Scientific achievements and interests area

My recent researches focus on synthesis and investigating metal nanoparticles, especially gold nanoparticles. Gold clusters are nanocrystals with sizes ranging from one to several hundred nanometers, which surface is stabilized physically or chemically by adsorbed compounds. Adsorption of compounds on the surface of gold clusters prevents aggregation and allows subsequent modification of surface with chosen molecules. Because of its size, clusters of gold fall between world we know, and the quantum world.

Monolayer covering the gold cluster core can be modify in any way or replace on the thiols containing end groups such as carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl. This approach opens up many possibilities for anchoring on the surface of colloidal gold different chemical compounds, from simple alkanethiols to DNA and enzymes. From the point of view of their potential applications in miniaturized molecular devices such modified gold clusters can be anchored on solid surfaces using a variety of non-covalent interactions, such as host-guest interactions, p-p, van der Waals interactions, donor-acceptor, the antigen-antibody and other.

The modified gold clusters can be used in the large number of different applications. Such systems are used both in chemistry (as catalysts, sensors, additives for polymers, substrates for SERS), biological sciences (microscopic markers, biosensors, drug transporting systems) or in materials sciences (electronics at the nanoscale, electroptics, molecular machines, optical filters, switches). Gold nanoparticles, in contrast to metallic gold, show high catalytic activity. Gold clusters are active catalysts used for oxidation of carbon monoxide or hydrogen, the reduction of nitric oxide, the combustion of methanol.

Gold nanoparticles modified with oligonucleotides are also used to determine the DNA sequence. Nucleic acid strand anchored to colloidal gold retains its ability to bind to the complementary strand. This process is reversible, since after heating to a temperature appropriate for the hybrids, hydrogen bonds between complementary strands break. Electrodes modified in this way are used as biosensors in diagnostics.

Recently, much attention is paid to the use of gold clusters to identify proteins or immobilization of enzymes. It uses, for example, the interactions of antigen-antibody type. Enzymes immobilized on the surface of metallic clusters retain their catalytic bioactivity in contrast to similar systems prepared on the metallic electrodes. In these systems, gold nanoparticles act not only as a matrix for immobilization of enzymes, but also provide electron transfer between the enzyme and the electrode, which means, that they have the function of mediation, so that created systems often do not require an external mediator.

Interesting properties and stability of the created systems makes alkanethiols modified gold clusters interesting for researchers who are working ine the "nano" scale science. They can be used to build nanostructures in the strategy of "bottom-up". Systems containing gold nanoparticles are systems easy to modify and change the configuration of the measurement, depending on the aims.

Scientific achievements and interests area

Tailored lipidic mesophases we apply as the novel matrices for biosensing, biofuel cells and in drug delivery systems. Such lipidic based liquid-crystalline material is non-toxic and biodegradable which is important in case of applications of the devices in the biological environment. These materials exhibit high phase stability, optical transparency and chemical permeability. They enable incorporation of various proteins, as well as soluble and membrane enzymes, which retain their activity and structure in the host lipidic environment. From the electrochemical point of view it is important that amphiphilic enzyme molecule remains attached to the lipid bilayer, while water channels allows the enzymatic substrates and products to diffuse freely through the system. The aim of our work is to design new lipid molecules as additives to form cubic phases with designed functionalities. Such structures will be used as the matrix to immobilize biocatalysts and selected drugs. The structure and dynamics of these materials will be characterized, and they will be implemented in biomolecular devices. By using appropriately tailored new molecules we can improve mass transport in the phase, its stability and mechanical properties. Even more importantly, we can finally employ a wide range of membrane proteins to work as biocatalysts of the mediatorless processes required in the biofuel cells.

Scientific achievements and interests area

In my research I investigate various nanomaterials: nanotubes, carbon nanoparticles, fullerenes, boron-doped diamond, metal nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles for improving the properties of electrodes to be used in the enzymatic biofuel cells. Biofuel cells are alternative energy sources and their potential applications are to power small devices such as sensors, meters, toys or medical instruments. They can be used as a powering unit of self-powered biosensors and drug dispensers for medicine and environmental protection. As part of the development of new drug dosing devices, I study the interactions of drugs with various nanomaterials, e.g. gold nanoparticles, potentially useful in anti-cancer therapies.

I am particularly interested in the:

- construction of bioelectrochemical, enzyme-based oxygen detection systems,

- designing new bioelectrochemical systems containing enzymes for applications in biofuel cells and sensors,

- design and use of self-powered measuring systems, such as a potentiostat with a sensor, for monitoring chemical compounds in the environment or living organisms,

- application of enzymes in fuel cell technology, design of hybrid systems, enzymatic fuel cells and supercapacitors,

- use of gold nanoparticles as drug carriers,

- studies of the catalytic activity of enzymes adsorbed on particles,

- design and application of diffusion electrodes for gases,

- studies of electron transfer mechanisms,

- synthesis and study of the properties of metal nanoparticles, mainly gold and platinum nanoparticles used as catalysts and in the construction of fuel cells and sensors.

I collaborate with the National Medicines Institute, the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Industrial Chemistry Institute of the Lukasiewicz Research Network, the Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Fundamental Technical Problems of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and others in Poland and abroad.

