Niobium nanoparticles: preparation, catalytic properties and applications in PDT

• Grant number: 13/50395-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Agreement: Consortium of Alberta, Laval, Dalhousie and Ottawa (CALDO)
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio da Silva Baptista
• Grantee: Mauricio da Silva Baptista
• Principal researcher abroad: Juan Cesar Scaiano
• Institution abroad: University of Ottawa (uOttawa), Canada
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/50680-5 - Photosensitization in life sciences, AP.TEM

Abstract

Brazil has 98% of the known commercially-viable reserves of niobium and 90% of the total niobium-containing minerais on the planet. Niobium-containing minerais include columbite [(Fe, Mn) (Nb, Ta)206), columbite-tantalite or coltan [(Fe, Mn)(Ta, Nb)206], pyrochlore [(Na, Ca)2Nb2O6(OH, F)) and euxenite [(Y, Ca, Ce, U, Th)(Nb, Ta, Ti)206). Of the total worldwide production of niobium (ca. 63,000 tons in 2011), Brazil is responsible for the vast majority (> 90% or 58,000 tons), followed by Canada with about 7% (4,400 tons). The present project proposes studies in three important areas of niobium-based nanotechnology that will take advantage of the unique and complementary expertises and facilities of the Canadian and Brazilian groups: (1) novel routes for the preparation of niobium metal and niobium oxide nanoparticles of controlled size and form; (2) the use of niobium metal and niobium oxide based nanoparticles to catalyze the preparation of cationic dye precursors; (3) the investigation of the properties of niobium metal nanoparticles in artificial membrane systems and their potential for use as an active support in photodynamic therapy (PDT). By performing collaborative research in Niobium nanotechnology, which is of both scientific and echnological interest, we expect to increase and consolidate the scientific interaction between the experimental groups in Canada (Scaiano) and Brazil (Quina, Bastos and Baptista). (AU)