Top News of Last Week with ANA
Azad News Agency (ANA) published a number of scientific and technological news during the past week whose top ones are as follows:
Iranian, Iraqi Universities to Establish Joint Science, Technology Park
Officials of five Iranian and Iraqi universities of technology held a meeting to review the strategies and mechanisms of research cooperation between the two countries, examine the possibility of utilizing the capacity of targeted scholarships, hold short-term specialized courses, and establish joint science and technology parks.
This specialized meeting was held at the University of Euphrates in Kufa in the presence of high-ranking Iraqi government officials, university presidents, vice presidents, and professors.
The meeting was attended by high-ranking Iraqi government officials, university presidents, and faculty members, and chaired by Haidar Abdul Dhahad, the deputy minister of Higher Education of Iraq. The main areas agreed upon in the cooperation between a consortium of the top 5 technical universities include establishment of a Science and Technology Park through cooperation between Amir Kabir University of Technology in Iran and Baghdad University of Technology.
On the first day of the meeting, Iraqi officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Hamed Khalaf and President of Euphrates Al-Awsat University Hassan Kazem Al-Zubaidi, emphasized the need for universities to move towards a knowledge-based economy and strengthen the relationship between industry, government, and universities.
They considered amending the laws for establishing science and technology parks, creating incentives for the private sector, and modeling on Iran’s self-sufficiency experience as requirements for this path. Also, a proposal was made to hold joint skill courses for students and professors of the two countries.
Representatives of Iranian universities also introduced their capacities and experiences in launching and managing science and technology parks and educating successful students at the national and international levels, emphasizing that the formation of such structures requires a gradual transition from educational, research, and technological stages.
Iranian Company Combines Art with Industry to Create Wooden Products
A technological company in Iran that combines wood and new materials has transformed raw talent into successful artisans, taking wood art from small workshops to global markets.
“Observation of activities in areas such as mosaic, resin work, and burnishing made me think of creating a space to carry out multiple activities simultaneously,” Hassan Rahgozar, the founder of the company stationed at the incubator center of the Islamic Azad University’s Shiraz branch, told ANA.
“The goal was to create an artistic combination of wood with other materials like glass, pottery, ceramics, resin, and leather to expand the scope of art and prevent artists from operating in isolation,” he added.
“The company's products and services meet the need for functional and beautiful works of art in homes, offices, and gifts, including rustic kitchenware and composite sculptures. Nationally, it addresses the need for entrepreneurship, discovering raw talent in students, vocational training, developing crafts, and exporting,” Rahgozar said.
Iranian Firm Develops New Generation of HEPA Filters with Nanofiber Technology
Fanavaran Nano Meqyas (FNM) company used nanofibers and electrospinning technology to produce a new generation of nanofiber-based HEPA filters.
By reducing pressure drop, increasing filtration efficiency, and providing high stability in various working conditions, the technology is an important step in indigenizing the production of advanced air filters and reducing the country's technological dependence.
By utilizing electrospinning technology and designing polymer nanofibers with a diameter of less than one-tenth of a micron, the company has been able to produce filters that, while achieving high efficiency in the HEPA class, also create very low pressure drop.
This feature allows ventilation and air purification systems to consume less energy, thereby reducing operating costs.
In the new nanofiber filters, the morphology of the structure and the uniformity of the surface of the fibers are designed in a way that particles much smaller than 0.3 microns are trapped. The combination of these nanofibers with resistant substrates creates a strong and flexible structure that is resistant to tearing, moisture and environmental changes. Unlike glass fiber filters, this product does not contain hazardous particles and is harmless to human health; therefore, it is perfectly suitable for use in medical equipment, operating rooms, respiratory devices and sensitive pharmaceutical and food industries.
Also, the multilayer design and the possibility of customizing the structure have made these filters an economically attractive option to replace imported products.
Iranian Firm Produces Advanced Measuring, Optical Equipment
The Iranian knowledge-based Fanavari Khala’ Kahroba company participated in the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in Tehran by presenting a set of advanced equipment in the field of optical and microscopic measurement.
