MEDIF-2 · Medical Applications of IF nanoparticles

Back in 1992 we have found that nanoparticles of inorganic compounds with layered (2D) structure, including MoS2, NiBr2, Cs2O and many others, form hollow closed nanostructures- i.e. fullerene-like nanoparticles (IF) and nanotubes (INT). These nanoparticles serve as very good solid lubricants and are now exploited commercially. Using the leverage of the ERC project we have recently made major progress with the synthesis of new IF and INT, including SnS2 nanotubes and MoS2 nanooctahedra. We also found that Re doping of the these nanoparticles leads to remarkable changes in their physio-chemical behavior, including making them superlubricants (friction coefficient approaching 0.01). Based on these advancements, in both the materials synthesis and bio-medical studies, we propose to develop a number of new medical technologies which will be licensed to a start-up company at the end of this project. In order to achieve this goal we will employ a multifaceted technological approach. 1. Develop new self-lubricating coatings based the IF nanoparticles