PN-IV-P8-8.3-PM-RO-FR-2024-0071
Project team
Project timespan
Abstract
Project objectives
Budget
Results
Title: Biomimetic Artificial Water Channels Based on Self-Assembled Macrocycles with Tunable Cavities
Funding authority: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI)
Contract: 7BMFR / 2024
Project Partners:
- Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Team Leader: Dr. Niculina Daniela Hădade
- Institut Europeen des Membranes, Montpellier, France,
Team Leader: Dr. Mihai Bărboïu
- Dr. Niculina Hădade - partner leader
- Dr. Elena Bogdan - senior researcher
- Dr. Eszter Lakatos - postdoctoral researcher
- PhD Student Maria-Alexandra Băicuș
Project timespan
2024 -- 2025
2024 -- 2025
Abstract
Artificial Water Channels (AWCs) are synthetic compounds that mimic the natural water channels in living cells. In the last decade AWCs received considerable attention from both academics and industry mainly due to their promising applications for water purification and sea water desalination. AQUAPUR project bring together two teams with complementary expertise and synergic scientific interests. The project’s main goal is to create novel macrocycles able to self-assemble as functional tubular channel that enable water transport and separation, thus acting as AWCs. This challenge will be addressed by carefully design of the macrocycles by modulating the size of the cavity, the nature of the self-assembling units and functional groups that decorate the cavity. Water transport will be assessed in lipid bilayer membranes. The most effective compounds will also be integrated into polymer-based membranes that can be used for water purification by reverse osmosis or nanofiltration methods.
Artificial Water Channels (AWCs) are synthetic compounds that mimic the natural water channels in living cells. In the last decade AWCs received considerable attention from both academics and industry mainly due to their promising applications for water purification and sea water desalination. AQUAPUR project bring together two teams with complementary expertise and synergic scientific interests. The project’s main goal is to create novel macrocycles able to self-assemble as functional tubular channel that enable water transport and separation, thus acting as AWCs. This challenge will be addressed by carefully design of the macrocycles by modulating the size of the cavity, the nature of the self-assembling units and functional groups that decorate the cavity. Water transport will be assessed in lipid bilayer membranes. The most effective compounds will also be integrated into polymer-based membranes that can be used for water purification by reverse osmosis or nanofiltration methods.
Objectives
Strengthen long-term Franco–Romanian collaboration in supramolecular chemistry and artificial water channels by implementing bidirectional mobility between the Romanian (UBB) and French (IEM) teams.
Obtain new macrocycles with shape-persistent or semirigid structures and study their ability to self-assemble into tubular channels within lipid vesicles, with the ultimate goal of developing new artificial water channels (AWCs) with improved water/ion selectivity and permeability.
Strengthen long-term Franco–Romanian collaboration in supramolecular chemistry and artificial water channels by implementing bidirectional mobility between the Romanian (UBB) and French (IEM) teams.
Obtain new macrocycles with shape-persistent or semirigid structures and study their ability to self-assemble into tubular channels within lipid vesicles, with the ultimate goal of developing new artificial water channels (AWCs) with improved water/ion selectivity and permeability.
Project budget
| Category | Budget (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2025 | |
| Travel expenses | 5500 | 14720 |
Result
Bilateral visits of Romanian and French researchers were carried out as follows: Romanian researchers visited the European Institute of Membranes in Montpellier, France [2024: visit by Dr. Eszter Lakatos (14 days) and PhD student Maria Băicuș (14 days); 2025: Dr. Niculina Hădade (7 days) and Dr. Elena Bogdan (5 days)], and French researchers visited Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca in 2025 [Dr. Mihail Bărboïu (5 days) and PhD student Ioan Stroia (14 days)]. These exchanges facilitated the transfer of expertise, the training of young researchers, and the strengthening of scientific collaboration within the Brâncuși project.
Bilateral visits of Romanian and French researchers were carried out as follows: Romanian researchers visited the European Institute of Membranes in Montpellier, France [2024: visit by Dr. Eszter Lakatos (14 days) and PhD student Maria Băicuș (14 days); 2025: Dr. Niculina Hădade (7 days) and Dr. Elena Bogdan (5 days)], and French researchers visited Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca in 2025 [Dr. Mihail Bărboïu (5 days) and PhD student Ioan Stroia (14 days)]. These exchanges facilitated the transfer of expertise, the training of young researchers, and the strengthening of scientific collaboration within the Brâncuși project.
Dissemination
Conference
Conference
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Conferința Națională de Chimie, Ediția XXXVII,
Maria Alexandra Băicuș, Ion Grosu, Niculina D. Hădade, Mihail Barboïu,
Water permeation across a series of imines - Potential artificial water channels, Targoviste, România, 25-27 September, 2024 (oral presentation).
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Synthesis and Characterisation of Novel Cyclopenta[c]pyrans Functionalized with Phenothiazine or Terpyridine Units,
Andreea Petronela Crișan, Ana-Maria Țepeş, Alexandra Pop, Niculina Daniela Hădade, Elena Bogdan,
Synlett, accepted for publication.