News

18.10.2024

The article of our scientists featured on the Front Cover of ChemBioChem

We are pleased to announce that the scientific article titled “Vinyl 3-(Dimethylamino)propanoate as an Irreversible Acyl Donor Reagent in a Chromatography-free Lipase-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of sec-Alcohols” by MSc. Eng. Beata Zdun and Dr. Paweł Borowiecki from our Chair has been featured on the Front Cover of ChemBioChem.

The research published in this article was funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) as part of the “SONATA 15” grant (no. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556).

For more information, please visit the journal’s website: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14397633/2024/25/20

Link to the article: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbic.202400394

03.10.2024

Awards of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for Academic Teachers

We are honored to announce that on October 2, 2024, the staff of our Faculty of Chemistry were distinguished with awards from the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for outstanding scientific achievements. The official presentation of commemorative diplomas by the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, Professor Wioletta Raróg-Pilecka, took place during the ceremonial inauguration of the 2024/25 academic year in the Medium Hall of the Main Building of the Warsaw University of Technology.

Among the laureates was Dr. Hab. Patrycja Wińska, who was awarded the “2nd Degree Individual Award” of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) in recognition of her scientific achievement titled “Anticancer Properties of CK2 Protein Kinase Inhibitors and Their Combinations with Antimetabolites of the Thymidylate Biosynthesis Cycle.“

The second laureate is Dr. Paweł Borowiecki, who received the “1st Degree Individual Award” from the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for outstanding scientific achievements in 2022–2023, which had a significant impact on the current state-of-art and further development of research directions in the field of biocatalysis. In addition, Dr. Borowiecki, together with colleagues from the Chair of Analytical Chemistry WUT (namely, Dr. Lena Ruzik, Dr. Magdalena Matczuk, and Dr. Joanna Zajda), received the “1st Degree Team Award” of the Rector of the WUT.

We sincerely congratulate the laureates and wish them continued success in their scientific careers!

13.09.2024

Publication of our scientists in ChemBioChem

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: “Vinyl 3-(Dimethylamino)propanoate as an Irreversible Acyl Donor Reagent in a Chromatography-free Lipase-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of sec-Alcohols” has been published in ChemBioChem (ISSN: 1439-7633, IF: 2.6).

In this article we developed a novel “acid-washable” acyl donor, namely vinyl 3-(dimethylamino)propanoate, dedicated to a chromatography-free lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution (KR) of racemic sec-alcohols. The employed vinyl ester is easy to obtain from commercially available starting materials, allows the synthesis of both enantiomers of a range of structurally diverse benzylic alcohols with high conversions and excellent enantioselectivity, and, most importantly, significantly simplifies enzymatic KR, leading to a more sustainable and ecologically friendly bioprocess. The developed procedure can be applied when classical purification methods fail to separate KR products.

We dedicate this paper to our colleague and excellent educator, Dr. Zbigniew Ochal, in honor of his retirement from WUT.

The research published in this paper was funded by the National Science Center (NCN) under the grant “SONATA 15” (nr 2019/35/D/ST4/01556).

More information can be found on the journal’s website: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbic.202400394

15.07.2024

Publication of our scientists in ChemCatChem

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: “ADH-Catalyzed Biooxidation of (Hetero)aromatic sec-Alcohols to Ketones Employing Vinyl Acetate as Acetaldehyde Surrogate” has been published in ChemCatChem (ISSN: 1867-3899, IF: 3.8).

In this article we show that an engineered variant of an alcohol dehydrogenase deduced from Lactobacillus kefir (Lk-ADH Prince) serves as an efficient biocatalyst for biooxidation of sec-alcohols under mild conditions employing vinyl acetate as an acetaldehyde surrogate, which takes up the hydride, allowing the synthesis of variously functionalized ketones quantitively. The merger of the Lk-ADH Prince-catalyzed biooxidation with transaminase-catalyzed amination in a one-pot, two-step sequential manner led to optically active amines. This work should provide useful input to the field of redox biotransformations.

We dedicate this paper to our colleague and excellent educator, Dr. Tadeusz Zdrojewski, in honor of his retirement from WUT after 40 years of being an academic tutor.

The research published in this paper was funded by the National Science Center (NCN) under the grant “OPUS 24” (No. 2022/47/B/ST4/00139)

More information can be found on the journal’s website: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cctc.202400803

25.06.2024

A first-year PhD student from our Chair was awarded at the BPCI 2024 conference

The international conference “6th Symposium Biotransformations for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry BPCI 2024” held at the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences (ICSC PAS) in Krakow on 17−19 June 2024, organized by ICSC and the Faculty of Food Technology of the Agricultural University in Krakow.

