FIRST OPERANDO BATTERY CHARACTERIZATION EXPERIMENT PERFORMED AT MIRAS

A research team lead by the Institut de Ciències de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) has published a new study on polyimides, a promising material for cathodes in metal-organic batteries, a more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Operando measurements were performed, for the first time, at the MIRAS beamline.

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GRAPE POMACE, A WASTE OF VITICULTURE, IS EFFECTIVE  FOR NEMATODE PEST CONTROL ON CROPS

Researchers from Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Institute of Agricultural Sciences – CSIC proved the potential of wine production residues as biopesticides in agriculture, thus reducing the waste management problem and contributing to a circular economy. Their work shows that recycled biochar from grape pomace is effective to reduce the parasitic nematode infection of tomato plants in pots. Biochar characterization by synchrotron light infrared spectroscopy was performed at MIRAS beamline of the ALBA Synchrotron.

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NANOPARTICLES MADE FROM MARINE POLYMERS FOR CUTANEOUS DRUG DELIVERY APPLICATIONS

A research project led by the University of Porto in collaboration with the ALBA Synchrotron has studied for the first time the interaction of nanoparticles with the skin, using synchrotron light at the MIRAS beamline. The findings unveil the role of the different skin components and the mechanism of the permeation enhancement conferred with nanoparticles, made from marine polymers. A nano delivery system application in the skin will reduce the dosage needed due to controlled drug delivery and allow newer and better-targeting therapeutic strategies towards cutaneous administration.

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SYNCHROTRON LIGHT FOR FASTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE TOOTH WHITENING TREATMENTS

A recent work of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in collaboration with the ALBA Synchrotron, has studied the side effects of typical tooth whitening treatments, based on oxidation, compared to a new treatment developed by the authors through reduction. Results showed the whitening effect of the novel treatment to be highly improved in terms of application time needed, efficiency and safety, which makes it a promising candidate to develop novel whitening treatments. Experiments at the MIRAS beamline of ALBA helped to determine the chemical mineral modifications in the dental enamel.

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USING SYNCHROTRON LIGHT TO FOLLOW NEW TREATMENTS AGAINST GLIOBLASTOMA

Led by researcher Tanja Ducic, beamline scientist from the MIRAS beamline at the ALBA Synchrotron, the live-cells study has revealed variations in the organic compounds of different glioblastoma cells and it confirms the efficacy of the riluzole drug against this type of cancer.

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