Dipartimento di Fisica

Descrizione del progetto

TRUM_S1921_EX-POST_21_01 HIFLUXTECH aims to demonstrate the great technological potential of the controlled interaction between matter and X-rays at very high flux densities to overcome current limitations within two relevant fields: functional oxide electronics and cancer radiotherapy.
On the one hand, based on the indications that controllable nanoscale defects (e.g., oxygen vacancies) can be generated by X-ray nanobeams in oxide compounds, a radically novel mask-free patterning technology is proposed both in 2D and 3D as an alternative nanofabrication strategy for the ultimate projection of Moore’s law. Envisaged applications are for instance in the fields of memristive devices and of superconducting THz emitters.
On the other hand, relying on the X-ray triggered release of dopamine observed from neuroendocrine cells, it is proposed to extend this approach to the lymphocyte cells present in the blood flow to achieve a synergistic action for cancer treatment between the X-ray stimulated dopamine and the cell killing property of X-rays. The interaction between the antitumor effects of dopamine and radiotherapy could increase fractioning of radiation delivery and doses, which potentially will reduce undesired side effects.
HIFLUXTECH will take advantage of the 4th generation synchrotron radiation sources, like for instance the Extremely Brilliant Source at ESRF in Grenoble, France, or SPRING-8 in Japan. The unprecedented level of X-ray coherence and brilliance produced by these facilities will make unique X-ray induced material modifications possible. In this context, the main novelty of HIFLUXTECH’s scientific approach consists in exploring the new conditions of regimes close to warm dense matter with the aim to manipulate and exploit them to permanently modify materials as desired.
In a complementary way, HIFLUXTECH will also explore the rescaling of these techniques down to the scale of laboratory facilities, especially in the field of X-ray induced dopamine release. This task will take advantage of the high-flux density provided by the X-ray lab source based on the Metal-Jet technology and equipped with highly focussing optics that has been recently acquired by the University of Torino.

Note

Bando di ricerca: COMPAGNIA DI SAN PAOLO Bando finanziamento EX POST Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo - Anno 2020