During the symposium, Ph.D. students from our Faculty presented the results of their research during the “Flash Oral” session:

– Aleksandra Rudzka: “One-Pot Two-Step Sequential Photo-Biocatalytic Deracemization of sec-Alcohols Combining Photocatalytic Oxidation and Bioreduction”;

– Natalia Antos: “Synthesis of Optically Active Alcohols Using Photocatalytic Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes Followed by Carbonyl Stereoselective Bioreduction“;

– Beata Zdun: “Chromatography-free Lipase-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols Using Vinyl 3-(dimethylamino)propanoate as an Acyl Group Donor“.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that the “BPCI 2024 Scientific Committee” recognized Natalia Antos’ work with an award in the “Most Innovative Poster” category. We congratulate the award winner and wish her continued success in her scientific work!

22.05.2024

Employees of our Chair are winners of the Best of the Best II competition

Dr. Karolina Drężek and Dr. Anna Sobiepanek became the winners of the 2nd edition of the Best of the Best competition. This competition is organized as part of the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” program implemented at the Warsaw University of Technology.

The aim of the competition is to provide support and maintain the involvement of outstanding young employees from the group of academic teachers of the Warsaw University of Technology performing research, teaching and organizational tasks, in the development of their academic career at WUT. The main assumption of the competition is an individual approach to each laureate, learning about his/her needs in the development of both scientific and teaching careers.

Requirements for candidates:
– a doctoral degree obtained no earlier than 7 years before the deadline for submitting the application and included in number N;
– employment at the Warsaw University of Technology under a full-time employment contract;
– representing scientific disciplines for which Scientific Disciplinary Councils have been established at WUT;
– achievements in various aspects of academic activity in the field of research, education or organization for the benefit of the employing organizational unit or the entire university or outside the academic field (i.e. promotional activities outside the university, promoting education through research activities, cooperation with industry related to the subject of one’s research work).

The winners were selected, based on the evaluation of the applications, by a competition committee appointed by the Rector. Support was granted to 27 people, 2 of whom are employees of our Chair.

Congratulations to the ladies!!! 🙂

10.02.2024

Publication of our scientists in ACS Catalysis!

Dr. Pawel Borowiecki’s group, with the leading contribution of our Ph.D. students (Aleksandra Rudzka and Natalia Antos) and in collaboration with scientists from Prof. Wolfgang Kroutil’s group (the “Elk Crew”, the University in Graz, Austria), published a research article on the novel photo-biocatalytic method of deracemization of secondary alcohols using visible light and recombinant alcohol dehydrogenases.

In the published work, we proved that the combination of both catalytic processes, i.e., photooxidation of racemic alcohols in the presence of 9-fluorenone in DMSO irradiated with blue light (440 nm) and bio-transhydrogenation of the resulting ketones using the enzymes mentioned above, in a sequential one-pot/two-step procedure, enables the synthesis of optically active alcohols in high yield (>90%) and excellent enantiomeric excess (>99%). It is worth mentioning that the newly developed asymmetric photo-biocatalytic method is efficient toward a broad substrate scope, while the obtained products of these transformations are chiral building blocks useful for the synthesis of valuable pharmaceuticals.

In addition, research on photo-biocatalytic cascade processes has led to a breakthrough discovery; namely, scientists from the LBB WUT have demonstrated that recombinant E. coli cells harboring alcohol dehydrogenases from Rhodococcus ruber (E. coli/ADH-A) and Lactobacillus kefir (E. coli/Lk-ADH) show unexpectedly high catalytic activity and stereoselectivity despite the strongly acidic pH (1.5-2.2) of the crude reaction mixture obtained after photooxidation of racemic substrates. The rationalization of this rather unprecedented phenomenon was supported by numerous validation experiments and their detailed analysis, providing the basis for a hypothetical mechanism for the formation of sulfur compounds with potential modulating properties against the enzymes, as mentioned above. The results of the conducted research may contribute to the initiation of new applications in bioorganic chemistry and biotechnology and play a key role in planning stereocontrolled syntheses of enantiomerically enriched high-added value products from chiral alcohols.  

Work on the impact of this effect on other classes of enzymes (i.e., transaminases), including verification of the scope of applicability of the developed method toward new substrates, is currently the basis of intensive research conducted by Dr. Borowiecki’s group. Taking advantage of this fact, we warmly invite all students interested in this research topic to cooperate with us to carry out similar scientific projects as part of their future engineering and/or M.Sc thesis.