Among the company's flagship products are a digital camera for transmission electron microscopes (TEM), a thin film thickness gauge, and an optical surface profiler.
The thin film thickness gauge based on Fresnel diffraction technology is capable of measuring the thickness of layers with an accuracy of two nanometers. The device is about a quarter of the price of foreign models and provides results in a fraction of a second without the need for special laboratory conditions. The simple design and easy-to-use interface make it possible for non-specialized operators to use it.
The optical surface profiler is another achievement of the company which uses interferometry technology to map surfaces with an accuracy of five nanometers and dimensions of up to one square millimeter. The device is used in industries like rubber manufacturing, dentistry, and even the food industry, and is cheaper than similar foreign equipment.
In the field of structural health, the company has developed a remote vibrometer; a tool that measures the vibrations of bridges, buildings, and engines with high precision by analyzing optical patterns, and plays a key role in predicting failures and monitoring the condition of equipment.
The company has also installed special imaging cameras on these devices in recent years with the aim of digitizing transmission electron microscopes.
Iranian Firm Produces Nano-Based Bioactive Compounds to Treat Cancer, Diabetes
Ideh Atlas Aram Technology and Accelerator company in Iran presented its latest products at the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in Tehran in the field of nanomedicines and nutritional supplements.
The company uses artificial intelligence to identify bioactive compounds in plants and evaluate their effects on the body. After confirming the performance of these compounds, the active ingredient of the plant is extracted and then converted to nano through nanoemulsion to increase its accessibility and efficiency in cells and optimize its effectiveness,” said Navid Abedpour, the managing director of the company.
“In the algae section, we have extracted astaxanthin from Haematococcus. These algae are grown in laboratory and academic environments, and their active ingredient is extracted using advanced methods and converted into nanoemulsions. These nanoemulsions have diverse therapeutic capabilities,” he added.
“For instance, in addition to its restorative properties, astaxanthin nanoemulsion has been used as a therapeutic supplement in cancer treatment by changing its formulation and has reduced the size of cancerous tumors in several clinical cases,” Abedpour said.
He went on to say that avocado kernel oil, which has been converted into a nanoemulsion with black seed oil and has analgesic properties, is used in the field of pain control, adding, “In the field of anti-diabetes, the active compounds of fenugreek have been converted into nanoforms that can effectively reduce the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients.”
Iranian Company Produces Nano-Based Keratin from Chicken Feathers
Behin Fanavaran Arman company stationed at the incubator center of the Islamic Azad University’s Science and Research branch used nanotechnology to make hydrolyzed keratin from waste chicken feather fibers for the cosmetic and health industry.
“Behin Fanavaran Arman Company has been operating in the field of producing hydrolyzed keratin from chicken feathers for about two years. This product is used as a raw material in the cosmetic and health industries, including hair masks, shampoos, and therapeutic keratins,” said Amir Hossein Aabi, the technical director of production of the company, on the sidelines of the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in Tehran.
He explained that the product, while having a higher regenerative power for hair, does not have the unpleasant sulfur smell caused by the hydrolysis process.
Aabi also referred to other applications of the product, saying, “In addition to the cosmetic and health industries, the keratin we produce can be used in the agricultural sector (as organic fertilizer) and the medical field, specially in the production of dressings and wound dressings.”
“The dry powder of this material, with compounds similar to natural keratin in human skin, has significant healing properties,” he stated.
Iranian Specialists Use Nanogold as Marker in Nanosensors for Cancer, Drug Detection
Experts at an Iranian company managed to use nanogold as marker in nanosensors to detect cancer and drug, showcasing the company’s latest products at the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in Tehran.
“We have participated in the exhibition with several flagship products, each of which is significant in a different field of nano applications. Among these products, we can mention those which have been produced by using nanotechnology in the field of medicine, nanotechnology in concrete and construction, nano wound dressings, antibacterial carpets and textiles, nanogold and nanosilver,” said Mohammad Reza Kalayee, an associate professor of polymer engineering department and Head of Nanotechnology Research Center of the Islamic Azad University’s South Tehran branch.
