Structure Polish Academy of Sciences

Name: Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, PAS

Address: ul. Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363 Łódź, Poland

Website: https://www.cbmm.lodz.pl/en/

Description:

The Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies in Łódź belongs to the network of the Polish Academy of Sciences institutes created to conduct research in selected areas of science.

The research carried out in the Centre covers the range of problems from the area of organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry and polymer chemistry and physics, with special emphasis on developing methods of making advanced materials, both in the field of low molecular weight and high molecular weight products.

This includes new methods of stereoselective synthesis of complex organic molecules containing heteroatoms such as phosphorus, sulphur and silicon, new methods of stereocontrolled synthesis of modified oligonucleotides and their application in protein bioengineering as well as developing new approaches to synthetic polymers and their applications as biomaterials, materials for electronics or advanced construction materials.

Currently there is 183 people employed in the Centrum with over 140 scientists. Due to multidisciplinary nature of the Institute there are different types of labs available (chemistry, polymer preparation and physics analysis, biology and biochemistry).

The Institute is one of the most internationally recognized in the region. Since the large number of our researchers are foreigners, the obligatory language for all seminars and group meeting in English. Additionally, significant portion of PhD students are international student and exchange program with foreign institutions is very strong here. There is also number of international consortia, foreign companies and programs where CMMS PAS is involved. 

Disciplines: biology, medical biology, organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry and physics, structural chemistry.

Fields of activity: 

• polymer chemistry and physics - development and application of original methods for synthesis of well-defined polymers with special emphasis on biodegradable polymers and on preparation of polymer materials with architecture controlled on micro- and nanoscale level; nano- and microparticle assemblies and chemical processes at interfaces suitable for applications in medicine, biology, for construction of biosensors and optical sensors; tailored synthesis of biodegradable polymers with various topology and/or stereochemical structure; interactions of polymers with inorganic nanomaterials; preparation of polymer-inorganic hybrids; crystallization of polymers.
• mathematical modelling and computer simulations - polymer microstructure and kinetics of supramolecular structure formation, in particular from macromolecules with complex topology.
• organic chemistry - new methods of stereoselective syntheses of organic phosphorus and sulphur compounds in which heteroatoms are stereogenic centres; syntheses of a series of cyclopentanoid antibiotics and various drugs, such as methylenomycines, sarkomycin, rosaprostol, neplanocin, prostaglandins and their derivatives; new methods for synthesis of polythiophene derivatives as well as for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic and heteroaromatic hydrocarbons (substrates for organic molecular electronics devices, biologically active compounds and organometallic catalysts).
• bioorganic chemistry - development of the stereocontrolled synthesis of P-chiral congeners of biophosphates, including isotopomeric phosphates, phosphorothioates, phosphoramidates, and methylphosphosphonates; correlation between the molecular and/or supermolecular structure and physico-chemical properties, synthesis of natural and modified DNA and RNA fragments ad their applications in modulation of cellular function, structural and cell biology study.
• solid-state reactions and structural chemistry - understanding mechanochemical reactions in a ball mill; development of silica-based drug delivery systems and understanding the mechanism of encapsulating of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and organic compounds inside the mesopores of silica nanoparticles; understanding crystallization processes and preferences of organic compounds to form polymorphs, cocrystals, solvates and hydrates; structural characterization of organic molecules in a condensed matter using solid-state NMR, powder X-Ray diffraction, single crystal X-Ray diffraction and crystal structure prediction calculations, with a special emphasis on challenging cases of substances which do not crystallize as single crystals. Developing of Solid State NMR methodologies with use of Very Fast Magic Angle Spinning.

Latest achievements:

• a new method for synthesis of crosslinked polysiloxane microspheres with controlled hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and porosity was developed. These functional derivatives have a broad spectrum of applications in biology, medicine, catalysis and for high temperature resistant ceramic materials.
• a new, efficient, thermal solvent-free (TSF) technology has been developed for filling of drug delivery systems (DDS). It has been shown that in the case of incorporation of pure Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) as well as pharmaceutical co-crystals into mesoporous by TSF method the filling factor is very high. By selection of components of co-crystals it is possible controlling of release rate of APIs.
• the pathways for oxidative stress of transfer RNA (containing sulfur analogues) was discovered. In vitro studies showed that the desulfurization products of thiouridine are predominant.
• novel NMR techniques have been introduced for solid state analysis, including a unique method based on very-fast magic angle spinning (MAS).

Research facilities:

structural characterization (NMR, X-Ray, MS), surface characterization (AFM, XPS, SEM, TEM), screening laboratory, DNA/RNA synthesis, cell culture.

Contact person:

Professor Arkadiusz Chworos
Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs
achworos@cbmm.lodz.pl
(+48 42) 680 32 20