Scientific achievements and interests area

My research focuses on the physical chemistry and biophysics of biological membranes and lipid-based drug delivery systems, with particular emphasis on model membrane structures and nanocarriers for therapeutic applications. I investigate how bioactive molecules, including statins and other therapeutic agents, interact with lipid membranes and alter their organization and physicochemical properties. A key aspect of my work is the study of lipid and lipid-protein nanostructures, such as liposomes, cubosomes, and lipid rafts, as platforms for drug delivery and membrane protein incorporation. I am especially interested in the formation and role of the protein corona on lipid-based carriers and how protein adsorption influences their stability, biological identity, and interactions with membranes and cells. In my research, I employ surface-sensitive and electrochemical techniques, including Langmuir monolayers, PM-IRRAS, and electrochemical methods, to elucidate interactions between drug carriers, lipid membranes, proteins, and bioactive compounds under physiologically relevant conditions. My interdisciplinary approach bridges physical chemistry, membrane biophysics, and nanomedicine, contributing to a deeper understanding of drug-membrane and nanoparticle-protein interactions.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michalina-Zaborowska-Mazurkiewicz?ev=hdr_xprf

Scientific achievements and interests area

My research centers on synthesizing and applying nanomaterials for energy conversion and storage, including metals and metal oxides, phosphides, MOFs, hollow carbon materials, graphene-based systems, and MXene composites. I investigate how morphology, compositional synergy, and surface properties influence their catalytic behavior. Using electrochemical techniques (CV, EIS, LSV, charge/discharge) along with materials characterization methods (HRTEM, FESEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, UV-Vis, XPS), I study their performance in HER, OER, ORR, CO2 reduction, and supercapacitors (EDLCs and pseudocapacitors).

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=R4Hz08IAAAAJ&view_op=list_works

Scientific achievements and interests area

Studies of cyclodextrins with aromatic side groups as pH-active drug delivery systems. Investigation of the solubility of a poorly soluble drug and the interactions of an anticancer drug with DNA in the presence of cyclodextrins.

Scientific achievements and interests area

Purification and reconstitution of membrane proteins into model membranes such as lipidic cubic phases and black lipid membranes (BLM).

Scientific achievements and interests area

Application of cubosomes as a platform for radionuclides and anticancer drugs.

Scientific achievements and interests area

Formation of molecular layers with well-defined structure and properties is a fundamental task required for construction of some biosensors, bionanostructures and supported biomimetic membranes. In our group, we use scanning probe microscopy techniques to characterize the structure and the properties of molecular films containing lipids, peptides and more complex proteins. Our research interests include:

- Molecular resolution imaging of the films immobilized on solid substrates (STM/AFM).

- Studies of adsorption dynamics and formation of molecular films under electrochemical control (EC-STM/AFM).

- Electric field induced changes in the structure and the properties of adsorbate layers (EC-STM/AFM).

- Mechanical properties of the films and model membranes (AFM)

- Adhesion properties of molecular films (Force Spectroscopy)

- Electrical properties of molecules immobilized on conductive substrates (STM and Current Sensing AFM).

- Identification of surface confined molecules using specific interactions and molecular recognition (Chemical Force Microscopy).

- Two dimensional nanostructures and nanolithography/nanografting using AFM-based approach.

Scientific achievements and interests area

My studies are focused on the efficiency of the transport of selected anticancer drugs (doxorubicin and daunomycin) through model biological membranes. Simple models of membranes consist of phospholipid mono- and bilayers and are prepared using Langmuir technique. Due to the electrochemical activity of the selected anticancer drugs their transport can be directly followed by means of electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, chronocoulometry) and visualized by microscopic techniques. Drug nanocarriers such as gold nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes help improve drug bioavailability and increase the accumulation of a drug only in the infected areas of the body. Therefore, it is very important to determine the influence of potential drug carriers on the model biological membranes. Changes in the structure and organization of the membranes caused by the presence of the investigated nanostructures allow one to describe the mechanism of drug transport mediated by carriers, to identify the nature of the interactions between drug nanocarriers and the components of model membranes as well as to determine the conditions facilitating or inhibiting the transport. Different techniques including electrochemical, microscopic (AFM, STM, TEM) and spectroscopic (PMIRRAS) methods are used to characterize structural changes of model membranes caused by the presence of drug nanocarriers.

Scientific achievements and interests area

My studies are focused on the efficiency of the transport of selected anticancer drugs (doxorubicin and daunomycin) through model biological membranes. Simple models of membranes consist of phospholipid mono- and bilayers and are prepared using Langmuir technique. Due to the electrochemical activity of the selected anticancer drugs their transport can be directly followed by means of electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, chronocoulometry) and visualized by microscopic techniques. Drug nanocarriers such as gold nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes help improve drug bioavailability and increase the accumulation of a drug only in the infected areas of the body. Therefore, it is very important to determine the influence of potential drug carriers on the model biological membranes. Changes in the structure and organization of the membranes caused by the presence of the investigated nanostructures allow one to describe the mechanism of drug transport mediated by carriers, to identify the nature of the interactions between drug nanocarriers and the components of model membranes as well as to determine the conditions facilitating or inhibiting the transport. Different techniques including electrochemical, microscopic (AFM, STM, TEM) and spectroscopic (PMIRRAS) methods are used to characterize structural changes of model membranes caused by the presence of drug nanocarriers.