-insulator nanocomposite materials based on recycled cellulose and carbon nanohorns in order to be used as buildings materials. By using these porous composites we propose to improve both the fire resistance and mechanical properties so that the project implementation will lead to an improvement of the civil protection level. The nanocomposites will be made of cellulose extracted from sawdust (as the porous composite matrix), phosphoric acid (as phosphorous source, element that decreases the flame spread), carbon nanohorns (as char carbon source and consolidating agent for the matrix pores) and epoxy resin (as mechanically consolidating binder and secondary carbon source for char formation). The synergetic action of these components is expected to lead to improved fire protection when the obtained monolithic nanocomposite samples will be involved in vertical flame combustion tests (exposure of the samples, placed at a certain distance, to a controlled flame, for a certain period of time). The project proposes to start from the TRL 2 level and to arrive at the TRL 4 level. The results obtained on the developed materials will be compared with other commercial available building materials with increased fire resistance as well as with improved mechanical and thermal insulation properties. The achieved results will be promoted to relevant stakeholders interested on the project topic.

Application of bioactive nanocomposites in skin regeneration in rats with induced diabetes Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-2176 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRICOLE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://www.skinbg.neurovet.ro/

Abstract:

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that can cause significant side effects with regard to tissue healing. So-called impaired wound healing is a serious complication: leading to pathologies like chronic open wounds, gangrene, and sepsis. Chronic wounds, acute trauma, or surgical sutures create problems concerning skin regeneration and affect the patients' quality of life due to the high probability of bacterial infection. To shorten the healing time for patients with skin wounds, by the means of biomaterials that can promote angiogenesis and faster vascularization is considered a viable strategy for skin regeneration. The antibacterial effect is also a requirement for a material to be employed in skin regeneration by reducing the possibility of infection without antibiotics administration. Bioactive glasses with gold nanoparticles (BGAuSP) are promising candidates for wound treatment due to their ability of a strong vascular proliferation. The formal requirements, the protection of the wound bed, necessitates the introduction of a bioactive material in the hydrogel. Biopolymers, such as alginate, cellulose, and chitosan, are promising materials for wound healing. Alginate can preserve a proper level of moisture; also, it can reduce the bacterial infection at the wound bed. Cellulose can help in the exudate’s absorption; chitosan can play a significant role mainly in the first three stages during wound healing. The project aims to obtain such a hydrogel dressing containing bioactive nanocomposites with the potential to reduce healing time of the experimental skin defects. We will start from an experimental proof of concept with patented BGAuSP (TRL3). The progress in the TRL includes obtaining the suitable hydrogel form of the dressing. Finally, the dressing will materialize in laboratory validated technology with suitable hydrogels (BGAuSP-biopolymer) demonstrated in healthy and diabetic standardized experimental protocols on laboratory rats (TRL4).

The usage of composite materials with graphene oxide for improving the performance of building and installation elements against fire action in order to ensure the protection of life in case of fire Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0350 2018 - 2021

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: ACADEMIA DE POLITIE "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA"

Project partners: ACADEMIA DE POLITIE "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://go4life.granturi.ubbcluj.ro/

Abstract:

The choice and the usage of materials in construction building shall take into account requirements concerning resistance, stability and fire safety criteria, as defined in Law no. 10/1995 regarding quality in construction. In this context, the widespread use of polymer, wood or drywall materials in construction or installations should take into account the major drawbacks of high flammability and low fire resistance of these materials.

The project proposes to acquire, characterize and test the fire protection of advanced materials, for construction and installations, with improved performance in fire action (for the purpose of protecting life) and with high economic potential (which can relaunch the profile industries in Romania), namely polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), drywall (GC), wooden chipboard (PAL) and (non-) functionalized graphene oxide (GO/FGO) with amines, organic phosphorus oligomers /phosphorus acidic, organic compounds rich in phosphorus and nitrogen (hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene) and hydroxyethyl acrylate, or mixtures of GO/FGO with melamine or epoxy resins. With this approach, the project is part of one of European Union's main research topics, namely testing/using graphene materials. The project has a new scientific/technical novelty at national and European level by the study of fire action behavior, by modeling and numerical simulation, under natural conditions, of the advanced materials obtained within the project.

The proposed research is based on the collaboration between the research groups from AP-FP, with expertise in the assessment of fire-fighting materials, from UBB, with expertise in obtaining (by a patented method) and morpho-structural characterizing of GO and carbonic composites, and from INCDFM, respectively, with expertise in obtaining and characterizing of the polymers and their composites.

