On April 8th, 2025, the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, in its role as coordinator of the CheMatSustain project, successfully hosted the kick-off workshop for the new initiative Collab4Resilience – Stronger Together in Science and Sustainability. Designed to foster stronger ties among EU-funded projects, the initiative brings together efforts focused on Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) strategies and the responsible use of chemicals and nanomaterials. The online workshop welcomed representatives from 11 projects funded under the HORIZON-CL4-2023-RESILIENCE-01 call and related topics.

The session, led by the CheMatSustain communication team, featured an interactive and forward-looking agenda aimed at boosting collective visibility, communication, and knowledge exchange. Participants worked together on six key areas of collaboration:

• Coordinated presence and outreach on LinkedIn
• Information exchange for project newsletters
• Shared video content and YouTube outreach
• Cross-promotion of events and resources
• A creative exchange session: “What’s still in your pockets?”, welcoming additional new ideas.

Using a Miro board for real-time collaboration, attendees contributed practical ideas and proposed concrete steps for future action. The energy and creativity lead to meaningful outcomes, including an aligned dissemination timeline, channels, and new joint visibility actions.

 

Collab4Resilience highlights the CheMatSustain project’s broader mission: to amplify the collective voice and impact of EU research projects. By fostering this collaborative ecosystem, the initiative supports a more coordinated transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral, and resilient Europe.

 

The working group remains open to all interested projects in the field. If your team is engaged in related research or communication efforts and would like to join, the CheMatSustain coordination team welcomes your involvement. Please contact communication manager Andrea Dobri (andrea.dobri@haw-hamburg.de).

 

2. Strengthening Research and Educational Ties -  University of Urbino Carlo Bo and  Lodz University of Technology Collaborate on Toxicity Testing

Maria Cristina Albertini, University of Urbino Carlo Bo

As part of these joint efforts, Dr. Małgorzata Siatkowska and Dr. Piotr Komorowski, both senior scientists from TUL, visited the Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DISB) at UNIURB.

During this week the delegates exchanges ideas and collaborated with the entire UNIURB team represented by Prof. Maria Cristina Albertini, Prof. Luca Casettari, Dr.  Annalisa Aluigi, Dr. Mattia Tiboni, Prof. Alessandro Bogliolo, Prof. Daniele Fraternale, Dr. Serena Benedetti, Dr. Noemi Pappagallo. This visit enabled advanced testing using microfluidic systems that simulate near in vivo conditions, aiming to deepen understanding of CNM toxicity mechanisms and their long-term effects on biological systems.

 

Beyond laboratory work, the collaboration has expanded into academic cooperation. Strengthened scientific ties led to the signing of an Erasmus+ inter-institutional agreement between UNIURB’s School of Biological and Biotechnological Sciences and TUL’s Faculty of Chemistry – Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry. This formalized academic partnership paves the way for ongoing exchange in both teaching and research.

 

Under this new Erasmus+ framework, Prof. Bożena Rokita, Associate Professor at TUL, visited UNIURB to deliver a series of seminars on advanced materials and emerging technologies. Her participation, part of a teaching mobility initiative, further enriched the collaborative spirit of the project.

 

These dynamic exchanges are not only fostering scientific innovation but are also strengthening educational networks between Italy and Poland. Together, the teams are building a foundation for future advances in materials science and toxicology, aligning closely with CheMatSustain’s mission to support sustainable and safe chemical innovation.

3. The Art of Building Matter at the Nanoscale - Synthesis and Characterization of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles

 

    Jaroslaw Grobelny and  Katarzyna Ranoszek-Soliwoda,  University of Lodz

The chemical reduction method is one of the most commonly used techniques for the synthesis of  noble metal nanoparticles, such as gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs). This method involves the reduction of metal ions (from metal salts) into their metallic form using a suitable reducing agent in a reaction medium.

 

The chemical reduction involves transforming metal ions, such as Au³⁺ or Ag⁺, into neutral metal atoms (Au⁰ or Ag⁰) through electron transfer from a reducing agent. The process is usually carried out in an aqueous solution and typically includes a stabilizing agent to prevent the aggregation of the newly formed nanoparticles.

