Biomaterials and Cosmetics Research Group
Leader of the group – Prof. Alina Sionkowska
BIOMATERIALS AND COSMETICS RESEARCH GROUP works in the fields of biomaterials and cosmetics. This interdisciplinary group of scientists is focused on the research on polymer materials, metallic and ceramic materials, and also on composites. New materials are fabricated on the base of polymers, biopolymers and their blends. Based on polymeric materials the hydrogels, 3D sponges and coatings can be fabricated. The Research Team is focused on fabrication of biomaterials that can be potentially applied in clinical practise. The research team elaborates innovative cosmetic formulations for skin and hair. The properties of skin and hair before and after treatment with cosmetic products can be tested. Apart laboratory work, the molecular dynamics simulations is the scope of the group activity.
The members of the research group are:
- chemists with extensive experience and recognition in the world of polymeric and inorganic biomaterials, and with the specialization of molecular dynamics simulations to be used in the initial design of biomaterials and cosmetics
- veterinarians – who by virtue of their profession will be the originators of research paths on biomaterials, and at the same time critical reviewers of the properties of these biomaterials in terms of their clinical application,
- the students of doctoral schools.
Prof. Alina Sionkowska is a researcher who has been working in Nicolaus Copernicus University since 1994. In 1997 she has got PhD degree, in 2006 habilitation, and she became a full professor in 2012. The ongoing research work is characterized by the following keywords: polymeric biomaterials, biopolymer/ceramic composites, scaffolds for medical applications, cosmetic raw materials, controlled release of drug and cosmetic ingredients from polymeric matrix, surface modification of polymers, biopolymers and their blends. She works with the following biopolymers: collagen, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, cellulose, gelatin, silk fibroin and also with synthetic polymers. Moreover, her research interests focus on biopolymeric hydrogels and multifuntional cosmetics.
Since 2013 prof. A. Sionkowska is a Head of Department of Biomaterials and Cosmetic Chemistry. She is a member of Committee of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences, a member of Polish Chemical Society and member of Steering Committee of. Polish Society for Biomaterials. In 2017, she was the main organizer and a Chairperson for conference Chemistry for Beauty and Health, which in the year 2018 and 2021 was organized at international level.
She is active in international collaborations. She was a Management Committee Member for seven COST Actions within last 10 years. She spent several periods in laboratories abroad: Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden; Faculty of Chemistry University of Camdridge, UK; Collagen Research Group University of Bristol, UK; Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry University of Genova, Italy; Faculty of Biology and Biological Sciences University of Stirling, Scotland, UK; School of Optometry and Vision Science University of Wales, Cardiff, UK; Laval University, Laboratory of Bioengineering and Biomaterials, Quebec City, Canada; Laboratoire de Physicochimie Moleculaire University of Bordeaux, France; Department of Biophysics Tbilisi State University, Georgia. She was a fellow of The Welcome Trust (UK) and The Swedish Institute.