Call: TÜSAB
Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Ali Kılıç
Duration: October 2023- April 2024

Summary

Type 2 diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers, with their increasing prevalence worldwide, have a negative impact on patients' quality of life and can lead to mortality due to amputation. Furthermore, the prevalence of this disease is predicted to significantly increase over the next 20 years. Considering the devastating effects of the disease, the importance of effective and permanent treatment solutions becomes evident. In this regard, our objective is to develop two different wound dressing formulations. Specifically, we plan to combine PLA/hyaluronic acid and PLA/heparin-based wound dressing materials with an anti-inflammatory drug encapsulated with liposomal nanoparticles. These nanomaterial solutions will be applied to a collector using our original bionanofiber gun. We will evaluate the effects of these wound dressings on cellular toxicity, growth parameters, and the expression of molecules involved in inflammation and hyperglycemia in fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines in a 3-D cell culture system with cocultured immune system cells and after that, we will test the wound dress at in vivo conditions

Call: TUBITAK 3501
Project No: 
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alper Gürarslan
Duration:

SUMMARY
In the project, a wound dressing will be developed that will play an active role in the healing process of wounds and shorten the wound healing process. Within the scope of the study, which is at the intersection of fiber, polymer, textile, material and physiology disciplines, it is aimed to produce a new fiber first and then to produce anti-bacterial wound dressings and to examine the physical properties of the developed wound dressings.

The study, which will progress under the consultancy of Prof. Dr. Serap Kuruca from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, is expected to perform in-vitro and in-vivo experiments as well as physical tests in order to determine the role of antibacterial wound dressings in the wound healing process. 2 graduate student scholarship holders will take part in the project, which will last for 3 years.

Call: BAP
Project Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Nazan Okur
Duration: June 2023 - July 2024

Summary

The innovative products that were developed in this project are environmentally friendly sandwich composite materials with high acoustic performance in a wide frequency range. In this context, Microperforated Panels (MMP) with different perforation densities were produced by 3D printing by using Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) filaments. The 3D-printed MPPs were used as the outer skins, and hemp fiber and wool fiber waste were used as the core layer of the sandwich composites, and various designs were developed. In this way, a sustainable and environmentally friendly design approach was supported in the relevant field. In theory and practice, there are no products in which sandwich composites have been developed using 3D-printed MPP outer skins and a porous fibrous material in the core layer for use in acoustic applications. The developed products offer a new usage area for hemp fiber and wool fiber waste as well as additive manufacturing technologies. 

The project team won Second Place in the Energy and Environment category in the TEKNOFEST 2024 University Students Research Project Competitions, to which they applied as the ACOUSTEX team.

Call: BAP – General Research Project
Project Number: 44230
Project Coordinator: Dr.Öğr.Üyesi İpek Yalçın Eniş
Duration: December 2022 - December 2024

Summary
Within the scope of the planned project, small diameter, biodegradable bicomponent fiber-containing vascular grafts with improved compliance properties will be developed, and a compliance test unit will be developed to test the compliance properties of these grafts. At the point of improving the compliance property of grafts, both material selection (polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA)), and constructional parameters (fiber orientation, bicomponent fiber design, layered graft structure, etc.) will be studied. On the other hand, the radial elasticity of the grafts will be analyzed with a compliance tester, which will be designed to measure the diameter change in the graft in the region between 80 and 120 mmHg, which typically represents the pulse pressure (in the range of diastolic and systolic pressure). Thus, important steps will be taken in both graft design and technology development to reduce the radial elasticity mismatch between synthetic grafts and native arteries.

Call: TUBITAK-IraSME
Project No: 
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr.Özgür Atalay
Duration: 24 Months

SUMMARY
The project, in which the ITU Computer Engineering Department will also take part as one of the executive institutions, will continue to work for 24 months. Within the scope of the project, it is envisaged to develop medical e-textiles using biomedical, textile, electronic, and computer technologies, as well as wearable textile-based sensors. These products can be used for purposes such as measuring physiological health parameters such as respiration and EKG, monitoring human body joint movements, obtaining postural information, making instant follow-up and early risk analysis, using them in preventive health services, providing performance support with feedback, or providing motivation for individual goals. Small and large-scale enterprises from Turkey and Belgium will also contribute to the project.

