Litwinienko’s Group

Group Leader:

Prof. Grzegorz Litwinienko

Permanent Staff:

Prof. Andrzej Kaim
Dr Hanna Wilczura-Wachnik
Dr Eng. Katarzyna Jodko-Piórecka
Dr Agnieszka Krogul-Sobczak
Dr Piotr Piotrowski
Dr Jakub Cędrowski
Dr Adrian Konopko
Artur Gajda

PhD Students:

MSc. Jarosław Kusio
MSc. Paweł Przybylski
MSc. Simon Lukato
MSc. Wojciech Witkowski
MSc. Eng. Michał Żebrowski

Students:

Martyna Boruc
Sandra Denis
Hanna Kutrowska
Piotr Łętowski
Artur Stec
Natalia Szczepańska

Subprogram I:
Catalysis and nanotechnology

• Development of new, environmentally friendly methods of obtaining chemical compounds important in the industry;
• Design and synthesis of new catalysts for selected organic processes;
• Synthesis and characterization of metal nanoparticles;
• Activation of small molecules (CO, CO2, O2);
• Organic processes carried out under increased pressure in the presence of nanocatalysts;
• Functionalization of C60/C70 fullerenes, Sc3N@C80, Lu3N@C80, Gd@C82 metal fullerenes and graphene for applications in photovoltaics, catalysis and medicine;
• New materials for applications in optoelectronics – structural research and electronic properties using DFT computational methods.

Subprogram II:
Interfacial processes in biomimetic systems

• Studies of the kinetics of lipid oxidation;
• Investigation of phenomena occurring at the liquid-liquid interface, in particular the interfacial transport of biologically active molecules;
• Studies of qualitative and quantitative description of small molecules between coexisting solvent phases and micellar phases;
• Study of encapsulation of biologically active molecules in micellar structures;
• Study of interactions of substances with potential antioxidant properties with model lipid membranes;
• Influence of solvent effects on the inhibition of the autooxidation process.

Subprogram III:
Chemistry of antioxidants

• Physicochemical basis of antioxidant activity: from solvent effects and mechanistic studies to interfacial phenomena in biomimetic systems;
• New hybrid antioxidants containing nitroxide and phenolic functional groups – research in chemical and biological systems;
• New nanoparticle antioxidants: design, synthesis and study of the mechanism of action for potential applications;
• Study of the fluorescent properties of the peroxyl radical sensor as a marker of oxidative stress in lipid membranes;
• A senolytic nanoplatform based on electrospun nanofibers delivering nutraceutical derivatives to remove breast cancer cells with chemotherapeutic-induced aging;
• Searching for mechanisms of antioxidant activity of selected organic nitrogen and sulphur compounds.

Subprogram IV:
Synthesis of novel antioxidants

• Design and synthesis of peroxyl radical sensors based on BODIPY;
• Construction of new hybrid antioxidants containing nitroxide and phenolic functional groups;
• Modification of well-known natural antioxidants (based on flavonoids, isothiocyanates).