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 Firm Uses Nanotechnology to Produce Conductive Ink, Paste

An Iranian nanotechnology company succeeded in using nanostructured materials to make conductive ink and paste.

“Our company is a knowledge-based company stationed at Pardis Science and Technology Park. The production of nanostructured materials and development and compilation of technical know-how for making products by using nanotechnology are among the areas of activity of our company,” said Ebrahim Akbarzadeh, the managing director of Paydar Ebtekar Armina engineering company.

He added that his company produces conductive ink and paste, copper composite, graphite, antibacterial polymer films with copper nanoparticles, effective antibacterial agent of household water filters, and activated carbon containing nanoparticles and color pigments.

Iranian Nanotechnology Company Makes Different Catalysts, Silicate-Based Ceramics

Iranian experts at Ardakan Industrial Ceramics (AIC) holding used nanotechnology to produce different types of catalysts and silicate-based ceramics.

Asqar Borhani, the managing director of the AIC holding, said that the AIC was founded 29 years ago with the aim of producing industrial alumina and silicate-based ceramics, various catalysts, alpha alumina powder and active alumina, etc., with an annual capacity of 150,000 tons.

“AIC is a parent company, which includes Pars Oxid Kasra aluminum company, Diba Seram Novin Kasra ceramic balls company and Zarrin Poudr Novin Kasra mineral engineering company,” he added.

Iran to Hold 1st Conference on Canopies, Solar Powered, Thermal Patio Umbrellas

The first edition of the festival of "Canopies, Solar Powered and Thermal Patio Umbrellas" will be held under the auspices of the Headquarters for Knowledge-Based Energy Economy Development in cooperation with the Niroo Research Institute (NRI) on September 10 at the venue of Niroo Science and Technology Park located at the NRI compound.

According to an announcement published on the website of the Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, the purpose of holding the festival is to encourage and support creative ideas, technological and creative plans in the field of energy management and traditional cooling systems. One of the goals of the conference is to attract and support innovative and creative ideas and projects about canopies, the facade of residential buildings and offices, air conditioner shades, and also shades in public places such as sidewalks, parks, green space and car sun shades.

Supplying empowerment services, granting funds to the people with the creative ideas in order to build prototypes of their ideas, introducing designs and products to the beneficiaries of the field, providing facilities and covering commercialization risks in the direction of market building and marketing for superior designs, and special and valuable awards for superior ideas and designs who come first to third among others are some of the advantages of attending the conference, according to the announcement.

Iranian Researchers Produce Holter Blood Pressure Device

Technologists at a knowledge-based company that operates in the field of medical equipment succeeded in producing Holter blood pressure devices for long-term monitoring of the electrocardiogram (electrical signals) in the heart.

Mohsen Avesta, the managing director of he knowledge-based company Kawshgaran Teb Kharazmi announced the success of Iranian technologists in their firm in designing and producing Holter heart and blood pressure devices.

A Holter blood pressure device monitors electrocardiogram (electrical signals) in the heart and records the changes in blood pressure over a 24-hour period. Holter monitoring of blood pressure evaluates the patient’s blood pressure levels during that period in the normal environment and activities of the patient outside the doctor’s office. The investigation is necessary in case of elevated blood pressure readings to rule out or confirm the diagnosis of hypertension and to evaluate treatment outcomes of previously diagnosed hypertension.

WSA Confirms Iran’s 4.1 Percent Growth in Steel Production

The World Steel Association (WSA) announced in its latest report that Iran’s steel production in the first seven months of 2023 (January-July) has increased 4.1 percent.

Iran produced 18,100,000 tons of crude steel from January to July 2023, showing a 4.1 percent rise compared to the same period last year, the WSA said in its report.

Iran’s crude steel production in July of the current year reached 2 million tons, registering a 1.5 percent down compared to last year’s July.

The report said 63 countries of the world produced 1,103,200,000 tons of crude steel from January to July 2023, recording a 0.1 percent decline compared to the last year’s corresponding period.

Iranian Researchers Develop Provskite Solar Cells

Iranian researchers at Sahand University of Technology in Tabriz developed a simple, low-cost and scalable method for the synthesis of perovskite solar cell light-absorbing layers, considering the country’s serious need to have access to low-cost and renewable energy sources.

“Perovskite solar cells are the latest generation of solar cells that have surpassed previous technologies due to rapid progress in efficiency and performance,” said Farzad Nasirpouri, a professor of the Department of Materials Engineering of Sahand University of Technology. 

“Like any other technology, one of the most important challenges in developing such cells is the ability to produce them on a large and industrial scale. To this end, a simple and scalable chemical bath method was developed in our project for the synthesis of perovskite layer. The solar cell made by this method showed an efficiency of 11.35% under standard radiation conditions,” he added.

"The results of this project showed the possibility of preparing perovskite by the chemical bath method, which on the one hand eliminates the need to use hazardous solvents, and on the other hand, because it is simpler and less expensive, it is possible to generalize to large dimensions,” Nasirpouri said.

Over 1 Million Health Tourists Travel to Iran Annually

An official with the Iranian health ministry said more than one million foreign travelers mainly from neighboring countries come to Iran annually to receive medical treatment.

"In the field of health diplomacy, we have prepared necessary documents and have given them to higher-ranking authorities. We are considering three important policies in our plan. The first one is internationalization of health sector potentials and capabilities in treatment, education, medicine, and production of medical equipment,” Director General of International Affairs Department at Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education Mohammad Hossein Niknam said in a press conference in Tehran.

