Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Chemistry ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Hynek Beneš, Ph.D.

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Polyurethanes (PU)s are the fifth most demanded synthetic polymers in Europe, mainly due to their high versatility enabling production of flexible, semi-rigid and rigid foams, elastomers, sealants and coatings. Besides chemical recycling of PUs, their biological (enzymatic) degradation is considered as a promising approach. The willingness to biodegrade primarily depends on the chemical composition and structure of PU materials. The versatility of PU chemistry makes possible to prepare PU materials which, in accordance with the current trend, are designed with degradation-on-demand features. This approach can also be applied for NIPU materials (non-isocyanate PUs), which are currently highly investigated due to their environmental-friendly preparation avoid the use of toxic isocyanates. In addition, the NIPU structure can be easily adapted for accelerated biodegradation, e.g. by introduction of more polar (typically hydroxyl) groups. Another eco-friendly feature of NIPUs is their design as entirely bio-based materials. The aim of this work is to prepare novel NIPU materials with different chemical composition and supramolecular structure and to study their biodegradation with the aim of understanding the relationship between the rate of biodegradation and the NIPU structure.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Chemistry ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Hynek Beneš, Ph.D.

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The increasing production of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) and it is generally considered as the biggest waste contributed to climate change. The aim of this work is to investigate the possibilities of converting CO2 into polymer materials. The first route will be the CO2-oxirane (epoxy) coupling reaction, which leads to production of various cyclic carbonates, which are monomers for innovative polymer materials, e.g. non-isocyanate polyurethanes and epoxides. The second approach will be the direct CO2 transformation into polycarbonates. The third way will involve the ring-opening copolymerization of epoxide with CO2 leading to linear carbonate-ether copolymers. Bio-based monomers will be used to obtain fully renewable polymer materials. The important part of this PhD topic will be finding a suitable catalytic system for each synthetic path. Our preliminary experiments showed the successful CO2-epoxy cycloaddition in the presence imidazolium and metal-based ionic liquids (ILs). Due to ILs’ countless possible anion/cation combinations, they seem to be suitable candidates to catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of epoxide and CO2. As part of the doctoral project, a student's several-month internship at foreign collaborating workplace (INSA Lyon, France) is assumed.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Chemistry ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Zdeněk Starý, Ph.D.

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Polymer composites are materials with a high application potential in advanced technologies. The topic concerns with a control of polymer-filler interface by surface modification of filler particles and its effect on rheological properties of composites with a particular attention to their elasticity in the molten state. Although the effects induced by the presence of filler particles on melt elasticity are reported in literature, understanding of their origins and mechanisms is still lacking. Systematic study of the influence of particle size, concentration and surface modification on melts elasticity in linear and non-linear viscoelastic range will be performed. Moreover, processing properties of the composites including flow instabilities analysis will be studied. The composites will be studied experimentally by different rheological techniques (oscillatory shear, capillary rheometry). Structure of the composites will be visualized by electron microscopy.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Drugs and Biomaterials ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Jiří Pánek, Ph.D.

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The aim of the Ph.D. thesis is to develop a conceptually new system for inhibition of glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP II) in brain as a treatment tool for suppressing glutamate toxicity and subsequent neuroinflammation-caused secondary damage after ischemic, hemorrhagic or traumatic brain injuries (which typically damage brain and spinal cord more than the primary injury and are the reason why neural damage often gets worse within few days after first occurrence of symptoms). The delivery system will modify the unfavorably hydrophilic properties of the GCP II inhibitors, which are normally unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The delivery system will also enhance inhibitor potency by forming multivalent physically self-assembled („molecular toolbox“) biocompatible polymer-coated solid lipid nanoparticles. The inhibitor-containing nanoparticles will decompose after crossing the BBB by apolipoprotein E-mediated transfer and the polymer-bound inhibitor will become reversibly membrane-anchored in the proximity of the membrane-bound GCP II. This membrane anchoring is expected to be a generally applicable concept for targeting also enzymes or receptors other than GCP II.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Drugs and Biomaterials ( in English language )
Supervisor:	RNDr. Petr Chytil, Ph.D.

