RESEARCH PROFILE
We are a young, creative and dynamic team established in 2020. Motivated by the fascination to create advanced polymeric materials that exhibit new useful applications in personalized medicine, drug delivery, or cosmetology, the primary research focus of the Functional Polymer Materials Team is the design, synthesis, and investigation of properties of novel scaffolds, hydrogels, films, microparticles, and skin care products. Our interests and activities are interdisciplinary. In many of our projects, we are inspired by nature’s materials, especially biopolymers.
To obtain and characterize materials, we use various technics and apparatus: encapsulation, homogenization, lyophilization, dialysis, mechanical testing machine (for stretching, compression, puncture, spreadability, adhesion, extrusion), particle size analyzer, DSC, UV-Vis, microscopic imaging, skin parameters measurements.
At Functional Polymer Materials Team we focus on young people. We try to inspire our students to excel in a scientific research career.
GROUP MEMBERS
Dr. Joanna Skopińska-Wiśniewska – coordinator
phone: +48 (56) 611 49 38; e-mail: joanna@umk.pl
Dr. hab. Justyna Kozłowska
phone: +48 (56) 611 43 14; e-mail: justynak@umk.pl
PhD students:
Natalia Stachowiak, MSc
phone: +48 (56) 611 43 13, e-mail: nat.sta@doktorant.umk.pl
Weronika Prus-Walendziak, MSc
e-mail: weronika.pw@doktorant.umk.pl
WEBSITE
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justyna-Kozlowska-5
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joanna-Skopinska-Wisniewska
PROJECTS, GRANTS, AWARDS
Grants:
New, ecological solutions in the design of cosmetic preparations – Young Scientist Grant, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry NCU, 2021-2022, mgr Weronika Prus-Walendziak
Soapwort root extract (Saponaria officinalis L.) as a source of saponins – natural surfactants – Young Scientist Grant, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry NCU, 2021-2022, mgr Natalia Stachowiak
New functional MATerials for 3D printing in UROlogy needs – TECHMATSTRATEG2/407770/2/NCBR/2020, NCBiR, 2020-2023, dr Joanna Skopińska-Wiśniewska
The use of polymer microparticles in new cosmetic products for skin changed during anticancer treatment – Grants4NCUStudents, Excellence Initiative – Research University, 2020-2021, mgr Weronika Prus-Walendziak
Functional, degradable polymer matrices containing microparticles with the addition of surfactants as an ecological alternative for wet wipes, 2018/31/N/ST8/02007, Preludium 16, NCN, 2019-2022, mgr Natalia Stachowiak
New materials containing microparticles incorporated into polymer matrix for medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications – UMO-2016/21/D/ST8/01705, Sonata, NCN, 2017-2022, dr Justyna Kozłowska
Awards:
- The Best Graduate at the Faculty of Chemistry at the NCU in the academic year 2019/2020, Weronika Prus-Walendziak
- Award of the Regional Branch of the Polish Association of Chemical Engineers SITPChem for the best Master’s thesis in the academic year 2019/2020 titled Emulsion films and 3D matrices for cosmetic applications, Weronika Prus-Walendziak
- Scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding achievements (2018/2019, 2019/2020), Weronika Prus-Walendziak
- Team award of the Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń for achievements in the organizational field in 2020
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
J. Skopińska-Wiśniewska, S. De la Flor, J. Kozłowska, From supramolecular hydrogels to multifunctional carriers for biologically active substances, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021, 22, 7402
J. Skopińska-Wiśniewska, M. Tuszyńska, E. Olewnik-Kruszkowska, Comparative study of gelatin hydrogels modified by various cross-linking agents, Materials, 2021, 14(2), 396
N. Stachowiak, J. Kowalonek, J. Kozlowska, Freeze-dried matrices composed of degradable polymers with surfactant-loaded microparticles based on pectin and sodium alginate, Materials, 2021, 14, 3044.
W. Prus-Walendziak, J. Kozlowska, Lyophilized Emulsions in the Form of 3D Porous Matrices as a Novel Material for Topical Application, Materials, 2021, 14(4), 950.
W. Prus-Walendziak, J. Kozlowska, Design of Sodium Alginate/Gelatin-Based Emulsion Film Fused with Polylactide Microparticles Charged with Plant Extract, Materials, 2021, 14(4), 745.
M. Pokrywczynska, A. Jundzil, J. Tworkiewicz, M. Buhl, D. Balcerczyk, J. Adamowicz, T. Kloskowski, M. Rasmus, K. Męcińska-Jundziłł, D. Kasinski, M. Frontczak-Baniewicz, M. Holysz, J. Skopinska-Wisniewska, M. Bodnar, A. Marszalek, P. Antosik, D. Grzanka, T. Drewa, Urinary bladder augmentation with acellular biologic scaffold – A preclinical study in a large animal model, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 2021, 1-12
B. Kaczmarek-Szczepańska, J. Ostrowska, J. Kozłowska, Z. Szota, A.A. Brożyna, R. Dreier, R.J. Reiter, A.T. Slominski, K. Steinbrink, K. Kleszczyński, Evaluation of Polymeric Matrix Loaded with Melatonin for Wound Dressing, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 565
J. Kozlowska, W. Prus-Walendziak, N. Stachowiak, A. Bajek, L. Kazmierski, B. Tylkowski, Modification of Collagen/Gelatin/Hydroxyethyl Cellulose-Based Materials by Addition of Herbal Extract-Loaded Microspheres Made from Gellan Gum and Xanthan Gum, Materials, 2020, 13(16), 3507
M. Ammendola, M. Hapońska, K. Balik, P. Modrakowska, K. Matulewicz, Ł. Kaźmierski, A. Lis, J. Kozłowska, R. Garcia-Valls, M. Giamberini, A. Bajek, B. Tylkowski, Stability and anti-proliferative properties of biologically active compounds extracted from Cistus L. after sterilization treatments, Scientific Reports, 2020, 10, 6521
J. Kozlowska, B. Tylkowski, N. Stachowiak, W. Prus-Walendziak, Controlling the Skin Barrier Quality through the Application of Polymeric Films Containing Microspheres with Encapsulated Plant Extract, Processes, 2020, 8(5), 530.
N. Stachowiak, J. Kowalonek, J. Kozłowska, Effect of plasticizer and surfactant on the properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan films, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020, 164, 2100-2107.
J. Kozlowska, A. Bajek, N. Stachowiak, W. Prus-Walendziak, B. Tylkowski, Application of microencapsulation in medical and pharmaceutical industry, In: Microencapsulation 2nd Edition; editors: B. Tylkowski, M. Giamberini, S. Fernandez Prieto, ISBN 978-3-11-064176-9, De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston, 2020