The results of the study are described in a paper entitled: “One-Pot Sequential Two-Step Photo-Biocatalytic Deracemization of sec-Alcohols Combining Photocatalytic Oxidation and Bioreduction” and published in the very prestigious catalytic journal ACS Catalysis (ISSN: 2155-5435; IF: 13.7, 200 pts MEiN).

The article was written in tribute to Prof. Krzysztof Schmidt-Szałowski (1930-2023) and Prof. Przemysław Szczeciński (1946-2023), who passed away last year.

The research published in this paper was funded by the National Science Center (NCN) under the grant “OPUS 24” (No. 2022/47/B/ST4/00139)

More information can be found on the journal’s website: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.3c05100 or https://lbb-wut-borowiecki.ch.pw.edu.pl/publications/

02.2024

YOUNG PW II projects for our scientists!

Researchers from our chair received funding for their scientific projects as part of the YOUNG PW II competition financed by the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” program implemented at the Warsaw University of Technology.

Project manager: Dr. Karolina Drężek, project in cooperation with the University of Debrecen (Hungary) and the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences

“Hybridization as a tool in improving targeted biocompounds production – studies on synthetic Saccharomyces-based yeast hybrids”, PLN 149,960.

Project manager: Dr. Anna Sobiepanek, project in cooperation with BASF POLSKA

“Comprehensive in vitro studies of the influence of ceramides and their derivatives on the physiological and pathological processes occurring in the skin”, PLN 150,000.

 Congratulations and we wish you further success!

27.11.2023

OPUS 25 and PRELUDIUM 22 projects for our scientists!

20.11.2023

Professor Mieczysław Chorąży Scholarship for Dr. Anna Sobiepanek

The scholarship was founded to honor and commemorate Professor Mieczysław Chorąży (1925-2021), a great man and an outstanding Polish researcher who conducted cancer research at the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice for seven decades. The aim of the Scholarship is to reward outstanding young scientists working in Polish research institutions and to encourage them to continue research. Scholarship named after The Professor Mieczysław Chorąży Award is awarded to one candidate every year from 2021.

This year, out of 26 outstanding young scientists conducting cancer research, the Scientific Committee, based on their overall achievements, decided to award this prestigious scholarship to Dr. Anna Sobiepanek from the Biomolecular Interactions Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology of Medicinal Products and Cosmetics.

The founder of the Professor Mieczysław Chorąży Scholarship is the Association for the Support of Cancer Research.

On November 16-17, 2023, during the international conference XXVII Gliwice Scientific Meetings 2023, Dr. Anna Sobiepanek received a diploma confirming the award of this prestigious scholarship. Moreover, Dr. Sobiepanek was invited to deliver a special lecture, which took place on the second day of the conference.

Congratulations!

12.10.2023

Ph.D. students from our Department with publication in Nature: Communications Chemistry

Dr. Pawel Borowiecki, Aleksandra Rudzka, M.Sc., Beata Zdun, M.Sc., and Natalia Antos, M.Sc., together with colleagues from Austria (a team headed by Prof. Wolfgang Kroutil from University of Graz) have characterized a new biocatalyst for the asymmetric transhydrogenation of carbonyl compounds. The title biocatalyst is a variant of alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus kefir and was prepared using a site saturation mutagenesis strategy.

In the published work, the young researchers proved that the enzyme mentioned above exhibits excellent catalytic properties, including high activity and stereoselectivity towards a wide range of ketones, whose asymmetric biotransformation products are valuable chiral building blocks in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Studies of the catalytic properties were rationalized using molecular docking and detailed analysis of the morphology of the tunnels leading to the enzyme’s active site.

The results were published in Communications Chemistry (ISSN: 2399-3669, IF: 5.9) and are entitled “Biocatalytic characterization of an alcohol dehydrogenase variant deduced from Lactobacillus kefir in asymmetric hydrogen transfer“.

The research published in this paper was funded by the National Science Center (NCN) under the grant “OPUS 24” (No. 2022/47/B/ST4/00139

More information can be found on the journal’s website: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-023-01013-1?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20231012&utm_content=10.1038/s42004-023-01013-1#Sec22

21.07.2023

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki became a member of the European Society of Applied Biocatalysis (ESAB)

We want to inform you that Dr. Borowiecki has been invited to join the elite group of members of the ESAB – European Society of Applied Biocatalysis.

