The Government of Santa Fe, through the call for Excellence in Scientific Research Plan (SF PEIC-E) of the Santa Fe Science, Technology and Innovation Agency, granted financing for new equipment, installed in the X-Ray Diffractometry Center for Chemical and Applied Crystallography of the Institute of Chemistry of Rosario (IQUIR-CONICET), for an amount of US$85,000.
Its use may be applied to different lines: studies of solid state phenomena in NSAIDs and anti-infectives, comprehensive developments on the quality of compounds of pharmaceutical interest in the solid state, development of polymeric matrices for the transport and control of the release of active drugs. anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, design of nanotechnological platforms for the treatment of Chagas disease, catalysts as bases for an alternative solution to energy problems, development of catalytic materials for the production of solar fuels, study of improved breads and cookies nutritionally and the development of edible films based on whey proteins.
In addition, it is planned to develop a service offer plan for the new equipment, since with the acquisition of the X-ray Powder Diffraction equipment (XRDP), it will be possible to complement the Center, recently formed, where there is a Bruker D8 diffractometer. ADVANCE ECO for monocrystals, acquired in 2021 with the PME-2015-0022 grant from the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development and Innovation. With this equipment it is possible to determine the molecular structure from single crystals, but it is not capable of analyzing powders, disintegrated samples and semisolids.
The acquisition of XRD equipment will expand and complete the offer of scientific and technological services provided by this IQUIR center, where specialized personnel will also be trained in advanced techniques in the characterization of chemical products.
Within this framework, the Secretary for Science, Technology and Innovation, Marina Baima, toured the facilities in Rosario on Tuesday, together with the director of IQUIR, Sandra Signorella; the researcher and director of the PEIC E 2021-003 Project, Rubén Maggio; the researcher Gabriela Ledesma; and members of the Institute.
In this regard, Baima expressed: “When we started the management, IQUIR had not yet moved into this new building. It is incredible to see today how the scholarship holders are already underway with lines of research, the researchers who have already moved into this building that has a large investment from CONICET and also where the province supports the financing of equipment that is worth today 100,000 dollars, which is a piece of equipment that makes it possible to start and continue highly innovative lines of research, mainly in the area of pharmacology”.
“IQUIR is really characterized by a solid experience in these areas and in which it has equipment that is unique in Argentina and also in Latin America. It is also important to see how the scholarship holders who participated in IQUIR were able to train abroad and today return to apply that knowledge. Clearly, investing in strategic issues such as the area of health in research is a decision that our governor made and that we support from the area of science and technology. It is important to highlight all the lines that have an axis and it is the prioritization of our government to have issues so important that they can modify and have a social impact together with our researchers and researchers”, added the official.
ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT
The X-Ray Diffractometer allows the identification and quantification of chemical compounds in the solid state, and can be applied to a wide variety of materials, from synthetic chemical compounds to foods and natural products. The DRXP constitutes a fundamental tool with wide application in scientific research, the development of new products, the education and training of human resources, of which there is little supply at the provincial level.
In Santa Fe there are only two assimilable equipment, which are several years old, are designed and dedicated to applications less related to fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
ABOUT THE IQUIR
IQUIR carries out scientific and technological research related to areas of Basic Chemistry, including Organic, Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry. At the Institute, organic, organometallic and inorganic molecules, reagents and catalysts are designed, synthesized and characterized, their properties and potential usefulness are studied, new analytical methodologies and chemical processes are developed for applied purposes (environment, medicines, energy, etc.) promoting the transfer of knowledge to the productive sector. Likewise, it actively participates in the training of human resources.
IQUIR offers instrumental, research and scientific consulting services; NMR, IR, UV-V and polarimetry spectroscopy services; synthesis, isolation, purification and structural elucidation of substances, including chromatographic separations (CC, HPLC, GC) and chemical operations with high vacuum or inert atmosphere systems; and professional consulting and human resources training services (courses, internships, etc.).
