PNRI unveils nuclear tech for farms, health care

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) unveiled several radiation-based technologies aimed at improving agriculture, medical treatment, waste reuse, and pest control during a press conference at the Philippine Information Agency Auditorium on Thursday.

PNRI Director Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla said the agency is focused on applying nuclear science to practical and everyday challenges beyond just power generation.

“Ang sinasabi namin palagi: nuclear science is not just about power plants,” Arcilla said.

“It’s about solving everyday problems using radiation technology.”

Among the highlighted projects was PREx Plastic Technology, which uses electron-beam irradiation to upgrade discarded polyethylene plastics, improving their strength and allowing them to be reshaped into tiles, bricks, and construction boards.

The prototype products, developed in Davao City, exhibited more than 35 percent higher strength and over 3,000 psi in flexural performance.

Arcilla said the process enhances both thermal and mechanical properties and is currently at technology readiness level 4 (TRL 4), with a partner manufacturer preparing for a larger-scale rollout.

In the health care sector, PNRI introduced its radiation-processed hemostat, a patent-pending wound care material that can stop bleeding in one to five minutes.

Available in granular form, gauze infused with granules, and gel dressing, the hemostat is made from biocompatible materials that prevent burns or tissue damage.

Arcilla said a toll manufacturer has already been licensed, and the product is being readied for regulatory registration by private adopters.

Another medical innovation is PNRI’s CMHA hydrogel, made from carboxymethylated hyaluronic acid modified with radiation to tailor its molecular structure for wound healing, cosmetic, and early-stage drug delivery uses.

Initial tests showed the hydrogel is safe and effective for anti-aging skin formulations and tissue repair.

In agriculture, Arcilla said the institute’s radiation-treated carrageenan plant growth promoter has boosted rice yields by up to 30 percent in field trials.

The treated seaweed extract helps crops develop stronger root systems, resist lodging and tungro disease, and can increase farmer income by up to PHP 16,000 per hectare.

The material also benefits peanut and mungbean crops, PNRI added.

The institute is also scaling up its Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program, which uses radiation to sterilize male Aedes mosquitoes before releasing them into the environment.

Sterile males cannot transmit viruses and do not bite, offering a chemical-free solution to control dengue-carrying mosquito populations.

Arcilla said these innovations align with PNRI’s mission to bring nuclear science closer to communities and multiple sectors of society.