ESAB is an organization of professional biotechnologists from all over Europe, dedicated to developing and promoting Industrial Biotechnology (so-called White Biotechnology) among employees of academia, research institutes, and the industrial sector.

ESAB is involved in organizing scientific conferences, webinars, and educational workshops.

ESAB cooperates with the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem), a public-private partnership organization established by the European Commission to increase investment in research and innovation and enhance European competitiveness in various biotechnology sectors, including but not limited to pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, cosmetics, food, fuel, energy, textiles, etc.

20.07.2023

Dr. Borowiecki’s team has published a paper in The Journal of Organic Chemistry

We are delighted to announce that the publication entitled: “Chemoenzymatic synthesis of tenofovir” has been published in The Journal of Organic Chemistry (ISSN: 0022-3263, IF: 3.6).

This article reports on novel chemoenzymatic routes toward tenofovir (an anti-HIV active pharmaceutical ingredient) using low-cost starting materials and commercial or homemade enzyme preparations as biocatalysts. The biocatalytic key step was accomplished either via stereoselective reduction of the respective ketones using alcohol dehydrogenases or via kinetic resolution of the corresponding racemic alcohols using lipases.

This work is another excellent example of the fruitful collaboration of Dr. Borowiecki’s research group with Prof. Wolfgang Kroutil from the University of Graz (Austria).

These studies were funded by the National Science Center (NCN) of Poland in the framework of the “SONATA 15” grant (No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556).

For more information, see the journal’s official website:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.joc.3c01005

20.07.2023

Scientists from our Department published a paper in Pharmaceutics

We are pleased to announce that the manuscript of scientists from our Chair, entitled: “Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of Novel Dual Inhibitors of Human Protein Kinases CK2 and PIM-1” has been published in Pharmaceutics (ISSN: 1999-4923, IF: 5.4).

The published paper reports on the development and synthesis of novel polybrominated benzoazoles and their inhibitory activity toward CK2 and PIM-1 protein kinases. Concomitantly with the inhibition studies toward recombinant enzymes, the influence of the obtained compounds on the viability of three human carcinoma cell lines, i.e., acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CCRF-CEM), human chronic myelogenous leukemia (K-562), and breast cancer (MCF-7), as well as non-cancerous cells (Vero), was evaluated.

Noteworthy, among the newly developed dual inhibitors, 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-[(4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)amino]propan-2-ol demonstrates the highest selectivity and the most prominent proapoptotic properties towards the studied cancer cells, especially towards acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in addition to inducing autophagy in K-562 cells.

The article was dedicated to Prof. Zygmunt Kazimierczuk (1945-2021) – one of the most recognized Polish bioorganic chemists, who dedicated the last two decades of his life to the development and synthesis of inhibitors of protein kinases!It is worth mentioning that, thanks to his knowledge and commitment, Professor Kazimierczuk contributed to the production and registration in Poland of an anticancer and immunosuppressive drug available for clinical treatment called cladribine.

This article belongs to the Special Issue “Kinase Inhibitor for Cancer Therapy“.

For more information, see the journal’s official website: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/7/1991

12.06.2023

Dr. Borowiecki together with Dr. Zajda and Dr. Matczuk published a new paper in Talanta 

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: „Effective monitoring of Platinum-DNA adducts formation under simulated physiological conditions by CE-ICP-MS/MS” has been published in Talanta (ISSN: 1873-3573, IF: 6.556).

The article presents the novel approach based on the hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS/MS) for studying Pt-DNA adduct formation. This work is excellent example of cooperation between Dr. Borowiecki and Dr. Joanna Zajda and Dr. Magdalena Matczuk from the Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology.

More information about the article can be found at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0039914023005003?via%3Dihub

18.05.2023

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki received funding from NCN Opus 24 grant

The National Science Center of Poland has announced the results of the OPUS and SONATA competitions!

The OPUS competition is aimed at all researchers regardless of the stage of their scientific career, while SONATA is aimed at projects carried out by researchers who hold a doctoral degree.

We are pleased to announce that among the winners of the Opus 24 program was Dr. Paweł Borowiecki, who received funding for his scientific project entitled “The Power of Hybrid – Development of Novel Multienzymatic Cascade Reactions and Photobiocatalytic Redox Systems for Asymmetric Synthesis of Optically Active Compounds with High Added Value (“EnzCasc-Photo4BioCat”)”.

More information about the project can be found at: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/listy-rankingowe/2022-09-15-opu8jisl/streszczenia/567774-pl.pdf

Congratulations and much success in research work!

