Polymer Institute
Polylactide-based multifunctional materials.
Funkčné materiály na báze polylaktidov.
THETA curves on polymeRs with ACtive Topology.
THETA krivky na polyméRoch s AKtívnou Topológiou.
| Duration: |
1.1.2026 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
Mobility |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Račko Dušan PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project THETARACT (THEta cuRves on polymers with ACtive Topology) is a bilateral research initiative between the Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. Its main objective is to investigate the equilibrium statistical properties of theta-curve polymer conformations—a novel and largely unexplored class of topologically entangled structures in polymer science. The collaboration integrates the Slovak team’s expertise in coarse-grained molecular simulations and polymer modeling with the Polish partner’s advanced methods in topological characterization of molecular graphs. Using Monte Carlo conformational sampling techniques and topological analysis software such as Topoly, the project will explore how internal edge chiralities and steric interactions influence the populations and stability of theta-curve conformations. The project is thematically aligned with the aims of the bilateral call by fostering scientific excellence through international cooperation, supporting researcher mobility (with two planned short-term research stays per year), and involving young researchers. The expected outputs include joint publications, participation in international conferences, and dissemination to the broader public through science outreach events. The collaboration lays the foundation for future joint applications in European and national research funding schemes. |
Environmentally Responsible and Low Fire-hazard Polymer Composites for the Cable Insulations.
Ekologické polymérne kompozity s nízkym nebezpečenstvom požiaru pre izolácie káblov.
| Duration: |
1.4.2025 - 31.3.2028 |
| Program: |
ERANET |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Vykydalová Anna PhD. |
| Annotation: | To develop a PE-based polymer composite containing a multi-component halogen-free flame-retardant system of natural origin consisting of metal hydroxides and clays to enhance Low Fire Hazard Cables (LFHC) core insulation with application to the fire safety elements in places with a high concentration of people. |
Injectable hybrid hydrogel of graphene and alginate for improving cell integration in osteochondral repair.
Injectable hybrid hydrogel of graphene and alginate for improving cell integration in osteochondral repair.
| Duration: |
1.1.2024 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
ERANET |
| Project leader: |
Heydari Abolfazl PhD. |
| Annotation: | This project focuses on advancing osteochondral tissue engineering by developing injectable shear-thinning sodium alginate (SA)-graphene oxide (GO) hydrogels for minimally invasive applications. These hydrogels are designed to conform to irregular defects and address key challenges in osteochondral repair, such as the integration of repaired and native tissues with differing mechanical properties, composition, and cellularity. By combining SA with GO and its bioinspired derivatives, the hydrogel’s mechanical properties are enhanced to closely mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM), promoting effective cell integration. Additionally, bioorthogonal chemistry is utilized to introduce non-covalent and covalent crosslinks, ensuring the biocompatibility of the injectable scaffold. Despite the significant potential of GO-based hydrogels, they remain unexplored in osteochondral repair. This innovative approach aims to bridge the gap in cartilage and subchondral bone repair, representing a transformative step forward in the field. |
Multifunctional fibre-reinforced plastic composites with MXene layers.
Multifunkčné vláknami vystužené polymérne kompozity s vrstvami MXénov.
Design and Development of 3D-Printed Electrospun Fiber-based Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering.
Návrh a vývoj 3D tlačených lešení na báze elektrozvláknených vlákien pre tkanivové inžinierstvo.
Novel biodegradable biopolymer-Bioglass-composite implant technology .
Nová biodegradovateľná biopolymér-biosklo-kompozitná technológia implantátov.
Next Generation BiOactiVe NAnocoatings
Nová generácia bioaktívných nanopovrchov
| Duration: |
1.9.2022 - 31.8.2026 |
| Program: |
Horizon Europe |
| Project leader: |
Mgr. Špitálsky Zdenko PhD. |
| Annotation: | The NOVA project aims to develop a streamlined, holistic process to implement innovative antimicrobial
(antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal) coatings in everyday settings. The COVID-19 global pandemic clearly
highlighted an underlying risk in our current urban lifestyle: The transmission of infectious diseases can rapidly reach the exponential phase, causing catastrophic and long -term impacts on the healthcare system, in turn affecting a significant portion of daily and economic activities. Any material/device/product that needs to be handled by individuals and that will stay in use after this manipulation has the potential to act as a fomite. This can be via direct contact or by the settling of the aerosols. Thus, manufacturers need to consider having safety measures to prevent disease transmission by their products. Together with the increased citizen awareness about the subject of healthier living and working environments, there is currently an unmet need for technologies that would render the surfaces of these materials/devices/products antimicrobial in a sustainable and safe manner. The most common fomites are clothing, textile products, frequently touched surfaces (e.g., tables, doorknobs etc.) and electronic devices. The most cited article on this subject showed that 59% of handheld devices were contaminated with at least
one bacterial species with S. aureus being the most common. |
Advanced Composites under HIgh STRAin raTEs loading: a route to certification-by-analysis
Pokročilé kompozity zaťažené vysokým napätím: cesta k certifikácii po analýze
| Duration: |
25.10.2022 - 24.10.2026 |
| Program: |
COST |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Mičušík Matej PhD. |
| Annotation: | Climate change challenges have driven an ever-increasing use of composite materials, including hybrid and metamaterials, in structures prone to extreme dynamic events. HISTRATE aims to lay the scientific and technological foundations for the creation and implementation of a robust framework for the certification-by-analysis of advanced composite structures subject to high strain rate loading, e.g., impact and blast. A paradigm shift in simulation comprehensiveness, high strain rate testing protocols and smart sensing tools is needed to replace the complex, laborious building block approach for validation and product certification with approaches based on simulations which require less tests. In this way, composition and performance adjustments should be allowed without recertification.
Realisation of this aim heavily relies on knowledge available within the HISTRATE network, which now gathers 80 European and non-European, academic and industrial experts active in the wide field of composites. HISTRATE will strongly encourage interaction between the partners by stimulating the exchange and cross-fertilisation of knowledge both across industrial sectors and expertise fields, including material and component testing, measurement and monitoring techniques, modelling methodologies, standardisation and certification. By combining the available knowledge on high strain rate response at different length scales, i.e., from the material constituents to the structure, HISTRATE will radically transform the way we discover, develop, and design ultra-high-performance, durable, safe, sustainable, and novel advanced composites for use in real high strain rate loading applications. The participation of leading actors in the field provides the basis and impetus for the adaptation of this new approach in industry. |
EU Circular Economy Network for All: Consumer Protection through reducing, reusing, repairing (ECO4ALL)
Sieť obehového hospodárstva EÚ pre všetkých: Ochrana spotrebiteľa prostredníctvom zníženia, opätovného použitia, opravy.
Study of thermal expansion anisotropy of microstructural free volumes in polymer networks of acrylates.
Štúdium anizotropie tepelnej rozťažnosti mikroštruktúrnych voľných objemov v polymérnych sieťach akrylátov.
Utilizations of multicomponent reactions and reversible-deactivation radical polymerizations: Promising tools for the preparations of advanced polymer materials.
Využitie multikomponentných reakcií a radikálovej polymerizácie s vratnou deaktiváciou ako nástroj pre prípravu pokročilých polymérnych materiálov.
Development of new cosmetic ingredients with anti-aging properties.
Vývoj nových kozmetických zložiek s vlastnosťami proti starnutiu.
The total number of projects: 13