 

For AuNPs most commonly used precursors are: sodium tetrachloroaurate (NaAuCl₄) or chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄); reducing agents: sodium citrate (classical Turkevich method), ascorbic acid, sodium borohydride (NaBH₄); and stabilizers: citrate, polymers (e.g., PVP), or surfactants. For AgNPs the most commonly used precursor is silver nitrate (AgNO₃); reducing agents: sodium citrate, glucose, sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), ascorbic acid; and stabilizers: sodium citrate, PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), or SDS.

 

A specific example of chemical reduction reactions is the Turkevich method in which citrate acts both as a reducing agent and as a capping/stabilizing agent. The size and shape of the nanoparticles can be controlled by adjusting reagent concentrations and reaction temperature.

 

This chemical reduction method has several advantages among which the most important is the fact that the method is simple and cost-effective, can be performed under mild conditions (temperature and pressure) and what’s the most important the method allows the control over particle size and shape.

Characterization of nanoparticles is essential for understanding their physical, chemical, and structural properties. There are several analytical techniques that allow assessment of nanoparticles both in colloidal and dry form. The use of these analytical techniques allows the analysis of properties of nanoparticles such as: size, shape, crystallinity, surface chemistry, charge, and colloidal stability. Determination and control over physicochemical parameters of nanoparticles is crucial for their further applications.

4. Invisible Aggressors: Do Nanoparticles Generate Reactive Oxygen Species Disrupting Our Cellular Function?

Witold Jakubowski and Bogdan Walkowiak, Lodz University of Technology

Our cells are miniature factories that continuously produce the energy essential for life. In this process, like in any industrial facility, "waste products" are generated - these are reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxygen-containing molecules that are extremely chemically reactive. In normal physiological conditions, our cells cope with these "byproducts" through sophisticated built-in protective systems comprising a series of antioxidants (e.g., vitamin C) and specialized enzymes (e.g., catalase, superoxide dismutase) that neutralize excess ROS.

 

ROS are omnipresent in our body. They are produced naturally during cellular respiration when mitochondria generate energy using oxygen in this process. Our cells also produce ROS intentionally; for instance, immune cells employ them as a weapon against bacteria and viruses. The problem emerges when the balance is disturbed and too much ROS are produced. This leads to oxidative stress - a state in which cells are unable to cope with "toxic waste". Oxidative stress damages proteins, lipids, and DNA, contributing to the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as accelerating aging processes.

The already complicated processes are supplemented with the threats that nanoparticles introduced into the human environment can cause. Their submicroscopic size enables them to penetrate biological barriers and reach directly into intercellular space. Studies show that some nanoparticles can drastically increase the production of ROS in cells, acting as catalysts for undesirable chemical reactions, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

 

The mechanism is simple but dangerous: some nanoparticles interact with cellular structures, disrupting normal metabolic processes and provoking cells toward overproduction of reactive oxygen species. This resembles adding fuel to the fire - existing natural ROS production pathways become disproportionately amplified. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for the safe development of nanotechnology. Not all nanoparticles are equally harmful - their toxicity depends on the chemical composition, size, shape and surface structure. Therefore, we are intensively investigating these relationships to enable the design of nanoparticles that are safe for both human health and environmental sustainability.

5. Nanomaterial Genotoxicity Test -Micronucleus Test

Bogdan Walkowiak and Aleksandra Bednarek, Lodz University of Technology

It is well known that genotoxic substances induce chromosomal aberrations during cell division. Microscopic method of detecting the presence of micronuclei in cells is commonly used to assess the genotoxicity of chemicals and other physical factors, and in the case of our project to assess the genotoxicity of chemicals, nanomaterials and macroscopic materials (CNMs).

 

Micronuclei are defined as chromatin structures located inside the cytoplasm, but much smaller than nuclei. They arise as a result of loss or delay in chromosome formation in anaphase of cell division. Chromosomes or their fragments lost during cell nucleus division form characteristic round structures in the cytoplasm resembling nuclei but much smaller in size. Micronuclei can be visualized because they absorb specific nuclear dyes in the same way as the cell nucleus, and differently than the cytoplasm stains. An important requirement in this test is the division of the nucleus during or after exposure to the test substances.

Experimental procedure:

The figure above (Fig.3.) schematically presents the course of the experiment aimed at assessing the genotoxicity of the tested CNMs samples.

