Nanostructures and Nanoscopy

   CONTENTS  

Unraveling nanostructured materials

Coordinated by Professor Ricardo Meurer Papaléo, the Research Group on Nanostructures and Nanoscopy focuses on the study of nanostructured materials and micro- and nanostructuring processes for surfaces, both in fundamental and applied aspects.

Among the problems being studied, there are several fundamental questions linked to the changes observed in the behavior of the materials when they possess greatly reduced dimensions. For example, the group researched the stability of nanostructures when exposed to radiation and thermal treatments in several atmospheres and changes in the processes of mechanical relaxation of nanostructures on surfaces. Similarly, studies are being performed on micro- and nanostructuring methods through the application of microbeams and of scanning probe techniques. One of the projects involves obtaining responsive nanoporous membranes whose pores respond to external stimuli, such as pH conditions and the temperature of the medium.

Another current research area of note is in the field of synthesis of multifunctional nanostructured probes for molecular imaging. The Group’s researchers are working with magnetic nanoparticles capable of producing contrast in medical images (especially in magnetic resonance imaging examinations) and, at the same time, carrying chemical compounds in their structures. These compounds may be pharmacological in nature and specific for the target of interest, such as a tumor tissue. Using these probes, the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of the evolution of therapy would be possible in a less invasive and more effective manner. This research is being developed in cooperation with the Brain Institute of RS to test the effects of image contrast, and with the Toxicology and Pharmacology Institute (INTOX) of PUCRS for toxicological assays of the nanoprobes, using animal models.

Currently, there are external partnerships mainly with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the National Commission of Atomic Energy of Argentina, the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, (Switzerland), and the Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschun (Germany).