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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.
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18.03.2021
Dr Paweł Borowiecki and PhD student MSc Beata Zdun with a new paper in Molecular Catalysis journal
We are extremely happy that our new paper on ‘Chemoenzymatic Enantioselective and Stereo-Convergent Syntheses of Lisofylline Enantiomers via Lipase-catalyzed Kinetic Resolution and Optical Inversion Approach’ was published today in Molecular Catalysis (ISSN: 2468-8231, IF: )! We hope that our paper will help medicinal chemists to prepare this enantiomeric API in preparative scale to complete on-going clinical trials on extremely interesting pharmacological properties of its enantiomers. Congrats to all authors!
More info on this topic can be found: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468823121000687
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).
01.03.2021
Dr Paweł Borowiecki and our former student MSc Mateusz Młynek with a new paper in Bioorganic Chemistry
We are pleased to announce that a new article entitled: ‘Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically enriched diprophylline and xanthinol nicotinate’ from the members of LBB-WUT is available in the Bioorganic Chemistry (ISSN: 0045-2068, IF: 5.275). We hope that this paper will inspire other researchers to elaborate alternative asymmetric routes toward optically active broncho- and vaso-dilators.
More info on this topic can be found: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045206820317466
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.
