(3hc) Novel Flame-Made Nanomaterials for Emerging Applications

Research Interests: During my studies as a Chemical Engineer, I have been intrigued by nanotechnology and its applications. Thus, during my research “journey”, I decided to explore this emerging field. Nanomaterials have demonstrated unique properties that allow fabrication of highly performing devices for various applications (batteries, sensors, catalysts, drug delivery to name a few). My research interests are centered on the synthesis of advanced tailored nanomaterials by a scalable and highly reproducible nanomanufacturing process, flame spray pyrolysis (FSP). As the processing conditions are highly affecting the properties of the obtained nanomaterials and consequently their performance in the final applications, I am highly interested in investigating this structure-property relationship. Regarding the application of the produced nanomaterials, my research interests involve, but are not limited to, batteries, catalysts, sensors and drug delivery.

Research Experience: My research experience so far is focused on the synthesis of nanomaterials by aerosol processes. During my master thesis, I was trained in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition and synthesized metal-based thin films for sensing applications. During my PhD, I worked on nanoparticles synthesis by FSP focusing on superior performance. My PhD work was primarily focused on FSP synthesis of nanoparticles for lithium ion battery anodes. Among its main aims was the investigation of the effect of FSP processing conditions on nanoparticles’ properties (performed both experimentally and theoretically with mathematical models) and consequently on electrochemical properties of the battery assembled. An experimental protocol was proposed for FSP synthesis of nanoparticles with desired properties (phase composition, size, specific surface area etc.) for electrochemical performance optimization. I had the opportunity to perform an industrial PhD with a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) fellowship (under grant agreement No. 264710).

After obtaining my PhD, I continued conducting research as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Physics Department of University of Ioannina, using FSP for the production of catalytic nanoheterostructures for H₂ production. I had the opportunity to apply and expand the knowledge I gained during my PhD using different FSP configurations (double nozzle- and enclosed- FSP). FSP process control has been proven essential in order to obtain catalytic particles with controlled properties for H₂ production at a high rate. Moreover, I produced nanoparticles for other applications (cosmetics, energy storage, cement phase nanoparticles). Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Bionanomaterials in the research group of Professor Georgios A. Sotiriou at Karolinska Institutet. I have the opportunity to apply my background in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science in Health sciences/Medicine. With my expertise in FSP process optimization, I contribute to the design of bionanomaterials with desired functionality that serve as carriers for biological drugs (proteins, peptides, antibodies).

Proposal Experience: Experience in both national and EC (FP7 & H2020) proposals writing. Selected grant applications in: Karolinska Institutet foundation (evaluation in progress), David and Astrid Hagelén Foundation (rejected), Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefits Foundation (successful/accepted).

Selected Distinctions/Awards/Travel grants

2015 Best poster award in Symposium N of E-MRS Spring Meeting

2015 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Alumni Association travel grant for attendance of E-MRS Spring Meeting

2012-2015 Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship for my PhD studies, participation as an Early Stage Researcher in “Manufacturing and applications of nanostructured materials (MANANO)” FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITN project under grant agreement No. 264710

2010 Thomaidio Award from the National Technical University of Athens for oral presentation in the 26^th PanHellenic Conference on Solid State Physics & Materials Science

2006-2007 “Chris Papakyriakopoulos” award from the National Technical University of Athens for excellent performance in Mathematics

Postdoctoral projects:

• 2019-now: Flame engineered nanocarriers for delivery of biological drugs

Under supervision of Prof. Georgios Sotiriou, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

• 2017-2018: Hybrid nano-heterostructures produced by flame spray pyrolysis for catalytic applications

Under supervision of Prof. Yiannis Deligiannakis, Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, Greece

PhD Dissertation: Development of advanced nanomaterials for lithium-ion batteries

Industrial PhD under the supervision of Mr. Claudio Fernández Acevedo, Centro Tecnológico Lurederra, Spain and Prof. Tao Zhang and Prof. Peter Foot, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, Kingston University, UK.

Teaching interests: As a master student, I had assisted in several chemical engineering courses covering topics on physical chemistry, material science and nanotechnology. In addition, during my postdoctoral research, I have the chance to supervise bachelor thesis students. This daily contact with students has inspired me to pursue a tenure-track faculty position. I look forward to mentoring students and, apart from providing them with the knowledge of the appropriate experimental procedures and techniques for their research, I want to continuously inspire and motivate them. Students and researchers in my future group will benefit from interdisciplinary training in chemical engineering principles, aerosol science, materials processing and nanotechnology. My main aim is to always guide them towards independent research. The experience I have gained so far during my studies and my postdoctoral research endows me with the ability to develop lectures and/or courses regarding materials science, (bio)nanotechnology and aerosol science.

Future research plans: As a faculty, I plan to continue in the field of synthesis of novel nanomaterials by flame spray pyrolysis and/or other aerosol processes for a variety of applications including, but not limited to, energy storage, catalysis and drug delivery. Simple nanostructures such as TiO₂, SiO₂ and carbon black nanoparticles have already become commodities and are produced on large scale by aerosol reactors. Thus, my aim is to further develop these processes for the rapid fabrication of advanced nanostructured materials with optimized properties through structure-property relationships. I strongly believe that aerosol processing can bring a wind of innovation in various technological fields by facilitating the tailored synthesis of novel nanomaterials with complex hierarchical structures, that cannot be easily produced by different methods (e.x. wet chemistry).

As an independent researcher, my aim is to build a multidisciplinary lab establishing new and maintaining already established collaborations with renowned researchers in their fields.

During my PhD, I had also the opportunity to get involved in the scale-up of flame reactors and do my research in an industrial environment. Thus, I am intrigued on the multitude of opportunities that nanotechnology offers in the world of entrepreneurship and innovation. My ambition will always be the transition of my research from the lab bench to commercialization.

Selected Publications:

1. V. Tsikourkitoudi, J. Karlsson, P. Merkl, E. Loh, B. Henriques-Normark, G.A. Sotiriou, Flame-Made Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles with High Drug Loading for Delivery of Biologics, Molecules, 25(7), 1747 (2020).
2. H. Naatz, B. Manshian, C. Rios Luci, V. Tsikourkitoudi, Y. Deligiannakis, J. Birkenstock, S. Pokhrel, L. Mädler, S. Soenen, Model-Based Nanoengineered Pharmacokinetics of Iron-Doped Copper Oxide Applicable to Nanomedicine, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 59(5), 1828-1836 (2020).
3. V.P Tsikourkitoudi, I.A. Kartsonakis, V.E. Markakis, N. Papadopoulos, E. Hristoforou, C.A. Charitidis, Synthesis, structural and nanomechanical properties of cobalt based thin films, International Journal of Structural Integrity 6(2), 225-242 (2015).
4. E.P. Koumoulos, V. Markakis, V.P. Tsikourkitoudi, C.A. Charitidis, N. Papadopoulos, E. Hristoforou, Tribological characterization of chemical vapor deposited Co and Co₃O₄ thin films for sensing reliability in engineering applications, Tribology International 82, 89-94 (2015).
5. V.P. Tsikourkitoudi, E.P. Koumoulos, N. Papadopoulos, E. Hristoforou, C.A. Charitidis, Growth, Structural and Mechanical Characterization and Reliability of Chemical Vapor Deposited Co and Co₃O₄ Thin Films as Candidate Materials for Sensing Applications, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials 14(1), 169-175 (2012).