Tell us a little about your organisation. How do the areas of nanotechnology and sustainability impact your work?

SON is a start-up from the University of Burgundy/Dijon and the result years of years of research in the fields of molecular chemistry and nanotechnology. Such a unique connection between these two fields makes the specificity of our nanoparticles possible. Specialised in the design and manufacturing of nanoparticles and functionalised nanoparticles, SON’s nanoparticles bear a variety of possible chemical functions at the surface:
– Bi-functional nanoparticles: SON patented nanoparticles allow the covalent grafting of two types of different molecules at their surface.
– Mono-functional nanoparticles: These nanoparticles bear one type of chemical function at their surface. SON offers a variety of chemical functions to allow the grafting of your molecule.
– Nanocatalyst: You can run your standard catalytic process with our nanocatalyst, after the reaction which catalyst recovery is fast and efficient and you can reuse our nanocatalyst.
– Nanoparticles: They are the simplest iron oxide nanoparticles in the catalog, with no chemical function at their surface.
– SON also offers to tailor different nano metal nanoparticles services ( for development….)

What is the newest/most innovative development in nanotechnology that you and/or your organisation is excited about now?

We have different types of applications, for each type of application, there are associated benefits.
For example, in our diagnostic area, our nanoparticles can be used for infectious disease diagnosis (Covid Test) or as a marker for magnetic particle imaging (MPI).
In our therapeutic area, our nanoparticles could be used for the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer or for cancer treatment with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).
In our catalysis/environment area, our nanoparticles allow the development of easily recoverable magnetic nanocatalysts or the development of nanoparticles for the production of H2.

What, in your opinion, is the most important thing (tool, process, support, etc.) that is needed right now to help grow and strengthen the nanotechnology community?

The advantage of our nanoparticles is that they are composed of iron oxide, which makes them non-toxic for humans.
In our therapeutic area, in particular our bi-functional nanoparticle range, we are developing multimodal “3 in 1” nanoparticles for brain cancer (pre-clinical or proof of concept ?). This will allow MRI imaging function, (nuclear) imaging therapy function and active targeting function with a single nanoparticle.

We also believe that our Iron nanoparticles could one day replace gold nanoparticles.