Research Directions

Development of methods for diagnosis and monitoring of various diseases and identification of biomarkers, applying a thermodynamic approach for the study of complex biological fluids (blood plasma / serum) and intact (blood, tumor and non-tumorigenic) cells; investigation of the role of membrane lipid molecules and their functionally active metabolites in the genesis and development of pathological cellular conditions; lateral organization of membrane lipids, membrane phospholipid asymmetry; role of fatty acids and phospholipids in cellular aging processes; assessment of the dynamics of specialized membrane domains in order to reveal the molecular mechanisms of action of membrane-related and other pathologies; studies for identification of new biomarkers for oncological diseases; development of different model systems to test new hypotheses, uncovering molecular interactions and new mechanisms of action at the cellular level; in silico modelling of new compounds (selective or multi-targeting ligands) with optimized pharmacokinetic properties suitable for preclinical studies.

Electroporation, electrofusion, electrotransformation, macromolecule transmission through membranes, tumour electrochemotherapy; cell adhesion and reorganization of the cytoskeleton after electrotreatment, adhesive properties to nanostructures under the influence of an electric field; mechanisms of interaction of nanomaterials with cellular components, cyto- and genotoxicity; analysis of synthetic and natural substances with anti-oxidant and anti-tumour action; studying the mechanisms of interaction of ligand-receptor pairs; protein-protein interaction; tracking and characterization of signaling cascades; effects on cellular lipid metabolism; transmembrane signal transmission; morphological and nanomechanical properties of plasma / cell membranes; aging of erythrocytes.

Experimental and theoretical studies of lipid membrane structures aiming to describe the molecular mechanisms of interaction with pore-forming peptides, amphiphilic and lipophilic molecules and biomolecular complexes with potential to be applied in biomedicine; Determination of mechanical and electrical properties of model membrane systems by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, fluctuation analysis and electroporation; Rheological studies on biomimetic membrane systems and cells oriented toward hemopathologies; Investigation of the interaction between electromagnetic fields and biological matter for the application of electromagnetic echo-effect (EMEE) and development of innovative sensors based on it.

Application of QSAR (quantitative structure-activity dependencies) and molecular modelling approaches to characterize the relationship between the structure of compounds and their biological effect; synthesis of amino acids, peptides and peptidomimetics with improved drug-like properties; synthesis of molecular probes and prodrugs; assessment of the toxic effects of chemicals on the human health; modelling of complex biological systems such as myelinated axon or surface electromyography signal.

Further elaboration of theories of generalized networks and of intuitionistic fuzzy sets and their application in medicine and biology; use of modern information technologies and development of intelligent systems to support the diagnostic and therapeutic process in practical healthcare; modelling of pathological processes, patients’ databases, formalization of knowledge for making diagnostic and therapeutic decision; development of health screening and monitoring systems; application of modern systems analysis approaches, engineering-mathematical and computer-oriented methods and tools for information technologies support, analysis, modelling, optimization and management of systems related to the development of products for pharmaceutical, food and other industries.

Development of software and hardware for processing and analysis of biomedical signals and data: improvement of existing and introduction of new diagnostic and therapeutic practices in clinical medicine, including those based on artificial intelligence methods (decision rules, self-training expert systems); development of automatic devices for adequate and immediate response in critical life-threatening situations; development of telemetric medical communication facilities; development of clinical practice tools and devices for testing the compliance of clinical and ambulatory equipment with the European and national metrological standards.