Project Leader: Dr. Paweł Pomastowski, PhD, Habilitated Doctor
The interdisciplinary team established under the NanoBioSPECTRA project aims to create an innovative platform integrating three fundamental research areas: (1) diagnostics based on mass spectrometry using laser desorption/ionization (LDI-MS) assisted by matrix (MALDI), surface (SALDI), and nanostructures (NALDI); (2) an integrative approach to analyzing host–microbiome interactions and their significance in disease processes; and (3) the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials with high therapeutic potential and applications in functional foods.
The NanoBioSPECTRA team’s work in mass spectrometry–based diagnostics will focus on developing, validating, and implementing LDI-MS protocols (MALDI, SALDI, and NALDI) for rapid molecular profiling of clinical samples (wound exudates, serum, microbiome metabolites from patients with chronic diseases). Optimization will target sensitivity, selectivity, compatibility, and AI-assisted data interpretation.
In the second research area, focused on host–microbiome interactions in disease processes, 16S amplicon analysis, deep metagenomic analysis, and LDI-MS lipidomic profiling will be applied to monitor microbiome dynamics in patients with prostate cancer and chronic kidney disease. Advanced bioinformatics tools will be used to link microbial signatures with metabolic status and host well-being, and integrated results will enable the identification of diagnostic patterns to support individualized treatment strategies.
The third equally important area will focus on obtaining nanocomposites for therapeutic use and the enrichment of functional foods. Building on patented solutions, the team will biosynthesize ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using lactic acid bacteria, as well as metal- and lactoferrin-based nanocomposites, which will then be characterized for wound healing efficacy and antimicrobial activity. In parallel, studies will be conducted on fortifying various food matrices with probiotics capable of biosynthesizing bioactive compounds (e.g., L. plantarum, L. curvatus) to create functional products with proven bioactivity.
The implementation of these objectives will utilize the state-of-the-art infrastructure of the Interdisciplinary Center for Modern Technologies at NCU (ICNT) and the facilities of international partners.
The NanoBioSPECTRA team consists of highly motivated, interdisciplinary researchers open to cross-faculty integration and collaboration with a wide range of researchers from other University units in fields such as biology, pharmacy, medicine, bioinformatics, veterinary science, chemistry, physics, and law (e.g., food law, bioethics). Such broad collaboration ensures access to interdisciplinary expertise and clinical samples, strengthens the translational impact of the project, and supports the successful realization of all project pillars—diagnostics, therapy, and functional food development.