18.04.2023

Dr. Borowiecki as a Guest Editor for Special Issue „Chemoenzymatic Synthesis” in Commun. Chem. journal

We are proud to announce that Dr. Borowiecki, together with Dr. Jennifer Bridwell-Rabb from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Dr. Sandy Schmidt from the Gröningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Gröningen, will coordinate the edition of a Special Issue entitled: “Chemoenzymatic synthesis” in Nature: Communications Chemistry (ISSN 2399-3669, IF: 7.211).

This Collection aims to present the latest progress in the biocatalysis field of science, with topics of interest including but not limited to:

• – Enzyme engineering
• – Multienzymatic cascades
• – Chemoenzymatic cascades
• – Metalloenzymes
• – Photo-biocatalysis
• – Multifunctional biocatalysts
• – Enzyme promiscuity

For more information, visit: https://www.nature.com/collections/afjacdgebd/guest-editors

21.03.2023

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki became a laureate of the “Best of the best of PW” programme

We are pleased to announce that among the winners of the first edition of the “Best of the Best PW” programme was an employee of our Department – Dr. Paweł Borowiecki

The aim of this programme is to provide individualized support for outstanding young PW employees in the development of their academic career, both scientific and teaching at WUT.

The program of individualized support for young scientists is funded by the “Excellence Initiative: Research University (IDUB)“.

It is worth mentioning that Dr. Borowiecki is the only representative of the Faculty of Chemistry awarded in this edition.

The list of all winners of the first edition of the “Best of the Best PW” is available at: https://badawcza.pw.edu.pl/Konkursy/Wyniki-konkursow/2023/Wyniki-konkursu-Najlepsi-z-najlepszych-PW

21.03.2023

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki became a laureate of the Young PW grant

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Paweł Borowiecki received funding (PLN 149,983.00) from YOUNG PW (IDUB) grant on his project entitled: “Biotechnological Application of a New Variant of Recombinant Alcohol Dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus kefir in the Asymmetric Synthesis of Optically Active Compounds with High Added Value“.

The YOUNG PW Project aims to support the scientific development of young scientists, i.e., Ph.D. students and employees of the Warsaw University of Technology engaged in scientific activity, who are counted as N-number members and do not have a doctoral degree or have a doctoral degree received less than seven years before the formal grant application.

The research project topics carried out within the framework of the YOUNG PW grant relate to research in the “Strategic Fields of Interaction” field as defined in the “Strategy for the Development of Warsaw University of Technology until 2030”.

12.12.2022

Dr. Borowiecki’s lab team has published a paper in Catalysts

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: “Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Optically Active Alcohols Possessing 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroquinoline Moiety Employing Lipases or Variants of the Acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis” has been published in Catalysts (ISSN: 2073-4344, IF: 4.501) and is part of the Special Issue “Applications of Hydrolases in Medicinal Chemistry” hosted by Dr. Borowiecki and Dr. Dominik Koszelewski from the IChO PAS.

The article presents the kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols bearing 1,2,3,4-tetraquinoline substituents using commercially available lipases and the engineered variants of acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MsAcT) as the biocatalysts. Interestingly, the employment of MsAcT mutants enabled the separation of titled enantiomers in an aqueous media, which contradicts the fundamentals of the convenient synthesis of esters due to the unfavorable equilibrium of such reactions in water. This work is another excellent example of fruitful cooperation between Dr. Borowiecki’s team and Prof. Wolfgang Kroutil from the University of Graz. It is worth mentioning that the experimental part of this work carried out in the Laboratory of Biotransformation and Biocatalysis (LBB WUT) was performed by Students of our Department – Beata Zdun, M.Sc., and Izabela Kopinska, M.Sc.

For more information, please visit the journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/12/1610

This research was funded by the National Science Center (NCN), SONATA 15 grant No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556 (Head/Principal Investigator: Dr. Paweł Borowiecki).

24.11.2022

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki published a new paper in CrystEngComm

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: ‘Supramolecular synthon hierarchy in cyclopropyl-containing peptide-derived compounds’ has been published in CrystEngComm (ISSN: 1466-8033, IF: 3.756).

It is worth noting that this work was carried out in international cooperation with researchers from the UK, Slovakia, and Poland (Dr. Joanna Bojarska and Prof. Wojciech Wolf) and reports on important aspects of the molecular basis of biological activity of set of novel cyclopropyl-containing peptide-derived compounds, which might be promising candidates for prostate cancer prevention or management.