Noting that three of the products of the company have been welcomed by visiting companies and negotiations are underway for their production and export, he said, “We have 27 products, 8 of which we have presented at the exhibition.”
“The three main products of interest in the market are concrete reinforced with nano and polymer fibers that increase the durability and strength of structures, drug nanocarriers that are nanocomposited with polymers, and nanogold that is used as a marker in nanosensors for detecting cancer and drugs,” Kalayee said.
Iranian Firm Makes Gold, Silver in Nano, Micro Dimensions for Industries
Experts at an Iranian company managed to produce gold and silver in nano and micro dimensions with application in different industries.
“In the field of metal nanoparticles, most researchers provide part of the required materials before starting their projects, and their industrial production is usually not carried out. However, for industrial applications such as plating and electrophoretic processes, there is a need for gold and silver nanoparticles, and our company provides them as precursors and on an industrial scale,” said Ali Mehdipour, the managing director of Pouya Rizsazeh Razi company based at the Research Center of the Islamic Azad University’s Najafabad branch, in the sidelines of the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in Tehran.
“These nanoparticles have been sold in the research and laboratory sector and have different grades A, B and C, with the highest quality and purity corresponding to Grade A and is mostly used by researchers; because industries usually do not need this high grade,” he added.
Iranian Company Produces Single-Layer Graphene to Reinforce Tire, Bitumen
Aria Graphene Technology is an Iranian knowledge-based company stationed at the incubator center the Islamic Azad University’s North Tehran branch which participated in the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in Tehran with a product called single-layer graphene.
“Our company produces graphene and its derivatives. Previously, graphene production in Iran was mainly laboratory and scattered, but after the analyses of our company were approved by the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, our production has been upgraded to a knowledge-based and semi-industrial level. Industrial production of graphene on a kilo scale has never been done in the country before,” said Banayee, the head of commercial and sales management department of the company.
“In the automotive industry, graphene and graphene oxide increase the resistance of tires and plastics, control temperature transfer, increase durability, and reduce wear and slippage. In the petrochemical and bitumen industries, these materials prevent the aging of asphalt and bitumen, and in construction, they make concrete lighter and more resistant. In addition, they are also used in medical engineering and water filtration, although their use has not yet spread in Iran,” he added.
Many patents have been registered in the field of tire and bitumen production in Europe and the US, but our company has succeeded in producing and analyzing high-performance automobile tires with graphene and graphene oxide in Iran,” Banayee said.
“Our activity is in the semi-industrial production stage and we plan to increase the scale-up of production by 10 times,” he underlined.
Islamic Azad University Researchers Produce Nano-Based Genome Extraction Kit
Specialists at Karmania Parsigene company stationed at the Islamic Azad University’s Kerman branch presented a nanotechnology-based genome extraction kit that could revolutionize the process of extracting DNA from living cells.
The kits used for genome extraction have different methods; some are based on precipitation and some are based on DNA absorption columns. Our company has produced precipitation and column kits for extracting DNA from human cells, blood samples, various human and animal tissues, and microbial and viral cells,” Karimi Nik, the managing director of the company, told ANA.
“Our new work is the same extraction kits, but this time with a new nano-based approach. With this method, we were able to extract DNA from living cells with very high purity in a simple, safe and fast way, without using materials that cause complications,” he added.
Karimi Nik explained that all laboratories that have molecular activities, like microbiology and virology laboratories, master's and doctoral research projects, and researchers in the field of laboratory sciences and biotechnology, can benefit from this product.
Iran-Made Conductive Ink with Copper Nanoparticles Low-Cost Alternative to Silver-Based Ink
Ava Fanpajouh Karmania company stationed at the Islamic Azad University’s Rafsanjan branch used copper nanoparticles to develop a conductive ink that can significantly reduce the production costs of printed circuits and become an economical alternative to silver ink in the domestic and foreign markets.
“Our technology is designed based on a fast electrolysis operation. In this method, instead of using electric current for traditional electrolysis, acidic bases are used, which allows copper nanoparticles to be deposited on oxide surfaces. Prototypes of the product have been able to sit on iron pellets and other oxide surfaces,” Omid Pourgaleh Dari, the managing director of the company, told ANA on the sidelines of the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in Tehran.
