Research

Main long term scientific interest at the Department of Biophysics is an interdisciplinary
biophysical and biomedical research focused to Targeted Cancer Therapy. This includes two closely
related subjects: development of selective nano-carriers for anticancers drugs and a study of physical
and chemical mechanism of anticancer action of photoactive molecules. The research team is organized
into specialized groups regarding their experimental expertise in such way that topic of Targeted
Cancer Therapy is studied in all levels, starting from molecular level (interaction of pts with relevant
biomacromolecules), through cellular (study of apoptotic signaling pathways influenced by photodynamic
effect) to in vivo level (chicken embryos).

Metodology

Biophotonics/nano-biophotonics is the main focus in the Department. This includes
development and application of novel advanced laser and optical spectroscopy and imaging methods
(time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence imaging (FRET, FCS, FLIM), Raman
spectroscopy and imaging (macro and micro- Raman combined with optical tweezers), bioenergetics and
molecular simulations.

Applications

In application research, Department is focused on environmental problems (development
of selective optical nano-sensors for trace amount detection of pollutants), and culture heritage
applications (in situ analysis of pigments in culture artifacts).

Recognition

The international acceptance of the research completed at the Department is confirmed
by numerous publications in high impacted international journals, by many invited lectures at different
universities, and by many invitations to international meetings in the field. In 2012 the Department of
Biophysics was accepted as associated laboratory of internationally recognized doctoral school in life
sciences Interdisciplinaire pour le vivant at the University of Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris, France .