More information can be found on the journal’s website: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/ce/d2ce01231f

15.10.2022

An article by one of our scientists published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: „Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Optically Active Ethereal Analog of iso-Moramide—A Novel Potentially Powerful Analgesic” has been published International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN: 1422-0067, IF: 6.208).

This article reports on design and synthesize a novel potent analog of iso-moramide exhibiting improved analgesic activity. The presented studies were conducted utilizing molecular docking calculations and a chemoenzymatic synthetic methodology. We also want to inform you that this article has been dedicated in memory of Dr Paul Janssen (1926-2003) who revolutionized medicinal chemistry and human therapies!

These studies were funded by the National Science Center (NCN) of Poland grant „SONATA 15” (Grant No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556). 

More information can be found on the journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/19/11803

01.10.2022

Warsaw University of Technology Rector’s Awards for Academic Teachers

We are pleased to announce that on September 30, 2022, the employees of our Department were awarded the ‘Rector of Warsaw University of Technology Awards’ for outstanding scientific achivements. The official presentation of commemorative diplomas received from the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University of Technology, Prof. Władysław Wieczorek, took place during the official inauguration of the new academic year 2022/23 in the Middle Hall of the Main Building of the Warsaw University of Technology.

Among the laureates was Małgorzata Adamczyk, Ph.D., who was awarded the “Individual Grade I Rector’s Award” in recognition of her outstanding habilitation dissertation entitled Regulation and control of metabolic networks in systems biochemistry. New insights on gene regulation and control of glucose metabolism in S. cerevisiae” and defended in 2020.

The second laureate is Dr. Paweł Borowiecki, who received the “Individual Grade I Rector’s Award” for outstanding scientific achievements in 2020-2021 for prestigious scientific publications that significantly impact the state of the art and guides developments in research on biocatalysis.

We congratulate the laureates and wish them continued success in their scientific careers!

11.08.2022

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki became an Affiliate member of the Royal Society of Chemistry

We want to inform you that Dr. Borowiecki has been invited to join the elite group of Affiliate Members of the Royal Society of Chemistry. It is worth mentioning that the favorable decision was determined by the high scientific level of articles published this year in prestigious journals of the Royal Society of Chemistry. We invite all interested persons to read those publications at Catalysis Science & Technology and RSC Advances.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is an organization of professional chemists from around the world, and membership in its structures is an honor for a researcher.
The origins of the Society date back to 1841, when the Chemical Society of London was established (its members included prominent British chemists such as Sir William Crooks).

10.08.2022

Dr. Borowiecki’s lab team has published a paper in RSC Advances

We are delighted to announce that the publication entitled: “Development of a novel chemoenzymatic route to enantiomerically enriched β-adrenolytic agents. A case study toward propranolol, alprenolol, pindolol, carazolol, moprolol, and metoprolol” has been published in RSC Advances (ISSN: 2046-2069, IF: 4.036).

This paper describes highly efficient chemoenzymatic pathways for the synthesis of both enantiomers of β-blockers – popular drugs used in the treatment of hypertension. The accomplishment of this task was achieved by identifying the central chiral building block obtained by lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of the respective racemic alcohol and/or stereoselective bioreduction of the corresponding prochiral ketone in the presence of recombinant alcohol dehydrogenases as biocatalysts. This work is another excellent example of the fruitful collaboration between Dr. Borowiecki’s team and Prof. Wolfgang Kroutil of the University of Graz.

These studies were funded by the National Science Center (NCN) of Poland grant “SONATA 15”
(Grant No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556) (Project Leader: Paweł Borowiecki, PhD).

For more information on published article, see the journal’s official website: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/RA/D2RA04302E

14.06.2022

Dr Paweł Borowiecki and PhD student Aleksandra Rudzka with a new paper in Bioorganic Chemistry

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: “Biocatalytic Hydrogen-Transfer To Access Enantiomerically Pure Proxyphylline, Xanthinol, and Diprophylline” has been published in Bioorganic Chemistry (ISSN: 0045-2068, IF: 5.307).

This article reports on a novel biocatalytic synthetic route toward optically pure xanthine-based APIs, which are very useful as efficient bronchial vasodilators. It is worth noting that this work was carried out in international cooperation with Professor Wolfgang Kroutil from the University of Graz, Austria (Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz). 

We also want to inform you that this article has been dedicated in memory of Prof. Jacek K. Gawroński (1943–2020), who was a fabulous scientist, academic tutor, and author of the cult academic textbook entitled: “Stereochemistry in Organic Synthesis”!