The steps of the procedure are as follows:

• EA.hy926 cells were seeded in a culture plate (24 or 96 wells) and incubated for 24 hours.
• After this time, samples of the tested CNMs, prepared in appropriate concentrations, were added and incubation was continued for another 24 hours. The negative control consisted of cells cultured without the addition of the tested CNMs, while the positive control consisted of the addition of Mitomycin C (a substance known for its genotoxic properties).
• After this time, Cytochalasin B was added to the cultured cells to stop cell division and the culture was continued for another 24 hours.
• Then, the cells were fixed, and the cell nuclei and micronuclei were stained with Hoechst dye and observed under a microscope.

6. Designing Safer Nanomaterials Through Smart Prediction

  Rafael García-Meseguer, ProtoQSAR S.L.

Nanomaterials are engineered particles typically smaller than 100 nanometres, thousands of times thinner than a human hair. At this scale, materials can behave very differently compared to their bulk counterparts.

These properties have enabled their widespread use across various industries, including electronics, energy, cosmetics, and medicine. However, the same features that make nanomaterials so valuable also raise essential safety questions about their impact on human health and the environment.

Many nanomaterials feature complex compositions that comprise several layers, including the core, the shell, impurities or dopants, and ligands or coatings composed of organic molecules that enhance stability, solubility, or functionality.

These components are an essential part of nanomaterials' functionality; however, they also pose a potential safety threat.

As part of the CheMatSustain project, ProtoQSAR S.L. is addressing this challenge by focusing on the safety of these organic components. In particular, we are developing in silico models and advanced computational tools that simulate and predict the biological behaviour of substances, reducing the need for extensive laboratory testing.

 

Within our platform, ProtoPRED®, we have developed several QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) models that estimate the potential toxicity of organic molecules based on their chemical structure. Moreover, in the context of CheMatSustain, we are developing new QSAR models that rely on data from endothelial cells, the barrier between the bloodstream and surrounding tissues, as they are among the first to encounter nanomaterials once they enter the body and are very sensitive to stress, making them ideal for detecting early toxicity.

 

These models are a step toward designing nanomaterials that are not only effective but also safer for people and the environment, helping to align scientific progress with real-world responsibility.

7. From Lab to Cloud: Turning Research into Reachable Data for a Sustainable Future

   Elena Bernalte Morgado,  Manchester Metropolitan University and  Kamal Khandelwal,  Eurskem BV

 

CheMatSustain Database: Building a Sustainable Future from Nanomaterial Data

The CheMatSustain project is creating a powerful and flexible database system to help researchers manage and share data on nanomaterials. This system is designed to grow with the project’s needs and is hosted securely on EU-based cloud services, ensuring data is always available and protected.

At the heart of the system is a commitment to the FAIR principles, making data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. This means that the information collected will be easy to locate, understand, and use again in future research, helping to support long-term scientific progress.

 

How Data Flows Through the System

Data is first collected from research teams using standardised Excel templates. These templates are specially adapted to ensure consistency and quality. The system also connects with trusted external sources like the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the EU Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), bringing in valuable information through automated tools.

Once collected, the data (from formats CSV, JSON) goes through a process called ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) into the PostgreSQL database. During this process data is cleaned, organised, and stored in a structured way. A smart parser helps break down complex files into usable pieces, checking for errors and making sure everything is in the right format. The data flow can be observed in the figure below (Fig. 5).

A User-Friendly Interface

The front end of the system, what users see and interact with, is built using modern web technologies like React.js and Next.js. This ensures the platform is responsive, easy to use, and accessible on different devices. Users can search and explore data through a clean, intuitive interface that connects smoothly with other websites and tools.

 

Data Sharing with Care

CheMatSustain takes data privacy serious. Research data will only be made public after related scientific publications are released and approved by project partners. However, the system allows for flexible sharing, whether it’s raw data, processed results, or final conclusions.

8. CheMatSustain Hosts General Assembly and First Project Review Meeting in Bologna

   Andrea Dobri, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

The CheMatSustain project recently marked a significant milestone with two key events hosted in the historic city of Bologna, Italy. Bringing together the consortium, advisory board members, and project reviewer, the 3rd General Assembly Meeting and the first Project Review Meeting provided a platform for reflection, collaboration, and future planning.

