The CrossCoat project focuses on the development of a new generation of ultra-thin functional coatings for metallic vascular stents based on self-assembled fatty acid layers and their modification by ionising radiation.

The project builds on the research group’s previous discovery that self-assembled molecular layers of fatty acids can be crosslinked by ionising radiation and transformed into stable polymer nanocoatings. CrossCoat further develops this concept by applying electron-beam irradiation, which enables controlled crosslinking of the coatings and radical-mediated attachment of bioactive molecules.

The aim is to develop a new functional stent surface based on a stable nanometre-thin coating whose structure and properties can be precisely controlled at the molecular level. The research is grounded in fundamental concepts of surface chemistry, molecular self-assembly and radiation chemistry, and combines chemistry and materials science with electrochemical and biological studies. This approach establishes how coating composition, structure and preparation determine stability and functionality under conditions relevant to biomedical applications. The project is carried out at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in collaboration with partners from Croatia, Poland, Austria and Switzerland.

The BIO-METONIC project focuses on the development of advanced biocompatible materials with antimicrobial and bioactive properties for applications in medical implants and wound dressings. The project addresses the growing global challenge of medical device-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance by investigating new approaches to functional surfaces capable of preventing microbial colonisation while supporting tissue regeneration and implant integration.

The research combines nanotechnology, materials science, microbiology, biomineralisation, and biomedical engineering, involving the development of novel nanocomposite systems, their integration into biocompatible materials, and the evaluation of their functional and biological properties.

The project is hosted at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in collaboration with international partners from Slovenia and Austria.

The REALIST project responds to the urgent climate risks intensifying across the Adriatic Sea Basin.

The SAFEGUARD project is focused on the development of innovative, sustainable and safe textile coatings with multiple protective functions. The goal is to improve textiles that are used in demanding conditions, especially in the defense sector, so that they provide greater resistance to external threats such as fire, microbiological contamination and harmful UV radiation. The project is carried out by a multidisciplinary team with three institutions: Ruđer Bošković Institute, EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, St. Galen, Switzerland and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Graz, Austria.

The project  investigates the possibility of using ionizing radiation for crosslinking of self-organized molecular layers on metal surfaces in order to protect the metal and improve its properties. The research objectives of the project are focused on the development process for obtaining polymer nano coatings, characterization of the formed coatings and testing of their properties. The project team gathers a multidisciplinary group of experts from three institutions: Ruđer Bošković Institute, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Academy of Fine Arts.

The study of the influence of natural acidic macromolecules, extracted from the skeleton of sea corals, on precipitation of CaCO₃ polymorphs, calcite and aragonite.

The objective of the project is to study the interactions of organic additives, particularly phosphonates and

carboxylates, with calcite crystals of different morphologies.