Scientists from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Serbia and the Czech Republic are joining forces in the SeNaTa project - "Self-heating magnetic nanoconstructs for theranostic applications", coordinated by the Institute of Catalysis – BAS and headed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hristo Kolev. The aim is to develop innovative magnetic nanomaterials that can simultaneously diagnose and treat cancer. Magnetic nanoparticles have the unique property to heat up when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. Thus, they can induce a local temperature rise in tumour tissue of up to 42-46 °C, a process called magnetic hyperthermia, which leads to the destruction of cancer cells. Additionally, by binding to radioactive isotopes, the nanoparticles acquire a diagnostic function becoming theranostic agents (combining therapy and diagnostics). First results have already shown that cobalt-substituted [...]

Dr. Jernej Kovačič Scientists at the BAS Institute of Electronics have developed a device called the Retarding Field Analyzer which is used to conduct experiments to achieve controlled fusion. The device has been installed on a tokamak in France and has produced results that will, for the first time, cause changes in the modelling of physical processes. Assoc. Prof. Pavlina Ivanova, head of the team that has invented the Retarding Field Analyzer Unique research from the measurement of ion temperature in the WEST tokamak divertor was presented during the 24th edition of the International School of Vacuum, Electron and Ion Technologies. Dr. Jernej Kovačić from the University of Ljubljana announced the results of the work of the international team [...]