 

Held at the prestigious Palazzo Poggi, organized by the University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum), the General Assembly on June 25th offered a comprehensive overview of the progress achieved during the first 18 months of the project. Partners presented updates across all work packages, focusing particularly on advances in the selection, preparation, and physicochemical characterization of chemicals and nanomaterials (CNMs), as well as metabolic responses assessments.

 

Advisory Board members Alessandro Kovtun and Laura Toschi joined the discussions, offering constructive feedback and strategic insights for the path ahead. An engaging session also explored the potential applications of selected nanomaterials and upcoming collaborations with industry partners.

9. Innovative Tools and Artificial Intelligence - Launch of the CheMatSustain Facility

   Alessandra Fiorucci, University of Bologna

In June 2025, the CheMatSustain (CMS) Consortium hosted the launching event of the CheMatSustain Facility. Organized by the University of Bologna (UNIBO), the workshop brought together over 50 experts from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies to explore how the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework can be advanced through new digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI).

 

Opening remarks from UNIBO introduced the facility’s objectives, providing an essential foundation for the following presentations on its structure, which highlighted the practical tools developed by consortium partners. 

 

The Database and AI Toolbox were introduced first, the former as a resource to provide stakeholders with access to critical information, while the latter, presented as a digital prototype, demonstrated how AI could aid in nanomaterial toxicity prediction, based on physicochemical properties. This approach promises to minimize conventional animal testing, offering a faster, more ethical, and efficient alternative for safety assessment.  

 

The SSbD Toolbox was presented with a digital demonstration, thanks to which users were able to examine the tool's user interface and possible uses. This perfectly showed off its goal of easily integrating life cycle assessments into the design stage of material innovation, making sustainability a guiding principle from the beginning. Finally, the Footprint Scorecard, a complementary tool for integrating environmental and safety performance indicators, was introduced. 

 

Interactive Q&As and group discussions during the interactive feedback session allowed participants to share their opinions on the presented tools and helped the consortium define the next steps for the development of tools and resources.

 

The event featured two insightful keynote speeches. Velibor Ilic presented the research perspective on the future role of AI in the field of nanomaterials, highlighting emerging trends and scientific opportunities. Arturo Roberatzzi followed with the industry viewpoint, discussing real-world applications and challenges of implementing AI in this domain.

 

The event concluded with a dynamic roundtable discussion, where all speakers shared their perspectives on future-oriented strategies and the strategic alignment of AI with policy development in the chemicals and nanomaterials sectors.

10. Spotlight Partnership

   Andrea Dobri, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

One of the key outcomes of the Collab4Resilience initiative is fostering collaboration through project newsletters.
In this issue, we’re excited to introduce the new “Spotlight Partnership” section, which features member projects from our working group and highlights their contributions to our shared goals.

Meet the People Behind SSbD4CheM

Beatriz Alfaro Serrano, BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft

SSbD4CheM is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project working to introduce screening and testing methods for safe and sustainable material development in three relevant demonstrators: the textile, automotive and cosmetics industries. The project aims to meet the EU’s strategic objectives for digital, enabling, and emerging technologies, sectors, and value chains by developing a comprehensive Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework that uses new science-based approaches to identify and address potential hazards and risks, and innovative technologies to support the design of safer and more sustainable products and processes.

 

Meet the People Behind SSbD4CheM!

Get to know a few of our Work Package leaders by reading these interviews! (click the link below to read the whole interviews).

TOXBOX - Testing Chemicals for a Safer, More Sustainable Future

Sophie von Stralendorff , Steinbeis Europa Zentrum 

Ensuring that chemicals are safe for people and the environment is one of today’s most important challenges. Many traditional methods for testing chemical safety still rely on animal experiments and are often expensive, slow, and not always relevant to real-life human exposure. TOXBOX, a European research project funded by the European Commission, is working to change this by developing a new generation of safety testing tools using the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) approach.

 

TOXBOX is creating an innovative “plug-and-play” platform – a flexible, all-in-one device that will allow researchers to test how chemicals affect living systems under conditions that closely mimic real-world environments. The device builds on a prototype developed in an earlier EU-funded project (PANBioRA) and includes advanced microfluidics, making it possible to test a wide range of chemicals quickly and efficiently.

