Bounegru Iulian

Mr. Bounegru Iulian

Material engineering, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Galaţi, Romania
orcid
PhD Student

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

14Years (2013-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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25 August 2023 in Polymers
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Alexandra Virginia BounegruAlexandra Virginia Bounegru
Alexandra Virginia Bounegru
BIBounegru Iulian
Bounegru Iulian
Chitosan (CTS), a biocompatible and multifunctional material derived from chitin, has caught researchers’ attention in electrochemical detection due to its unique properties. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress and applications of CTS-based electrochemical sensors in the analysis of pharmaceutical products and other types of samples, with a particular focus on the detection of medicinal substances. The review covers studies and developments from 2003 to 2023, highlighting the remarkable properties of CTS, such as biocompatibility, chemical versatility, and large surface area, that make it an excellent candidate for sensor modification. Combining CTS with various nanomaterials significantly enhances the detection capabilities of electrochemical sensors. Various types of CTS-based sensors are analyzed, including those utilizing carbon nanomaterials, metallic nanoparticles, conducting polymers, and molecularly imprinted CTS. These sensors exhibit excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, enabling the precise and reliable detection of medications. The manufacturing strategies used for the preparation of CTS-based sensors are described, the underlying detection mechanisms are elucidated, and the integration of CTS sensors with transducer systems is highlighted. The prospects of CTS-based electrochemical sensors are promising, with opportunities for miniaturization, simultaneous detection, and real-time monitoring applications.

26 April 2024 in Analytical Methods
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Alexandra Virginia BounegruAlexandra Virginia Bounegru
Alexandra Virginia Bounegru
BIBounegru Iulian
Bounegru Iulian
This review highlights the complexity of acrylamide formation and detection in foods, emphasizing the importance of electrochemical biosensors and the ongoing need for research progress to ensure food safety.

18 June 2023 in Molecules
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Lidia BeneaLidia Benea
Lidia Benea
BIBounegru Iulian
Bounegru Iulian
AFAlexandra Forray
Alexandra Forray
EAElena Roxana Axente
Elena Roxana Axente
BLBuruiana Daniela Laura
Buruiana Daniela Laura
Pure titanium (Ti) is investigated in a pre-clinical study in Hank’s biological solution using electrochemical methods, open circuit potential, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to highlight the time effect in extreme body conditions, such as inflammatory diseases, on degradability due to corrosion processes occurring on the titanium implant. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data are presented as Nyquist and Bode plots. The results show the increasing reactivity of titanium implants in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, which is an oxygen-reactive compound that describes inflammatory conditions. The polarization resistance, which results from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, declined dramatically from the highest value registered in Hank’s solution to smaller values registered in all solutions when different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide were tested. The EIS analysis provided insights into titanium’s in vitro corrosion behavior as an implanted biomaterial, which could not be solely obtained through potentiodynamic polarization testing.

Verified
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Lidia BeneaLidia Benea
Lidia Benea
ARAnca Ravoiu
Anca Ravoiu
BIBounegru Iulian
Bounegru Iulian
PVPetrica Vizureanu
Petrica Vizureanu
The metallic titanium-based biomaterials are sensitive to corrosion-induced degradation in biological fluids in the presence of inflammatory conditions containing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excess ROS induces oxidative modification of cellular macromolecules, inhibits protein function, and promotes cell death. In addition, ROS could promote implant degradation by accelerating the corrosive attack of biological fluids. The functional nanoporous titanium oxide film is obtained on titanium alloy to study the effect on implant reactivity in biological fluid with reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide, which are present in inflammations. The TiO2 nanoporous film is obtained by electrochemical oxidation at high potential. The untreated Ti6Al4V implant alloy and nanoporous titanium oxide film are comparatively evaluated for corrosion resistance in biological solution by Hank’s and Hank’s doped with hydrogen peroxide by electrochemical methods. The results showed that the presence of the anodic layer significantly improved the resistance of the titanium alloy to corrosion-induced degradation in biological solutions under inflammatory conditions.

Verified
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Lidia BeneaLidia Benea
Lidia Benea
BIBounegru Iulian
Bounegru Iulian
EAElena Roxana Axente
Elena Roxana Axente
BLBuruiana Daniela Laura
Buruiana Daniela Laura
In the field of healthcare and dentistry, 316L stainless steel is widely used for its corrosion resistance. However, the presence of lactic acid in salivary solutions can affect its surface reactivity. This study employed electrochemical methods to investigate the influence of lactic acid on 316L stainless steel’s corrosion resistance in Fusayama Meyer saliva and saliva doped with varying lactic acid concentrations. The results revealed a significant decrease in polarization resistance as the lactic acid concentration increased, despite a shift toward more positive corrosion potentials. Consequently, the study suggests that the lactic acid presence in salivary solutions should be considered when evaluating the corrosion susceptibility of 316L stainless steel devices.

10 October 2025 in Diseases
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APAna-Maria Paslaru
Ana-Maria Paslaru
BIBounegru Iulian
Bounegru Iulian
DLDrăguș Laurențiu
Drăguș Laurențiu
ACAnamaria Ciubara
Anamaria Ciubara
Background: Cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and psychiatric comorbidities such as depression and anxiety frequently coexist, with shared mechanisms involving systemic inflammation and neuroinflammatory pathways. Understanding these interactions is critical for improving multidisciplinary oncological care. Methods: We conducted a monocentric cross-sectional study (n = 174). Beyond descriptive and univariate analyses, we fitted multivariable models: linear regressions (HADS-Anxiety/Depression) with robust HC3 errors and the predictors ECOG, T2DM, age, sex, and residence, and logistic regression for ECOG ≥ 3. We assessed collinearity and model fit, and performed sensitivity checks. Results: Psychiatric comorbidity was present in 58% of patients, while more than 80% of those with available HADS data (n = 136) exceeded the clinical threshold for anxiety or depression. No significant differences in ECOG status were observed between patients with and without T2DM (mean ECOG 2.5 in both groups). Higher ECOG remained positively associated with both HADS-Depression (adjusted β = 2.77, 95% CI −1.03–6.57, p = 0.149) and HADS-Anxiety (β = 1.62, 95% CI −2.76–6.00, p = 0.468), although not statistically significantly. T2DM showed no independent association with either outcome (Depression β = −2.91, p = 0.130; Anxiety β = −0.80, p = 0.595). In logistic regression, T2DM was not significantly associated with ECOG ≥ 3 (aOR = 3.58, 95% CI 0.23–56.66, p = 0.365). Conclusions: The psychiatric burden is high among Romanian cancer patients, irrespective of T2DM status, and strongly associated with functional decline. These findings support the relevance of a neuroinflammatory framework linking somatic comorbidities and psychological distress. Routine psychiatric screening, early intervention, and integration of psycho-oncology into multidisciplinary care are recommended. Future prospective studies should incorporate inflammatory biomarkers to better define underlying mechanisms.