Ionizing radiation is an unusual but very useful tool for initiating chemical reactions. The branch of chemistry in which this kind of radiation is applied is called radiation chemistry. Radiation-initiated reactions are also used on an industrial scale, this is the domain of radiation technology. The use of radiation has many advantages - it allows to reduce the use of harmful chemical compounds and solvents, allows to obtain products with a special structure and high purity, and provides the ability to precisely control the course of the reaction and the properties of the products.
Our team deals with the broadly understood radiation chemistry and radiation technology of polymers. We believe that these issues are interesting and important. The mechanisms of processes induced by ionizing radiation in polymers are different and usually more complex than those known for small molecules. In turn, understanding these mechanisms, both for synthetic and natural polymers, helps in the development of methods for the radiation synthesis of new polymeric materials with unusual and useful properties, especially for medical applications. We took over the idea and ambition to combine basic and applied research in our activities from our mentors, former team leaders - prof. Władysław Pękala and prof. Janusz M. Rosiak, who are internationally renowned experts in this field.
When it comes to materials and products, we specialize primarily in hydrogels, both macroscopic and in micro and nano scales. Hydrogel dressings developed by our team are produced on an industrial scale and help thousands of patients annually, in Poland and abroad. But we also work on scaffolds for tissue engineering, implants and other materials for medicine, both based on synthetic biocompatible biodegradable polymers, as well as on biopolymers and their derivatives.
Apart from this main field, we also have other scientific passions - we try to initiate reactions in polymers and produce polymer materials using acoustic waves (sonochemistry), and we also develop new research methods, construct prototype measuring equipment and participate in the editing of international scientific journals. And we even study the properties and history of materials of extraterrestrial origin - meteorites.
In our activities, we focus on domestic and international cooperation with leading research centers in our field, including close partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and on the young generation. We are proud of the achievements of our doctoral students, students and trainees from five continents.
We invite you to explore the materials posted on this website and to contact us
Publications
Projects
People
Research interest and activities
- Interactions of ionizing radiation with polymers in solution and in the solid state
- Mechanisms and kinetics of radiation-induced reactions of macromolecules in solution
- Theory, experiments and simulations of radiation-induced polymerization, crosslinking and degradation
- Hydrogels, microgels, nanogels
- Polymeric materials for biomedical purposes – biomaterials, medical devices, implants, scaffolds for tissue engineering and cell layer engineering, drug delivery systems, nanoradiopharmaceuticals
- Biodegradable synthetic (co)polymers: PLA, PCL, PTMC
- Radiation processing of polysaccharides: chitosan, cellulose derivatives, dextran
- Radiation-induced reactions of oligopeptides and proteins
- Cell interactions and biocompatibility in vitro of novel biomaterials
- Sterilization of biomaterials and medical devices
- Sonochemistry of polymers
- New experimental techniques in studying fast reactions in polymer systems
- Metal nanoparticles and composite nanomaterials
- Meteorites – thermophysical properties and history of extraterrestrial matter