This has been a very intensive month for us so far. Yet another paper has been accepted! 

Mateusz Wdowiak, Sada Raza, Mateusz Grotek, Rafał Zbonikowski, Julita Nowakowska, Maria Doligalska, Ningjing Cai, Zhi Luo, Jan Paczesny

Phage/nanoparticle cocktails for a biocompatible and environmentally friendly antibacterial therapy

Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., just accepted 2025

New publication in Soft Matter!

We are pleased to announce that a new article has been published in the journal Soft Matter, resulting from a collaboration between the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF PAN), Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (UAM), and CADENAS P.S.A.

The publication, titled “Experimental and FEM simulation study of compressive deformation of solder microballs and particle chains”, was co-authored by Mr. Yaroslav Harkavyi (Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, UAM), Dr. Konrad Giżyński (IChF PAN, Living Materials group) and Prof. Zbigniew Rozynek (UAM/CADENAS P.S.A.).

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of how individual solder microballs and aligned particle chains respond to compressive loading, combining detailed experimental force–deformation measurements with finite-element simulations. In particular, Dr. Giżyński led the FEM modelling using the Johnson–Cook material law to capture the effects of strain rate and temperature on deformation behaviour.

You can read the full article here:
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SM01499E

Congratulations to all the authors — we look forward to seeing how these findings will inform the design of next-generation microstructured electronic components.

We are on roll! The next paper coming from the group is out. Congrats!

Wdowiak, M., Magiera, A., Tomczyńska, M., Adamkiewicz, W., Stellacci, F., Paczesny, J.

Protecting Bacteriophages Under UV Irradiation with Brilliant Blue FCF for Targeted Bacterial Control

Biofilm https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100286

Yet another paper from the group! 

Raza, S.; Mente, P.; Kamiński, B.; Bończak, B.; Maleki-Ghaleh, H.; Vignesh, V.; Paczesny, J.

Engineering Hydrophobic and Electrostatic Interactions for Selective Inactivation of Bacteriophages by Mixed-Ligand Nanoparticles

Nanoscale https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NR00612K

Rafał  Zbonikowski published a paper! Congrats!

Zbonikowski, R.

What influences the number of citations of scientific articles? Study on colloid and interface science

Scientometrics https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-025-05311-4

New publication in Materials & Design!

We are pleased to announce that a new article has been published in the prestigious journal Materials & Design, resulting from a collaboration between the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF PAN) and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.

The publication, titled “Fabrication of a new type of electrically conductive micro-tracks via mechanical compression of beaded structures”, was co-authored by Dr. Konrad Giżyński (IChF PAN, Living Materials group), Prof. Zbigniew Rozynek (CADENAS p.s.a. / UAM), and PhD student at UAM, Mr. Yaroslav Harkavyi.

The article presents an innovative approach to fabricating electrically conductive micro-tracks using mechanically compressed beaded structures made of microparticles. Our collaborator, Dr. Giżyński, was responsible for the computer simulations of the phenomenon described in the paper.

We invite you to read the full article at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525004058

Congratulations to all the Authors — we wish you continued research success!

Exciting news! Our study on how microplastics impact bacteriophage activity was named a Top Viewed Article in the Journal of Environmental Quality — a great recognition of our team’s contribution to environmental virology and pollutant research. We’re grateful to all the authors for their valuable efforts and collaboration on this work.

Jan Paczesny gave invited talk during The Eighteenth Japan-Korea Joint Symposium on Bio-microsensing Technology (18th JKBT) focusing on "Next-Generation Biotechnology in An Era of Dramatic Change". The event wass held in Kitakiyushiu (Japan) but Jan was connected online ( : (  )

We welcome two undergrad students to the group Aleksandra Zacheja and Zuzanna Kukla. Aleksandra is working with Bartek Kamiński on antiviral agents. Zuzanna works with Natalia Szczepańska on novel functional materials.

We're thrilled to announce that another paper has just been published!

Raza, S.; Bończak, B.; Atamas, N.; Karpińska, A.; Ratajczyk, T.; Łoś, M.; Hołyst, R.; Paczesny
The Activity of Indigo Carmine against Bacteriophages: An Edible Antiphage Agent
Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-025-13414-4

We bid farewell to Ashley, who has completed her Erasmus internship with the group. However, her project will continue in collaboration with our partners in Czechia!