 

Key features of the platform include automated tests for cytotoxicity (how harmful a substance is to cells), genotoxicity (its potential to damage DNA), and a special module using zebrafish embryos to study effects on brain development. Importantly, the system is designed to be easy to use across different labs, making it ideal for interlaboratory testing and broader adoption. TOXBOX is also developing advanced computer models to simulate long-term chemical effects, helping to reduce the need for animal testing and improve the speed and quality of risk assessments. As the project now moves into the testing and validation phase, modules will be exchanged and tested in partner laboratories across Europe.

 

Upcoming important milestones include the launch of the general project video and the conclusion of the project’s first 18 months with a review meeting being prepared at the premises of project partner KIT in Karlsruhe, Germany.

 

To learn more, visit the TOXBOX website, stay tuned with updates and connect in social media:

 

🌐 Website: https://toxbox.eu/

🔗 LinkedIN: TOXBOX

Registration now open for two Hack2BRIDGE events in Graz and Milan!

Giovanni Arnaboldi , Initiativa Finanza e Innovazione  

We are excited to announce that Hack2BRIDGE lands in Austria and Italy!

 

Hack2BRIDGE is a dynamic series of hackathons organized in the context of the BRIDGESMEs project, bringing together SMEs, start-ups, researchers, students and professionals at the forefront in shaping the future of digital innovation. These entrepreneurship ideation competitions offer an invaluable opportunity for participants to cooperate in the development of creative solutions that address the ever-growing challenges across several sectors of the manufacturing industry.

 

BRIDGESMEs is a Horizon Europe-funded project which aims to empower and support SMEs in facilitating the creation of strategic partnerships between manufacturing enterprises and tech-savvy companies. The project helps businesses to rethink their business models and operations, thus fostering resilience, promoting sustainability and enhancing a human-centric approach. Together with SMEs we are strengthening innovation ecosystems and unlocking new opportunities towards Industry 5.0.

 

Registrations are now open for two exciting Hack2BRIDGE events:

• On October 6 and 7, 2025 Graz will host BRIDGESME’s hackathon on Electronics and Manufacturing. Interested participants are encouraged to register by September 26, 2025.
• The second one is scheduled for November 11, 2025 in Milan, with a thematic focus on Mobility, Transport and Automotive. The registrations close on July 11, 2025.

 

Both events bolster the exchange of entrepreneurial ideas and represent a unique mentoring opportunity with personalized feedback thanks to the support of sector experts. Thus, participants will have the chance to create added value and gain greater visibility for their projects. Top-performing teams will have the opportunity to win cash prizes along with receiving tailored support for further growing their innovative solutions.

Mining the Invissible - How TERRAVISION is Revolutionizing Raw Material Discovery from Space

Katerina Erato Zouroufidou , ICCS Greece

How do you detect a particular mineral from a satellite?

 

The TERRAVISION project, launched in January 2024 and funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program, is pioneering a smarter, more sustainable future for mining. The initiative uses Earth observation technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to discover new mineral deposits and minimize environmental impact.

 

As demand for critical raw materials like lithium, rare earths, and cobalt grows, TERRAVISION aims to improve how these resources are located and extracted. Satellites, equipped to “see” beyond the visible spectrum, capture hyperspectral images that reveal the unique spectral signatures of minerals. Combined with drone footage and in-situ sensor data from mines in Greece and Spain, these images form the basis of a powerful, AI-driven analysis platform.

 

A key output of the project is an open spectral library of raw materials—essentially a database of mineral fingerprints—that geologists and engineers can use to identify both primary and secondary materials, even those typically discarded. For instance, overlooked mine waste has been found to contain valuable rare earths.

 

In parallel, TERRAVISION tracks the ecological footprint of mining. AI algorithms integrate satellite and ground data to quantify dust movement, vegetation loss, and pollution, providing detailed insights into the environmental and socioeconomic effects of mining activities.

 

Read the full article: https://terravision-project.eu/how-do-you-detect-a-particular-mineral-from-a-satellite/

 

Originally published on heraldo.es

Thank you for reading!

We hope that you have enjoyed the third edition of the newsletters and that you follow our project journey!

 

If you have not already, please subscribe to our newsletter!

Take a look at our upcoming events on our website!

Sincerely yours,

The CheMatSustain Partners