Nino Makhaldiani, a researcher at the Technical University Of Georgia(STU) in the field of chemical and biological engineering at the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, created history. She has won the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia “2023 Young Scientists Research Grant Funding Competition”.
This young scientist prepared the project – “Obtaining nanomagnetite stabilised with biocompatible modifiers for use in the biomedical field”. She completed the project work under the mentorship of Marine Donadze. Mariine Donadze is a professor at the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy of STU(Georgina Technical University).
As per the winner Nino Makhaldiani, the goal of the research is to get nano magnetite compatible with the human body, which has the best biocompatibility and low toxicity and is an effective method for the treatment of tumour cells.
She further added “The main aim of our research was to obtain body-compatible nano magnetite by electrolysis with the use of biocompatible modifiers. Magnetic nanoparticles are normally characterised by good biocompatibility and low toxicity, and magnetic hyperthermia is the least damaging method for treating tumour cells in the human body. Under this project, we select the optimal composition of the electrolyte, and based on the results, we will further analyse deeply the magnetic nanoparticles obtained under optimal synthesis conditions with the use of various methods”.
she also said that “magnetisation ability, hysteresis force and residual magnetism will be evaluated under this project. After the synthesis and determination of the magnetic characteristics of the hydrophilic magnetite nanoparticles, it is planned to functionalise the magnetic nanoparticles with different types of amino acids and DNA molecules. In addition, we will also quantitatively and qualitatively make the assessment of the degree of stability of the DNA double helix linked to magnetite nanoparticles.”
Liana Targamadze, acting dean of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy of STU, and associate professor, stated that the victory of young researchers and doctoral students of Georgia Technical University in the grant competition of Rustaveli National Science Foundation is historic. This victory will further increase the quality of ongoing scientific research at the university and the possibilities of their integration into international projects.
Dean also said that, “It is a wonderful moment that scientific project of one of our faculty’s young researchers, Nino Makhaldiani, has won the Rustaveli Foundation grant competition. This made us proud. This research is very relevant, as magnetites have been successfully used in the biomedical field and ecological direction in past times, too. We are very hopeful that the research will bring the unique scientist the desired results. The Furthermore Technical University of Georgia is always ready to support its talented doctoral students and promising young researchers in every way to participate in local and international scientific competitions and find support for their full integration into the international scientific space”