 These studies were funded by the National Science Center (NCN) of Poland grant “SONATA 15” (Grant No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556) (Project Leader: Paweł Borowiecki, PhD).

For more information on published article, see the journal’s official website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045206822003728?via%3Dihub\

16.05.2022

Dr Paweł Borowiecki and PhD student Aleksandra Rudzka with a new paper in Catalysis Science & Technology

We are delighted to announce that the publication entitled: “Chemoenzymatic deracemization of lisofylline catalyzed by a (laccase/TEMPO)-alcohol dehydrogenase system” has been published in Catalysis Science & Technology (ISSN: 2044-4761, IF: 6.177).

This article reports on a novel biocatalytic method for the synthesis of both enantiomers of lisofylline based on Trametes versicolor laccase, TEMPO as a redox mediator, and stereocomplementary recombinant alcohol dehydrogenases as biocatalysts. It is also worth noting that this work was carried out in international cooperation with Professor Wolfgang Kroutil from the University of Graz, Austria (Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz).

These studies were funded by the National Science Center (NCN) of Poland grant “SONATA 15” (Grant No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556) (Project Leader: Paweł Borowiecki, PhD).

For more information on published article, see the journal’s official website: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/cy/d2cy00145d

16.05.2022

Dr Paweł Borowiecki and PhD student Beata Zdun with a new paper in Catalysts

We are pleased to announce that the publication entitled: “Expanding Access to Optically Active Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs via Lipase-Catalyzed KR of Racemic Acids Using Trialkyl Orthoesters as Irreversible Alkoxy Group Donors” has been published in Catalysts (ISSN: 2073-4344, IF: 4.501) and is a part of Special Issue “Applications of Hydrolases in Medicinal Chemistry” hosted by Dr. Borowiecki and Dr. Koszelewski from IChO PAS.

This article reports on a novel biocatalytic method for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched blockbuster (S)-profens, namely naproxen, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, and ketoprofen, respectively. It is also worth noting that this work was carried out in cooperation with Dr. Jan Kutner from the Laboratory for Structural and Biochemical Research, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw. 

These studies were funded by the National Science Center (NCN) of Poland grant “SONATA 15” (Grant No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556) (Project Leader: Paweł Borowiecki, PhD).

For more information on published article, see the journal’s official website: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/5/546

07.08.2021

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki’s publication on the cover of ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

We are delighted to share our research published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (IF = 8.198) demonstrating an innovative and cost-effective lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols based on a fully renewable and non-toxic α-angelica lactone as an irreversible acylating agent. The designed biocatalytic approach was integrated with a simple Girard’s P reagent strategy, which can be performed on a multi-gram scale, leading to enantiomerically pure pharmaceutically relevant building blocks isolated in satisfactory yields without using preparative chromatography. Furthermore, the elaborated methodology based on extractive purification strategy reduces the emission of volatile solvents, eliminates hazardous materials, such as cancerogenic silica gel and vinyl acetate, and enables more process waste to be recycled. Therefore, it might open avenues for possible broader synthetic applications in the resolution of enantiomers. We hope that over two years of research in a narrow collaboration between Dr. Borowiecki and Dr. Poterała from the Chair of Organic Chemistry WUT resulted in an impactful manuscript. The paper is entitled: “From Waste to Value – Direct Utilization of α-Angelica Lactone as a Non-conventional Irreversible Acylating Agent in a Chromatography-free Lipase-catalyzed KR Approach Towards sec-Alcohols” and was also recognized by the Journal’s Editors as ‘a very important paper’ by highlighting it with the Cover art work.

These studies were funded by the National Science Center (NCN) of Poland grant “SONATA 15” (Grant No. 2019/35/D/ST4/01556) (Project Leader: Paweł Borowiecki, PhD).

For more information on published article, see the journal’s official website: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c02845

For more information on the cover-art please visit: https://pubs.acs.org/toc/ascecg/9/30

11.06.2021

Scientists from our Department have published a paper in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences

We are pleased to announce that the manuscript of scientists from our Chair, entitled: ‘Synthesis of Novel Acyl Derivatives of 3‐(4,5,6,7‐Tetrabromo‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl)propan‐1‐ols — Intracellular TBBi‐Based CK2 Inhibitors with Proapoptotic Properties‘ has been published in highly prestigious International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN: 1422-0067, IF: 5.923 !!!). It is worth noting that this research was carried out in cooperation with scientists from the National Institute of Medicines and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and raises important aspects concerning the synthesis of polybrominated benzoazole prodrugs and their inhibitory activity toward CK2 protein kinase as well as anti-cancer properties against breast cancer cells. The article was published in the Open Access (OA) model, which greatly increases the chances of its wider impact.