Designing composite nanoarchitectures for H2 production and environmental depollution Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0442 2011 - 2016

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://www.phys.ubbcluj.ro/~lucian.baia/pagina%20proiect/index

Abstract:

The goal of the project is to obtain composite nanoarchitectures based on TiO2 and WO3 with Au or Pt nanoparticles controllably deposited on their surface. The composites will be obtained by three different methods (sol-gel, impregnation, zeta-potential driven association) in order to achieve different contact levels between the two oxides. Thus, the contact between TiO2 and WO3 can be explored, and several questions related to the in-deep understanding of the composite photoactive materials particularities (such as the nature, structure or role of the contact surface) will be answered. Metal nanoparticles will be selectively deposited, by two different methods, namely photodeposition and chemical reduction, on one of the oxide’s surface (TiO2 or WO3) pursuing the changes of the composite’s properties. The obtained catalysts will be characterized in all aspects (especially the nanoparticles interface) using conventional and modern techniques. Photocatalytic and H2 production experiments will be carried out to assess the applicability of these nanocatalysts in environmental depollution and future H2 generation.

Smart functions of packages containing nano-structured materials in food preservation Call name:
MNT ERA NET 7-065/26.09.2012 2012 - 2015

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICA CLUJ-NAPOCA

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICA CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO); Warsaw University (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICA CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO)

Project website: http://chimie-biologie.ubm.ro/smartpack/project.html

Abstract:

O ELABORATE NANO - PACKAGING SOLUT ELABORATE NANO - PACKAGINGI SOLUTIONS FIT FOR A NUMBER

OF FOOD PRODUCT CATEGORIES DISPLAYING PRESERVATION

PROPERTIES DEFINITELY SUPERIOR TO THOSE CURRENTLY IN

COMMERCIAL USE

BIOFUNCTIONAL NANOPARTICLES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW METHODS OF IMAGING, SENSING, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPY IN BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT (NANOBIOFUN) Call name: Complex Exploratory Research Projects - PCCE-2008 call
PN-II-ID-PCCE-2008-0129 2010 - 2013

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, CENTRUL DE NANOSTIINTE SI NANOTEHNOLOGII

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, CENTRUL DE NANOSTIINTE SI NANOTEHNOLOGII (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, CENTRUL DE BIOLOGIE MOLECULARA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, CENTRUL DE MATERIALE AVANSATE SI TEHNOLOGII (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, LABORATOR DE STRUCTURI MOLECULARE SI MODELLING (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, CENTRUL DE BIONANOSTRUCTURI SI SISTEME MOLECULARE COMPLEXE (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, LABORATOR DE MODELARE COMPUTATIONALA A SISTEMELOR NANOSTRUCTURATE (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, LABORATOR DE NANO-ALOTROPI AI CARBONULUI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, LABORATOR DE ELECTROCHIMIE SI CHIMIE SUPRAMOLECULARA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, CENTRUL DE MATERIALE AVANSATE SI TEHNOLOGII (RO)

Project website: http://www.phys.ubbcluj.ro/~dana.maniu/Web_ID_PCCE/

Abstract:

THE NANOBIOFUN PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER EXPERTISES FROM 8 RESEARCH CENTERS IN PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY TO ADDRESS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE METHODS OF MOLECULAR SENSING, IMAGING, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPY IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS BY COMBINING THE UNIQUE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF NOBLE-METAL NANOPARTICLES (NPS) WITH THEIR CHEMICAL SPECIFICITY AND EASY WAY OF BIOFUNCTIONALIZATION. KEY SCIENTIFIC ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT ARE (1) TO PROVIDE A BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION ( CELL TARGETING) TO AN ARTIFICIAL NANO-OBJECT IN ORDER TO TACKLE A SPECIFIC BIOLOGICAL ISSUE, AND (2) TO FABRICATE TAILORED NANO-OBJECTS ABLE TO TRANSFER / INDUCE A PHYSICAL SIGNAL ( LIGHT OR ELECTRIC CURRENT) TO A BIOLOGICAL ENTITY (BIOMOLECULE AND CELL) IN ORDER TO PROBE ITS STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES IN A CONTROLLED MANNER. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLASMON-RESONANT NPS AS NEW OPTICAL LABELS FOR BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES, MEMBRANE AND CELLS AS WELL AS MULTIFUNCTIONAL AGENTS FOR CANCER DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPY. THE PROJECT WILL TARGET THE FABRICATION OF GOLD NPS AND HYBRID METAL/POLYMER/SILICA/ STRUCTURES OF SPECIFIC SHAPE, SIZE (2-200 NM) AND DESIRED OPTICAL PROPERTIES AND REALIZE THEIR CONJUGATION WITH RELEVANT (BIO)MOLECULES / PROTEINS / DNA / BIOPOLYMERS. AS A MAJOR RESULT OF THIS PROJECT WILL TO DEMONSTRATE AN ORIGINAL APPROACH IN CANCER THERAPY GIVEN BY THE ABILITY OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES TO MEDIATE HYPERTHERMIA INDUCTION TO KILL CANCER CELLS UPON LASER IRRADIATION, THEREBY FUNCTIONING AS SELECTIVE THERMAL NANO-SCALPELS. THE PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE ON THE INVESTIGATION OF BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF BIOCONJUGATED GOLD NANOPARTICLES ON VARIOUS NORMAL AND TUMOR CELLS CULTURES.AN IMPORTANT OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE THE PRODUCTION OF COST EFFECTIVE, ULTRA SENSITIVE, REPRODUCIBLE AND STABLE NANOSTRUCTURED SUBSTRATES FOR SURFACE-ENHANCED SPECTROSCOPY AND ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSORS. BESIDES THE SCIENTIFIC GOALS, TRAINING AND EDUCATION WILL BE ALSO KEY RESULTS OF THE PROJECT.