In January, an article by Bartek Kamiński was published, presenting research he conducted under the supervision of Dr. Marcin Lindner at the Institute of Organic Chemistry as part of his master’s thesis. The work focused on designing new efficient emitters for OLED devices. Congrats!

Kumar, D., Bartkowski, K., Kamiński, B., Masoumifeshani, E., Ślęczkowski, P., Kubas, A., Data, P., Lindner, M.
Mixed Emission of Acenaphtho[1,2- b ] Quinoxaline Regioisomers
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c06867

Konrad coauthored a new piece. Congrats!

Global non-equilibrium thermodynamics for steady states like never before

Robert Holyst, Konrad Giżyński, Anna Maciołek, Karol Makuch, Jakub Wróbel and Paweł J. Żuk

Europhysics Letters  DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/ada182

We went through the verification and cataloging of the team`s assets. This would not have been possible if not for Aleksandra Ferenc Mrozek, Rafał Zbonikowsk, and Natalia Szczepańska.

We missed to inform about some of Enkhlin`s achievements this year! We are fixing it now!

February: 

Enkhlin returned from a six-month internship at the Rotello Lab, University of Massachusetts. During her time there, she focused on developing an innovative polymer-phage sensor for detecting and differentiating bacteria.

July: 

Enkhlin participated in the "Viruses of Microbes 2024" conference held in Cairns, Australia. She presented a poster showcasing her work on an array-based polymer-phage biosensor designed for bacteria detection and differentiation.

Sada Raza received the Best Poster Award for her innovative technology and impactful presentation during NanoBioTech-Montreux Conference 2024! Congrats!

Sada Raza and Bartosz Kaminski, PhD students from our team, presented their research at the NanoBiotech-Montreux conference (10.11.2024 – 13.11.2024). Sada showcased her poster on 

"Unveiling the Potential of Mixed-Ligand Nanoparticles: Targeted Bacteriophage Inactivation"​, 

while Bartosz presented his work on 

"Illuminating Antimicrobial Defense: Quantum Dot Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles with Light Sensitivity and Antimicrobial Properties"​.

Jan Paczesny visited Novi Sad, Serbia, as a lecturer. He delivered a series of lectures on phages in nanotechnology. There are new cooperations on the horizon - with Prof. Jaroslav Katona and Prof. Milan Vranes. Stay tuned for updates!

The campus of the University of Novi Sad is super cool! 

Hossein published two new papers recently. Congrats!

Highly efficient magnesium ferrite/graphene nano-heterostructure for visible-light photocatalytic applications: Experimental and first-principles DFT studies

Hossein Maleki-Ghaleh, Ehsan Moradpur-Tari, Mohammad Shakiba, Ehsan Ghasali, Ziba Dargahi, Danial Norouzi Arator, Yashar Behnamian, Ali Fallah, Ali Zarrabi, Ermia Aghaie, Pariya Yardani Sefidi, Mir Ghasem Hosseini, Ali Akbari-Fakhrabadi, Hamid Omidvar, M Hossein Siadati

Sustainable Materials and Technologies, e01159

Recent advancements in MXenes Synthesis, Properties, and Cutting-Edge Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Kahila Baghchesaraee, Ehsan Ghasali, Saleem Raza, Andrii Babenko, Giti Paimard, Tariq Bashir, Hossein Maleki-Ghaleh, Li Jie, Yasin Orooji

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Natalia passed her PhD entry exam, and now she is a PhD student in the Living Materials group! 

Bartek Kamiński passed his mid-term evaluation with flying colors! Congrats! 

Ashley George joined the group as an Erasmus PhD student! Ashley came from University of Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Prague, Czechia! Ashley will work on phage-nano hybrids.

Natalia Szczepańska defended her master thesis on 27.09.2024. Prof. Izabela Madura acted as supervisor and Jan Paczesny as tutor. Congrats!

Title: "Responsive nanocoatings and thin films for applications in catalysis and as antimicrobial agents".

Enkhlin Ochirbat participated in the 4th edition of the eSPARK International Summer School on Experimental Electrochemistry that took place from the 22nd – 29th of September 2024 in Warsaw, Poland. We embrace new skills! 

Results of competition "Young Researchers of the IPC PAS". 

Sada Raza

Rafał Zbonikowski 

Mateusz Wdowiak 

were awarded! Congratulations!