Call: EU's Horizon Europe Program MSCA SE-2021
Project No: 101086258
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alper Gürarslan
Duration: January 2023 - December 2026

Summary
The main purpose of the SmartWaste project to be carried out by ITU is to replace traditional and high-cost textile materials with sustainable materials, to create a world-class international and intersectoral organization network working in the field of sustainable smart textile materials. Within the scope of the project, next generation researchers on sustainable textiles will be trained and innovative products will be developed. Within the scope of the project with a budget of 943,000 Euros, 10 stakeholders from 6 different countries will exchange knowledge and skills to create sustainable textile materials by strengthening joint research between different countries and sectors. World-renowned textile manufacturers, materials and polymer scientists, chemists, software engineers and designers will work together within the scope of this project.

Call: TUBITAK-1002
Project No: 122M699
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr.Sena Duru
Duration: 

SUMMARY
In the project, it is aimed to develop knitted fabrics suitable for seasonal children's outerwear by using hemp-based yarns as well as yarns made from innovative and naturally degradable fibers. The improvement of the UV protection of these environmentally friendly fabrics is among the main points of the project.

Call: EU's Horizon Europe Program MSCA SE-2021
Project No: 101086305
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgur Atalay
Duration: January 2023 - December 2026

Summary
The execution of ReTex, one of the supported projects, is under the responsibility of ITU. The main aim of the project is to create a world-class international and intersectoral organization network. In order to develop sustainable electronic textile materials, regenerated fibers produced from recycled cotton using environmentally friendly methods will be used instead of traditional textile materials. 11 partners from 8 different countries within the scope of the project will exchange knowledge and skills to create sustainable textile materials within the scope of the project with a budget of 814.200 Euros, and collaborative research will be carried out between different countries and sectors. Through the international mobility within the project, researchers will develop new skills, explore new research environments and enrich their career development.

Call: EU's Horizon Europe Program
Project No: 101042402
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr.Özgür Atalay
Duration: 60months

Summary
The project named “TEXWEAROTS” is supported by the European Union Horizon European Programme, the European Research Council (ERC) with 1.5 million Euros. Textile-Based Wearable Soft Robotics with Integrated Sensing, Actuating and Self Powering Properties - TEXWEAROTS, which is the second ERC project of Istanbul Technical University, will bring together textile technology and robotic science to produce textile-based robotic structures. It is aimed to use these structures to be produced in the treatment of individuals with muscle weakness. Within the scope of the project, it is aimed to produce textile-based robotic structures that will have the ability to sense, move and produce energy, and truly wearable soft robotic structures. Although textile-based and silicone-based wearable soft robotic structures produced today are called soft systems but they contain a lot of rigid and heavy parts, and the energy requirement for these systems is a separate problem. The systems to be produced within the scope of the TeXWEAROTS project aim to find solutions to the problems faced by wearable robotic structures today. The knowledge that will emerge within the scope of this project will contribute not only to soft robotic systems, but also to studies in electronic textiles and flexible and wearable energy systems.

Call: TÜBITAK - 1505
Project No: 5210113
Project Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Banu Nergis, Prof. Dr. Cevza Candan
Duration: February 2022 - July 2023

Summary
Although there is a lot of research in the literature on the acoustic behavior of a wide variety of woven fabric structures such as standard woven fabrics, fine drapery woven fabrics, and the layered structures formed by these types of structures combined with nonwoven surfaces, there are widely existing nested, side-by-side, sea-island cross-sections. There is no study to improve the acoustic properties of ordinary woven/blackout curtain fabrics produced using bicomponent fibers and/or filament yarns. The fabric surfaces produced with the aforementioned fibers are generally in the form of nonwovens.

Küçükçalık Textile Group, which produces woven fabrics for different end-use areas as well as an advanced synthetic yarn production line, also has a brand on acoustic products in national and international context.

