Negative Thermoresponsive Hydrogels for Smart Textile Applications
About the webinar
This second webinar in the SUBBIMATT series will explore the development and characterization of negative thermoresponsive (NTR) hydrogels for smart textile applications. These materials can respond to temperature changes by altering their physical properties, enabling the design of adaptive and functional textiles.
During the session, speakers will present the synthesis of NTR hydrogels and key experimental techniques used to evaluate their performance, including rheological analysis and contact angle measurements. The webinar will also introduce the fundamental concepts behind thermoresponsive materials and their potential for next-generation smart textile systems.
Agenda
Moderator
Andrea Spotti, Tinexta Innovation Hub
17:00 – 17:05 > Andrea Spotti, Tinexta Innovation Hub (WH) | Introduction to the webinar
17:05 – 17:20 > Fey Papadopoulou, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) | Synthesis of NTR hydrogels
17:20 – 17:35 > Konstantinos Zafeiris, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) | Rheological measurements
17:35 – 17:50 > Kate Trompeta, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) | Contact angle measurements
17:50 – 18:05 > Q&A Session
Speakers
Andrea Spotti
Andrea Spotti is a Dissemination Specialist at Tinexta Innovation Hub, where he has been working since 2024. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Foreign Languages, a Master’s degree in Translation and Interpreting, and a second-level Master’s in European Studies. He previously worked in Brussels at the European Defence Agency, gaining experience within the European institutional environment. Based at Tinexta Innovation Hub’s office in Casalecchio di Reno (Italy), he manages communication and dissemination activities for several Horizon Europe projects, particularly in the fields of biomedical research, advanced materials, and smart textiles.
Fey Papadopoulou
Foteini (Fey) Papadopoulou holds a degree in Material Science and Technology from the UoC and has pursued postgraduate studies in Material Science and Technology at NTUA. Currently she is a PhD candidate in the school of Chemical Engineering of NTUA. Her research interests include the synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials via Chemical Vapour Deposition for smart electronic devices, and the development of phase-change thermoresponsive hydrogels based on polysaccharide-based systems.
Konstantinos Zafeiris
Konstantinos Zafeiris holds a BSc in Applied Physics (NTUA) and MSc in Materials Science and Technology (NTUA). In his diploma thesis, he studied the phase transitions of hydrated biopolymeric networks through the employment of a range of characterizations techniques, in order to assess their potential as materials for tissue engineering applications.
During his master thesis, he investigated the integration of biomaterial configurations in additive manufacturing technology for the realization of three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. His research interest mainly focuses on the development of material formulations for use in additive manufacturing technologies and their process optimization, targeting medical applications.
Dr. Aikaterini-Flora (Kate) Trompeta
Aikaterini-Flora (Kate) Trompeta is a Chemical Engineer, graduated from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) (2008-2013). She completed the Interdisciplinary Master Program “Materials Science and Engineering” at NTUA (2014-2016), receiving the IKY Excellence Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies in Greece – Siemens Program, and was awarded for her excellence by the Limmat Stiftung Institute, graduating first in her class. Her doctoral research focused on the growth and functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanofibers (CNFs) through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and their application in nanocomposite materials, including system design, reactor set up and optimization. Since 2013, she has been working at the Laboratory of Advanced, Composite, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology (R-NanoLab) of the School of Chemical Engineering at NTUA as a researcher in Greek and European-funded programs. Her research interests focus on development of functional coatings, nanocomposites, CVD processes, carbon based nanomaterials, extrusion processes, construction materials, composites manufacturing and life-cycle assessments. Her research work has been presented at national and international conferences (>50), and she has contributed to the authorship of 33 articles published in peer reviewed scientific journals, and one book chapter (Google Scholar h-Index – 16, Citations: 1259).
Organized by
“Co-Funded by the European Union (Project 101129911). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”