Beneficiary 2

Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Brief Description of the Organization: 

PISAS was established in 1962 as a governmental research institution for basic and applied research in polymer chemistry. It currently counts around 90 employees with 40 scientists with Ph.D. and D.Sc. (habil.) degrees and 14 PhD students. The principal PISAS activities include polymer synthesis and characterization, biomaterials, composites modeling and development. State-of-the-art technologies for polymer chemistry and physics in diverse areas related to the project are complemented with required infrastructure including chemical, physical and biological laboratories.

 

Role in the project: 

Development of multifunctional polymers and hydrogels for neural interface coating, development of degradable linkers for the release of neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory factors from the polymeric matrix.

Team qualification in the field of proposal: 

PISAS has a long experience in the design of polymeric materials with a multidisciplinary approach and targeting applications including the biomedical field (http://www.polymer.sav.sk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=94&lang=en). Among others, in the last years PISAS was involved in several European projects, such as the FP6 project P. Cezanne on implantable glucose biosensors, the FP7 project NOMS on the design of the intelligent display for blind people, and the FP7 project POPART on degradation of polymeric materials. PISAS takes part in the global Chicago Diabetes Project establishing the pre-clinical non-human primate allogenic model for diabetes treatment by transplantation of insulin-producing cells encapsulated in semi-permeable polymer microspheres. PISAS cooperates with the academia and industries in a number of projects (currently around 30 national and 20 international projects); many of them deal with polymer design, especially in areas at the boundary between polymer chemistry and biology. In 2012, PISAS was accredited as the top-ranked institution owing the highest level of research outcomes in Slovakia.

Most Relevant Publications: 
  1. A.M.A. Rokstad et al. Advances in biocompatibility and physico-chemical characterization of microcapsules for cell encapsulation. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. In press, doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2013.07.010 (2013)
  2. I. Lacík. Current status on immunoprotection of transplanted islets: focus on islet microencapsulation, micro and nanosystems (Hot Topic: Current Applications of Micro and Nano Technology in Human Islet Transplantation) 5(3): 168 (2013)
  3. P. Sobolciak et al. Light-switchable polymer from cationic to zwitterionic form. Synthesis, characterization, and interactions with DNA and bacterial cells. Macromol Rapid Commun. 34: 635 (2013)
  4. J. Kronek et al. In vitro bio-immunological and cytotoxicity studies of poly(2-oxazolines). J Mater Sci Mater Med. 22: 1725 (2011)
  5. A. Popelka et al. Surface modification of low-density polyethylene with poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) using a low-pressure plasma treatment. Vacuum. 100: 53 (2014)

People

Igor Lacík, PhD, DSc. is the PISAS director and the Head of Dept. for Biomaterials Research. He is an expert in macromolecular chemistry, is specialized on the kinetics and mechanism of the aqueous-phase polymerization and on biomaterials for biomedicine, with a specific focus on diabetes treatment, biotechnology applications, hydrogels and biocompatible and non-biofouling materials. He is the principal investigator of a number of national and international projects, published above 90 scientific papers (ISI database) and 3 book chapters. He is the co-inventor of 2 US patents.

Juraj Kronek, PhD, is a specialist in the field of organic and polymer synthesis. He received the PhD in macromolecular chemistry in 2001. Currently he is the Deputy head of Dept. for Biomaterials Research. He is author of 25 scientific papers (ISI database), 1 book chapter and 1 patent. He is PI or co-PI of 8 national projects. His research expertise includes organic synthesis, controlled polymerizations, bioconjugations, biocompatible polymers, polymers with special architectures, thermosensitive, pH-sensitive and light-responsive polymers and hydrogels.

Beneficiaries: 01 coordinator  -  02  - 03