From this point of view, it is aimed to develop a “blackout” (lightproof) woven fabric with improved acoustic properties by using newly developed synthetic yarns made of bicomponent fibers of different cross-sections, especially with side-by-side gaps (C-section), as well as bicomponent filament yarns, which are within the company's production capabilities intended. Another aim of the project is to provide data and experience on the product and production processes required for further studies in the development of environmentally friendly acoustic blackout woven fabric structures with the use of recycled PET within the scope of sustainability studies.

Call: BAP
Project No: 43672
Project Coordinator: Dr. Hande Sezgin 
Duration: June 2022 - June 2024

Summary

Within the scope of the project, it is aimed to develop innovative insulation materials from the waste of pantyhose/knee socks. In this respect, in the project, production methods such as carding, needle punching and hot pressing will be used to obtain the surface after the preparation processes such as collecting, sorting and separating the wastes from consumers. The thermal and acoustic properties of the samples, which will be developed in three forms as carding web, non-woven surface and composite structure, will be tested. In this process, it will be aimed to use the raw material as plain, and its effects on sound and heat insulation will be examined by differentiating the construction parameters. In addition to experimental studies, mathematical modeling will be done in order to increase the structural gaps. With this study, it will be ensured that polyamide wastes, which have superior properties among other thermoplastic polymers and high economic value, will be brought back into the economy. In addition, studies on this waste group, which has not yet been reflected in sectoral waste reports and academic studies, are expected to contribute significantly to the development of sustainable materials and raising social awareness.

Call: BAP
Project No: 42927
Project Coordinator: Prof. Dr.Cevza CANDAN
Duration: June 2021 - June 2023

Summary

In scope of the project; it is aimed to create a textile surface design that can provide radiation protection in the medical field, does not contain lead, and has a lower weight than existing products, resistant to repeated bending. In this context, considering the previous study results of the project team as well as the literature findings; Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) additives, which are more accessible and suitable for commercialization, will be preferred. These materials will be used together with different polyurethane and acrylic based textile coating materials such as silicone rubber, and the mixtures (pastes) will be transferred to the fabric surfaces by applying traditional textile coating technology. The effect of the weight and volumetric ratios of the additive in the coating on the radiation attenuation rates of the fabrics will be examined. In addition, the effects of x-rays of different energies and total fabric coating thickness on the attenuation rates have been observed in the previous studies of the researchers.

With the help of experimental analysis, the experimental plan to be designed and the attenuation coefficients of the samples obtained as a result will be measured with taking the factors mentioned above into account. Also, the material protection obtained from the experimental results will be evaluated in comparison with the protection values calculated through simulation. In addition to the radiation behavior of the materials, the bending resistance and fabric stiffness determinations of the coated fabrics with different thicknesses and different additive contents will also be made. At the end of the study, it is aimed to develop alternative textile-based materials that have commercialization potential, do not contain lead, can provide the expected protection against x-rays used in medicine, and have improved usage and wear properties, and to present composite (layered) structure proposals from these materials.

Call: TÜBİTAK 1003
Project No: 118E924
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Dr. İkilem GÖCEK
Duration: February 2020 - February 2023

Summary

Within the scope of the project, the studies on the creation of wearable sensors for the exoskeleton compatible with human-robot physical interaction control; obtaining a functionalized flexible clothing that can be used in harmony with the exoskeleton and that enables the integration of wearable flexible sensors into its structure by creating flexible circuits on the fabric surface and finally, the analysis of the functionalized clothing with flexible structure on the basis of the conditions of use in the form of a whole clothing after integrating the wearable flexible sensors into its structure are conducted.

Call: BAP
Project No: 43209
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Canan SARIÇAM
Duration: September 2021 - September 2023

Summary

In this project, it is aimed to strengthen the ballistic performance of 2D woven fabrics that can be used in ballistic applications with the shear-thickening liquid(STL) and to simulate the ballistic performance. For this purpose, different concentrations of STL containing different sizes of silica will be prepared and suitable STL solutions will be impregnated into 2D woven fabrics made of para-aramid type Kevlar® fiber. In the evaluation of ballistic performance, only behavior under low velocity impact will be tested. The effect of treating single and multi-layered fabric structures with STL on ballistic performance will also be examined by modeling and simulation, and the simulation results will be compared with the experimental results of the behavior of fabrics under low velocity impact.

