InGRID News
Research Internship at NIMS: In Vitro Testing of Biodegradable Alloys
Our master's student Leonard Hlodák is currently undertaking a research internship at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan. He is hosted by Dr. Akiko Yamamoto, Managing Researcher at NIMS, whose group specializes in in vitro methods for evaluating the biocompatibility and degradation behaviour of biomedical materials.
During the internship, Leonard is investigating Zn- and Mg-based biodegradable wires intended for medical applications. His work includes electrochemical measurements, extract and direct cytotoxicity tests, cell culture experiments, and the gel immersion test, providing hands-on experience with key methods used to assess the corrosion behaviour and biocompatibility of biodegradable metallic materials.
In addition to his research at NIMS, Leonard delivered a seminar entitled "Decoding Correlated States in Quasicrystals" at Tohoku University. The seminar was organized by Dr. Ireneusz Bugański (AGH Kraków), a recent collaborator of our group in quasicrystal research. During the visit, Leonard also learned the fundamentals of crystal growth using the self-flux method in the host laboratory.
Invited talk on "AI for next-generation materials design" delivered at Deeksharambh, India
Dr Vickey Nandal, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow, delivered an invited talk entitled “AI for Next-Generation Materials Design: Beyond Conventional Strategies” at Deeksharambh 2026, the postgraduate orientation programme organised by the School of Artificial Intelligence at Bennett University, India.
The invited talk explored the transformative role of artificial intelligence in modern materials science, highlighting how machine learning, data-driven materials informatics and computational modelling can accelerate materials discovery, optimise alloy design and predict complex structure–property relationships. The lecture focused on using artificial intelligence, domain knowledge and physics-based modelling to develop materials more efficiently than traditional trial-and-error methods.
The presentation also highlighted the recent advances in AI-driven materials engineering and their potential to address key challenges in sustainable manufacturing and the development of next-generation technologies. The session was attended by postgraduate students, faculty members and researchers, and engaging discussions on interdisciplinary research and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in advancing scientific discovery and engineering innovation.
First AI-related InGRID article published by Vickey Nandal, our MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow
Our Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellow (MSCA-PF) Vickey Nandal has published his article entitled “Accelerating the Design of Resorbable Magnesium Alloys: A Machine Learning Approach to Property Prediction” in Materials & Design, which combines materials science and artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of next-generation biodegradable magnesium alloys for biomedical implants.
A main aspect of this work is the importance of interpretable machine learning (ML) in materials design. Predictive accuracy alone is not sufficient, understanding which compositional and processing parameters drive the model’s predictions is what transforms machine learning from a “black box” into a practical alloy design tool. The optimized ML model was also used to generate predictive property maps for Mg-Zn-Mn alloy systems, providing practical guidance for designing low-alloyed, high-performance biodegradable materials suitable for biomedical applications. This work highlights the strong potential of integrating artificial intelligence with materials engineering to accelerate the discovery and optimization of advanced bioresorbable alloys.
This research was supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) project AIDDRI (grant agreement No. 101154423) and FerrMion Project.
Best Poster Award for InGRID at Biomaterials conference in Shenzhen
The InGRID group participated in the International Conference on Biomaterials in Shenzhen, China, presenting recent results on biodegradable magnesium alloys across both oral and poster sessions. The contributions reflected ongoing work on the design, processing, and performance of resorbable materials for medical applications.
Karel Tesař presented a talk titled Resorbable Mg-0.4Zn strands for bone fixation: pilot in vivo tests on minipigs, where he introduced the latest progress in the development of magnesium-based cerclage strands. The presentation covered both the mechanical behaviour of the strands and their biological response, with a focus on their performance under in vivo conditions and their potential use in reconstructive surgery.
In the poster sessions, Jiří Liška presented In vitro corrosion behavior of biodegradable Mg–Zn alloys for implant applications, addressing the relationship between alloy composition, degradation kinetics, and suitability for biomedical use. Leonard Hlodák presented his poster Micromechanical and biodegradation properties of a rapidly solidified Mg-1.3Zn alloy with gradient microstructure, focusing on the link between processing, microstructural gradients, and local mechanical and corrosion properties. His contribution was recognized with a Best Poster Award, and he received a diploma from the esteemed Prof. Xingyu Jiang during the conference.
Alongside the scientific program, the meeting provided opportunities for discussion and collaboration. We met with Martin Balog from Slovakia and his team to discuss future research directions, particularly in the area of extrusion and advanced processing routes for magnesium alloys. In addition, Karel Tesař attended a lunch meeting with journal editors, where discussions with representatives of Biomaterials, Materials Today Bio, Exploration, and other journals focused on current developments in biomaterials research and scientific publishing.
Our Ph.D. student Théo Raffort has published his first article
Our Ph.D. student Theo Raffort has published his article titled "Assessing the superelastic properties of SPS NiTi alloy by nanoindentation", as part of the InGRID group’s research activities. We are pleased to share this contribution, which advances the understanding of superelastic behavior in NiTi alloys.
The study focuses on a superelastic Nitinol alloy synthesized by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and investigated using nanoindentation. It demonstrates that spherical indentation provides a more accurate assessment of superelastic properties than the conventional Berkovich tip. A strong agreement between nanoindentation and cyclic tensile tests was also observed.
The results reveal that the SPS-processed alloy exhibits superior superelastic recovery compared to a commercial material, highlighting the great potential of SPS for producing high-performance superelastic alloys. This work also confirms nanoindentation as a reliable tool for the rapid characterization of such materials and benefited from the guidance of supervisors and the support of the FerrMion project.
Discussions on planned surgical procedures for in vivo trials of Mg cerclage strands
Members of the InGRID team visited the Biomedical Center of the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, to discuss the planned surgical procedures for upcoming in vivo trials of our Mg-Zn cerclage strand prototypes intended for reconstructive hand surgery. The visit brought together Karel Tesař, Jiří Liška, Leonard Hlodák, and Jan Pinc with close collaborators Tomáš Herma and Margit Žaloudková, enabling a detailed exchange between materials scientists and surgeons.
The discussions focused on practical aspects of implant design and handling, including the braiding of the strands, their polymer coating, and the overall usability of the prototypes during surgical procedures. Valuable feedback from the surgical team helped to refine the geometry and structural design of the strands, ensuring that further development aligns closely with clinical requirements.
An important part of the visit was the consultation with Dr. Pavel Klein, an expert in in vivo rat model surgery, who discussed experimental strategies together with Tomáš Herma. These discussions contributed not only to the preparation of future in vivo testing, but also to the design of advanced in vitro experiments. The goal is to simulate surgical handling and implant degradation as realistically as possible while minimizing the need for animal testing, in line with InGRID’s long-term commitment to the European 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).