NEW BIOCOMPATIBILE MATERIALS FOR PERSONALISED IMPLANTS MADE BY SLS AND SLM (BIOMAPIM) Call name: Complex Exploratory Research Projects - PCCE-2008 call
PN-II-ID-PCCE-2008-0101 2010 - 2013

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: Universitatea Tehnica din Cluj Napoca, CENTRUL NATIONAL DE FABRICARE RAPIDA A PROTOTIPURILOR

Project partners: Universitatea Tehnica din Cluj Napoca, CENTRUL NATIONAL DE FABRICARE RAPIDA A PROTOTIPURILOR (RO); Universitatea Babes Bolyai Cluj (RO); Universitatea Tehnica din Cluj Napoca, LABORATORUL DE BIOMATERIALE (RO); Institutul Oncologic Ion Chiricuta Cluj Napoca (RO); Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Iuliu Hatieganu (RO)

Affiliation: Universitatea Babes Bolyai Cluj (RO)

Project website: http://www.biomapim.utcluj.ro/

Abstract:

THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF THE NEW RAPID PROTOTYPING TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATIONS FROM INDUSTRY TO MEDICINE HAS OPENED THE WAY TO MANUFACTURE MODELS FOR CUSTOMIZED IMPLANTS. AT THE EUROPEAN AND WORLD LEVEL, THE FIRST ACHIEVEMENTS WERE RECORDED AFTER 1994 .

WITHIN THE NATIONAL RAPID PROTOTYPING CENTRE FROM THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF CLUJ-NAPOCA (TUCN), IN COOPERATION WITH THE CRANIA-MAXILLA-FACIAL SURGERY CLINICS, THE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL APPLICATION OF RAPID PROTOTYPING BEGUN IN 1998 AND MANAGED TO PRODUCE PHYSICAL MODELS OF SOME IMPLANTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ROMANIA, MADE FROM MATERIALS WHICH WERE NOT BIOCOMPATIBLE.

THE STRONG EXPERTISE GAINED BY OUR TEAMS, THE LATEST STATE OF THE ART HARDWARE EQUIPMENTS AVAILABLE IN OUR LABORATORIES, THE PREVIEWS RESEARCHES PERFORMED BY OUR PARTNER TEAMS FROM CLUJ-NAPOCA IN THE BIOMATERIALS AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY FIELDS HAVE LED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STRONG RESEARCH CONSORTIUM, WHICH IS INTER AND TRANS-DISCIPLINARY.

THE RESEARCHES PROPOSED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THIS PROJECT WILL SORT OUT SOME COMPLEX TASKS OF MANUFACTURING CUSTOMIZED IMPLANTS MADE FROM NEW BIOCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS SUITABLE TO BE USED DIRECTLY WITHIN THE SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING (SLS) AND SELECTIVE LASER MELTING (SLM) PROCESSES .

THIS WILL LEAD TO THE INTEGRATION OF RESEARCHES FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS: IMPLANTS MANUFACTURING, BIOMATERIALS, BIOCOMPATIBILITY, BRINGING TOGETHER FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE FROM PHYSICS, MATERIAL SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

THE PROPOSED RESEARCHES ARE ORIENTATED TO FOUR MAIN DIRECTIONS:

A) RESEARCH ON PRODUCING NEW BIOCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS FOR THE SLS AND SLM PROCESSES.

B) RESEARCH ON TESTING AND IMPROVING THE BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF THE NEW MATERIALS.

C) DESIGN THE VIRTUAL MODEL OF THE IMPLANT, WHICH WILL BE PRODUCED

D) MANUFACTURE THE IMPLANTS MADE FROM NEW MATERIALS, USING THE SLS AND SLM PROCESSES AND PERFORM THE SURGICAL OPERATIONS TO INSERT THESE IMPLANTS.

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