Modeling the folded structures of 2D woven fabrics reinforced with STL, which is not included in the literature, constitutes the unique aspect of the project. In addition, determining the optimum application conditions in the treatment with STL will contribute to the literature. Also, the fact that the performances of the designs can be estimated before the production of different fabric structures and ballistic tests will both increase the speed and quality of scientific studies in this field and reduce their costs, as well as reduce the design costs of defense industry protective textile materials.

Call: BAP
Project No: 42891
Project Coordinator: Prof. Dr.Hanife ERYÜRÜK
Duration: June 2021 - June 2023

Summary

The Turkish Textile and Apparel Industry has an important place in the Turkish economy. The textile and apparel industry is a strategically important sector with the second highest share in the Turkish economy. Restructuring and directing the apparel industry, which has a very important place in the Turkish economy, in the globalization process is an important issue. Turkey has an important place in the market, mostly by making contract manufacturing and producing the products of most important brands of Europe and the world. In order for businesses to be successful in global markets where the level of competition is very high and for companies to maintain their market shares, they need to increase their production efficiency and capacity, and try to maintain their place in the sector by developing new strategies.

The apparel industry has a very dynamic structure and it is open to change and develop in accordance with customer expectations. Choosing the right strategy for the industry and businesses is always considered as a complex problem against constantly and rapidly changing demands and situations. There are many weak, strong points, opportunities and threats that the sector and businesses have. This situation can be revealed by analyzing the current situation of the sector in the global environment, evaluating the current situation of the companies and entering into a strategic structuring. There are many qualitative and quantitative factors that need to be taken into account in determining the appropriate strategies, and they have a very complex structure. Therefore, the evaluation process should be carried out multidimensionally and decision making should be done in a multi-criteria environment. Within the scope of this proposed project, it is aimed to develop strategies that will provide sectoral development for the Turkish apparel industry. For this purpose, in the first stage, the current situation analysis of the apparel industry will be made. Then, the stages of determining the strategy and evaluation criteria, collecting data with appropriate data collection tools, and evaluating the criterias with multi-criteria analysis methods are required.

Call: TÜBİTAK 1001
Project No: 121M308
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Dr. Alper GÜRASLAN
Duration: December 2021 - December 2024

Summary

In the Project, it is aimed to transform poplar fibers, a natural material that has not yet been used in any product, into functional textile products with high added value. For this purpose, electronic textile and medical textile products will be developed from poplar fibers.

Call: TÜBİTAK 1001
Project No: 121M309
Project Coordinator: Asst. Prof. Dr. İpek YALÇIN ENİŞ
Duration: December 2021 - December 2024

Summary

In the Project, the biodegradable vascular grafts with nano and micro fibers in a layered structure will be developed. The project team, which obtained promising results regarding the in-vitro process in their previous studies, will evaluate the success of the in-vivo process by implanting the vascular grafts they will develop within the scope of this project into the porcine carotid artery. The success of long-term implantation of vascular grafts in a large animal model will guide the successful surgical applicability of small-bore biodegradable vascular grafts in the fight against cardiovascular diseases.

Call: TÜBİTAK 2247A
Project No: 120C118
Project Coordinator: Assoc. Dr. özgür ATALAY
Duration: April 2021 - April 2024

Summary

In the project, which aims to produce textile-based sensor-integrated pneumatic actuators using knitting technology, the anisotropic properties and sensor integration that the actuators must have in order to make the necessary movements will be provided during fabric production. Soft robotic structures to be produced will be developed and tested for the treatment of foot drop syndrome. It is envisaged that the expected results of the project will contribute to the improvement of the foot functions of people with neuromuscular disabilities. The successful completion of this project will contribute to Turkey's competitiveness in soft robotics and medicine, and will be instrumental in the creation of new technologies.

