ICRI-BioM’s OPUS 28 + LAP application has been recommended for funding for the project titled “NIR-active Multi-layer Coatings for Titanium Alloys to Disinfect Superbugs” (NIR-CURATOR). This initiative is a collaborative research effort involving ICRI-BioM, Lodz University of Technology in Poland, and the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) at Brno University of Technology (BUT) in the Czech Republic.
https://www.ncn.gov.pl/aktualnosci/2025-07-09-31-grantow-namiedzynarodowe-projekty-opus-28-lap-weave
Dr. hab. Vignesh Kumaravel, acting director of ICRI-BioM, will lead the Polish team with Dr. Agnieszka Krzeminska.
Dr. Edgar Benjamin Montufar Jimenez from CEITEC, BUT, will lead the Czech team for NIR-CURATOR.
The NIR-CURATOR project addresses the urgent threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the growing need for personalized orthopedic implants, particularly in light of Europe’s aging population.
NIR-CURATOR aims to:
- Develop innovative 3D-printed titanium alloys with inherent antibacterial properties
- Introduce non-invasive, NIR-activated multilayer coatings to eliminate the need for synthetic antibiotics
- Utilize advanced computational tools and non-toxic antibacterial agents
- Reduce implant-associated infections and improve the longevity of implants.
The project is expected to yield significant outcomes, including fewer revision surgeries, better patient outcomes, cost savings in healthcare, and reduced reliance on imported medical technologies.
We look forward to driving innovation in sustainable and effective implant technologies!