For more information, see the journal’s official website: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/12/6261

13.05.2021

Dr. Paweł Borowiecki published a new paper in Frontiers in Chemistry

We are pleased to announce that the publication of the staff member of our Chair entitled: ‘The First Insight Into the Supramolecular System of D,L-α-Difluoromethylornithine: A New Antiviral Perspective‘ has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Frontiers in Chemistry (ISSN: 2296-2646, IF: 5.221). It is worth noting that the work was carried out in international cooperation with researchers from the UK and Slovakia and reports on an important aspects of the molecular basis of biological activity of DFMO and its halogenated analogs as potential antiviral agents. For more information, see the journal’s official website: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.679776/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Chemistry&id=679776 

13.02.2021

Dr hab. inż. Marcin Olszewski laureatem programu badań TECHMATSTRATEG III

“Materiały biopolimerowe o programowanej chemicznie i genetycznie selektywności do metali ciężkich dla ultraczułych biosensorów nowej generacji” to jeden z 13 projektów, jakie uzyskało finansowanie ze środków Narodowego Centrum Badań i Rozwoju w ramach Strategicznego programu badań naukowych i prac rozwojowych „Nowoczesne technologie materiałowe” – TECHMATSTRATEG III.

Projekt dotyczy prac badawczo-rozwojowych i przedwdrożeniowych, których rezultatem będzie powstanie ultraczułego i mobilnego urządzenia pozwalającego na jednoczesną i szybką detekcję, co najmniej 8 różnych metali ciężkich w wodzie z wykorzystaniem pomiarów elektrochemicznych i optycznych.

Kierownikiem projektu jest dr hab. inż. Marcin Olszewski z Katedry Biotechnologii Środków Leczniczych i Kosmetyków. Całkowita wartość projektu to 18 458 913,97 PLN. Projekt jest realizowany od 1 stycznia 2021 r. w konsorcjum z Instytutem  Biotechnologii i Medycyny Molekularnej, Siecią Badawczą Łukasiewicz – Instytut Technologii Materiałów Elektronicznych oraz Pro Science Sp. z o.o. Liderem projektu jest Politechnika Warszawska.

01.03.2021

Two oral presentations of Prof. Kobiela’s and Dr. Sobiepanek’s students at the NTBN conference

On February 26-28th, 2021, the conference NEW TRENDS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH – THE SPEECH OF A YOUNG SCIENTIST (3rd edition) was held (NOWE TRENDY W BADANIACH NAUKOWYCH – WYSTĄPIENIE MŁODEGO NAUKOWCA). Two of our students Adrianna Zalewska and Paulina Musolf gave oral presentations in Polish on the topics they are realizing. Both students perform their study under the guidence of Prof. Tomasz Kobiela and Dr Anna Sobiepanek from the Laboratory of Biomolecylar interaction Studies (LBIS).

„Zastosowanie metabolitów pozyskanych z mikroalg w biomedycynie, a w szczególności w diagnostyce i terapii chorób nowotworowych.” Adrianna Maria Zalewska, Anna Sobiepanek, Tomasz Kobiela (LBIS, KBŚLIK, WCh, PW). Presentation awarded!

„Rola mastocytów w nadzorze odpornościowym procesów fizjologicznych i patologicznych skóry.” Paulina Musolf, Joanna Baran, Aneta Ścieżyńska, Monika Staniszewska, Anna Sobiepanek (LBIS, KBŚLIK, WCh, PW)(CEZAMAT PW)(WUM).

01.03.2021

Dr Paweł Borowiecki & Dr Dominik Koszelewski as a Guest Editors for Special Issue “Applications of Hydrolases in Medicinal Chemistry” in Catalysts journal

We are proud to announce that Dr Borowiecki together with his colleague from IChO PAS, Dr Dominik Koszelewski, will coordinate the edition of a Special Issue of the journal Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344, IF: 4.146), entitled: “Applications of Hydrolases in Medicinal Chemistry”. The aims of this Special Issue are as follows: the application of hydrolases for chemoenzymatic syntheses of new compounds of defined biological activities; development of novel or significantly-improved hydrolase-catalyzed routes toward key pharmaceutical intermediates and/or enantiomeric drugs; biotransformations carried out using isolated enzymes and/or whole-cell biocatalysts.

The deadline for collaboration is now open. See: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts/special_issues/hydrolases_medicinal for details of the submission.