• Nuray UÇAR, "Development of  Multifunctional, High-Value Added Glass/Carbon Woven Reinforced Lightweight Composites with Porous Insulating Materials with Improved Sound and Heat Insulation", TÜBİTAK - International, 218M766, September 2019 - May 2022
• Meltem YANILMAZ, "The Use of Carbon Nanofibers Produced by Centrifugal Spinning System in Sodium Ion Batteries", TÜBİTAK - 3501, 219M348, May 2020 - June 2022
• İpek YALÇIN ENİŞ, "Detection, Analysis and Development of Appropriate Solution Methods of Microfibers Separated from Textile Waste Water with Different Methods", ITU-BAP, 43387, December 2021 - December 2022
• Fatma Banu NERGİS, "Development and Characterization of Nano Fibrous Structures for Atopic Dermatitis Treatment", ITU-BAP, 43271, November 2021 - November 2022
• Ali KILIÇ, "Solventfree Production of a Polymerbased Membrane with Enhanced Hydrophilicity and Porosity", ITU-BAP, 43163, June 2021 - June 2022
• İpek YALÇIN ENİŞ, "Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Small Diameter Vascular Grafts", ITU-BAP, 43368, December 2021 - December 2022

Gülay ÖZCAN, “Development of Finishing Chemical for Improving Combustion Behavior and Flame-Retardency of Cotton/Polyester Mixed Fabrics and Application to the Production Line”, BAP, 39775, April 2016-April 2020

 

Hale KARAKAŞ, “Composite Nanofiber Production Containing Metal Metaloxide and Conductive Polymer by Electrospinning Method”, BAP, MDK-2018-41127, January 2018-January 2020

 

Fatma Banu NERGİS, “Examination of Production Parameters of  Compression Stockings with Cotton Content”, BAP, MGA-2018-41341, May 2018-April 2020

 

Nazan OKUR, “Development of Fabric-Reinforced Layered Hybrid Composite Materials for Acoustic Insulation”, BAP, MYL-2018-41882, December 2018-June 2020

 

Ömer Berk BERKALP, “Development of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) System for Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite Materials”, BAP, MDK-2019-42046, June 2019-December 2020

 

Ali DEMİR, “MediTeks: Medical Textiles R&D Center”, ISTKA, TR10/18/YMP/0075, October 2018-March 2020

 

Gözde GÖNCÜ BERK, “E-Textile Based Urinary Incontinence Monitoring and Warning System”, TUBITAK 1512, 2018-2020

 

Gözde GÖNCÜ BERK, “Design and development of a performance T-shirt with embroidered textile electrodes that tracks muscle activation via EMG”, TUBITAK 3501, 2018-2020

Ali KILIÇ, “Design, Simulation and Manufacturing of Solution Blowing System for Industrial Scale Nanofiber Production”, TÜBITAK - 1003, 118M035, September 2018 - September 2021

 

İpek YALÇIN ENİŞ, “Sustainable Industrial Product Designs from Denim Fabric and Polyethylene Packaging Waste”, ITU BAP, FLO-2019-42118, July 2019 - January 2021

 

İpek YALÇIN ENİŞ, “The Utilizing of Low and High Density Polyethylene Bottle Caps in Composite Structures by Recycling with Textile Wastes”, ITU BAP, MGA-2019-41926, March 2019 – September 2021

 

Özgür ATALAY, “Engineering of Flexible Textile Integrated Thermoelectric Devices for Power Generation”, ITU-BAP, MAB-2019-42218, October 2019 - October 2021

 

Özgür ATALAY, “Textile Based Soft Sensing Actuators for Soft Robotic Applications”, EU - Horizon2020, TexRobots, March 2019 - April 2021

 

Şule Selçuk, “Achieving Advanced Mechanical Properties with the Cooling Rate Controlled Production of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites for the Automotive Industry”, ITU BAP, MGA-2018-41703, October 2018 - August 2021