He explained that the company’s main goal was to produce conductive ink for printing printed circuits on plastic, paper, and traditional fibers, adding, “They have achieved initial success in this field, but the challenge that has not yet been overcome is the rapid oxidation of the surface of the copper nanoparticles and we are working on this problem.”
“The silver ink available in the market is very expensive, given the global price of silver, while the production of copper ink by us is much less expensive,” Pourgaleh Dari said.
Iran Exports 600 Million Dollars of Creative Industries' Products
The head of the Creative Industries Group of the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade announced that the total volume of creative industries’ exports is estimated at about $600 million.
“Various fields, including toys and entertainment, handicrafts and musical instruments, have been defined as sub-categories of creative industries, and in order to be effectively present in the global market, private sector organizations must have official correspondence with the specialized trade office in the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) of Iran,” said Mohammad Hossein Habibnejad.
“Handicraft exports amounted to $224 million last (Persian calendar) year (started on March 21) , and the total volume of the country's creative industries exports is estimated at about $600 million,” he added.
“At present, several different agencies, including the Presidency, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, are in charge of parts of the creative industries,” Habibnejad said.
Iranian Company Develop Smart System to Monitor over 100,000 Hectares of Agricultural Lands
Technologists at an Iranian knowledge-based company implemented extensive drone operations in over 100,000 hectares of agricultural land in Iran, and succeeded in collecting data to develop artificial intelligence models, improve the accuracy of satellite monitoring systems, decision-making in irrigation management, and production of strategic products.
“Our space exploration system uses several layers of information; including ground data, daily data from various remote sensing satellites, meteorological data, and drone information. We have developed these models and now provide several main services,” said Hossein Motamedi, the managing-director of the knowledge-based company stationed at the Science and Technology Park of Kermanshah province in Western Iran.
Noting that with this system, accurate land data and farm management tools are provided in the agriculture and industries sector, he said, “A special panel has also been designed for farmers; after registering, each farmer gains access to the required data by specifying the area of his farm.”
“At present, we have a variety of models; including in the water requirement estimation section, precise irrigation planning (time, hour and volume of irrigation), estimating the amount of nitrogen on the field surface, and specialized models for specific crops like sugarcane that estimates the height of sugarcane with an error of 2 to 3 centimeters. The amount of nitrogen in the branches, leaves and pods in various crops like sugar beet and other crops is also calculated,” Motamedi said.
Iran-Made Device Diagnoses Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers Accurately
A group of Iranian researchers from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of the University of Tehran, in collaboration with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, succeeded in designing and building a device for accurate diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal cancers that can distinguish high-risk lesions from low-risk lesions by using the principles of electrical impedance spectroscopy.
In this research, which was conducted as a pilot study within the framework of a collaborative work by Mohammad Abdolahad, a professor and Reyhaneh Mahdavi, a faculty member of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Tehran, Reza Taslimi, an assistant professor of the Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, and Rouhollah Miri, an associate professor of the Department of Surgery of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and the results of which were published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, an electrical sensor was introduced that can help in real-time diagnosis of high-risk lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
The device, called the Electrical Endoscopic Mass Characterizer (EEMC), uses the principles of Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to distinguish between high-risk lesions that require excision and low-risk lesions that only require periodic review.
“One of the advantages of this system is that it is designed with modifications to the endoscopic biopsy forceps and, without interrupting the routine endoscopy process, can provide a pathology-calibrated diagnosis as the gold standard and help increase the accuracy of endoscopy,” Mahdavi said.
“In this study, which was conducted at the Imaging Center of the Gastroenterology Department of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, researchers tested the EEMC device on 52 patients undergoing endoscopic biopsy, and among these samples, 18 lesions were classified as high-risk. Statistical analysis results with standard pathology sampling showed that the device performed remarkably well; sensitivity of 94.7%, specificity of 93.9%, and overall accuracy of 94.2%. These figures indicate the potential of EEMC to reduce unnecessary sampling and increase the timely identification of lesions requiring treatment,” she said.
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