“The second area of activity is improving the health condition in the neighboring countries. We cannot be indifferent towards their health as we share a lot of borders with our neighbors,” he added.

Niknam added that paying attention to the international markets to provide them with the country's pharmaceutical capablities is one of the other main areas of activities on their agenda.

Iran to hold 4th International Congress of Microbiology

The 24th International Congress of Microbiology of Iran will be held in September along with the first event to discover hidden talents in biology in the country.

The first talent discovery event in the field of biotechnology in Iran will be held between September 18 and 20 at the same time as the 24th International Congress of Microbiology of Iran at venue of Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST). 

According to an announcement by the IROST, all researchers who may be interested in participating in the event can submit their projects and creative ideas in the field of biology. Their ideas will be reviewed meticulously by the jury between August 30 and September 6.

From September 7 to 13, the mentoring of selected candidates and the first talent in biology event  in Iran will be held at the venue of IROST from September 18 to 20.

Iranian Nanotechnology Firm Produces Rapid Diagnosis Kits

Researchers at an Iranian nanotechnology company succeeded in making medical rapid diagnosis kits and DNA detection devices.

Engineer Keyvan Dabir, the executive director of Zist Abzar Pajouhan company, elaborated on the industrial capabilities of the company and its products, saying that medical rapid diagnosis kits are the first product of the technological company.

Production of rapid diagnosis kits, automatic drug or chemical extraction device that works based on nanoparticles like nanosilica, nanofiber-based breathing masks, nucleic acid purification and extraction devices and devices for detection of DNA and RNA in blood samples, nanofiber-based inhibitors and beauty masks that are made in the three areas of anti-wrinkle, brightening and hydrating masks are among the main activities of the company, he added.

Iranian Nanotechnology Firm Produces Iron-Based Medicinal Supplements

Experts at an Iranian nanotechnology company succeeded in making iron-based medicinal supplements and other pharmaceutical products.

Massoud Saeedi, the head of the board of directors of Simorq Darou Attar pharmaceutical company, elaborated on different products of his firm, saying, “Nano-based medicinal supplements which contain iron are one of the achievements of our specialists.”

He added that Simorq Darou Attar is a pharmaceutical company that produces supplements and herbal medicine.

“At present, in addition to these products, the company has started production of chemical medicine with three production lines of solids (tablets and capsules), semi-solids (ointment and gel) and liquids (syrup, drops and suspension),” Saeedi said.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Nanofibrous Transparent Bandages for Wound Care

Researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based company have produced transparent nanofibrous dressings that allow for better visualization and inspection of the wound.

A knowledge-based firm in Iran operating in the field of producing advanced nano-fiber dressings has managed to make new wound care products, especially for diabetic wounds, burns, and pressure ulcers.

In an interview with Iranian media, Adele Qolipour Kanaani, the managing director of that knowledge-based firm said that producing advanced nanofibrous dressings for all types of skin wounds called "Tadapan" is one of the products of their company.

“This knowledge-based product is used in the treatment care of all types of open skin wounds, especially for the healing of diabetic wounds. This advanced dressing is a layer composed of nanofibers that becomes transparent as soon as it comes into contact with the wet surface of the wound and allows monitoring the treatment process,” she said.

Iranian Firm Exports Home-Made Nano Drugs with Controlled Release System

An Iranian nanotechnology company managed to produce and export special drugs with controlled release system.

“We have designed and produced targeted nanoparticles containing anticancer drugs and microparticles with controlled release system,” said Navid Nateqian, the co-founder and a member of the board of directors of Nano Darou Pajouhan Pardis company.

"The first product that we have made is Paclitaxel Albumin Nanoparticles (Pacli-Nab) used for the treatment of cancerous tissues,” he added.

Nateqian noted that the knowledge-based product was so much successful in the market that “it was also welcomed internationally and we were able to start exporting our product from the very first year”.

Iranian Firm Manufactures Devices to Produce different Nanopowders

Experts at an Iranian company managed to produce special devices for making different nanopowders and nanocolloids.

“Our company has implemented different projects in the field of nanotechnology processes and modification of nano products,” said engineer Ahmad Beyranvand, a technical expert in the field of water and wastewater of Pia Mavaran Nanotechnology Fardanegar company.

“Making devices to produce nanopowder and presentation of a new method to produce metal nanocolloids have been carried out by using the electric wire explosion method in our company,” he added.

“We make high-quality nano products. Using these devices, a wide range of metal nanopowders, metal oxides, and metal nanocolloids can be presented to the market,” Beyranvand said.

Iranian Scientists Make Ceramic Nanomembranes to Clean Water from Microbes

Researchers at an Iranian company managed to produce ceramic nanomembranes with application in purification of water from microbes.

“Danesh Pajouhan Sanat Nano company has numerous knowledge-based products in the field of ceramic nanomembranes and is the first producer of nanostructured ceramic membranes in Iran,” said Ali Akbar Babalou, the managing director of Danesh Pajouhan Sanat Nano company.

He added that the ceramic nanomembranes produced by his company can produce healthy drinking water free from any microbial contamination.

Babalou underlined that his company produces disc filtration systems used instead of filter press in mining, tile and ceramics industries, stone cutting, etc., industrial wastewater treatment and recycling systems, household water treatment systems, systems for removing microbial load and drinking water turbidity, and gray water treatment and recycling systems for car washing and carpet cleaning firms, swimming pools, hotels and recreational centers.

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