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Treatment of stroke, which is one of the deadliest disorders, has improved tremendously in recent years. Pharmacological treatment, i.e., intravenous thrombolysis, will still remain a keystone of acute stroke treatment. Unfortunately, there is still a limited amount of suitable and effective thrombolytics; thus, there is a potential for improvement, especially in using polymer carriers. Polymer carriers are non-toxic, non-immunogenic, and biocompatible polymer materials enabling targeting and controlled release of biologically active compounds in the treated tissue and thus minimizing side-effects of carried active compounds. The doctoral project theme will consist of synthesizing and studying the properties of tailor-made polymer carriers of thrombolytics. The topic is suitable for graduates of chemistry, eventually pharmacy. The student will learn new skills in the synthesis and methods of characterization and can participate in biological characterization. We offer exciting and varied work in a well-established team of Biomedical polymers, affording hi-tech equipment and material background.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Drugs and Biomaterials ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Michal Babič, Ph.D.

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The project is focused on the preparation of novel polymer particles in colloidal form for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes via intranasal administration. The particles will be prepared by heterogeneous polymerisation techniques (dispersion or precipitation) and the main polymerisation reaction will be based on an aromatic substitution mechanism. Bioanalogic aromatic substances will be used as monomers. The effect of reaction conditions on the morphology and composition of particles and other physicochemical parameters determining the behaviour of particles in biological systems will be studied. Subsequently, the particles will be derivatized for their detection using preclinical imaging methods so that their biodistribution and pharmacokinetics can be monitored after intranasal administration. Biological testing of the particles will be performed at the collaborating departments of the UEM CAS and the 1st Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University. The aim of this collaboration is to describe how the composition and morphology of the particles from the new polymer types affects the mechanism of each type of intranasal delivery. The researcher will be based in the laboratories of the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry at the BIOCEV Biotechnology Centre.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Chemistry ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Zdeněk Starý, Ph.D.

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Nowadays new applications and processing technologies place new and bigger demands on polymeric materials. Materials for 3D printing or electrically conductive polymer composites can serve as typical examples. In most cases these systems have a heterogeneous phase structure, which influences the end-use properties of the final material to a large extent. The aim of the work is to develop novel high-performance polymer materials and composites for 3D printing technologies and discover the relationships between structure and properties of materials relevant for practical applications. Work activities include a synthesis of novel multifunctional nanomaterials, preparation of polymeric materials and chemical and structural investigations by means of different advanced characterization techniques. Furthermore, mechanical and flow behaviour of prepared materials will be studied in detail.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Drugs and Biomaterials ( in English language )
Supervisor:	RNDr. Jan Kučka, Ph.D.

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This doctoral thesis focuses on the development and optimization of labeling techniques for polymers and nanoparticles in the field of medicine. The labeling allows for tracking and provides valuable information for therapy and next biological testing.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Drugs and Biomaterials ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Martin Hrubý, Ph.D., DSc.

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The formation of bacterial biofilms is a one of the major issues in the current biomedical research. In the body, such biofilms are created on the surface of the medical devices, e.g., joint prostheses or heart valves, where they cause inflammation and chronic infections. The aim of this Ph.D. project is to develop a novel class of smart self-cleaning anti-biofilm polymer surfaces, based on poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s, that are both anti-fouling and able to catalytically prevent the biofilm formation in the very long-term period. The project work includes polymer synthesis, the surfaces preparation and the study of their physicochemical properties. Moreover, the selected surfaces will be subjected to comprehensive in vitro and in vivo testing in the collaboration with biologists.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Chemistry ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Ing. Hynek Beneš, Ph.D.

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Itaconic acid is renewable unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and one of the most important biomass-derived compounds that can be transformed into a wide range of valuable chemicals and polymer materials. The aim of this PhD topic is preparation and characterization of poly(itaconic acid) materials and nanocomposites containing 2D layered nanoparticles. The prepared materials will be dynamically crosslinked via reversible covalent linkages and non-covalent interactions (H-bonding, metal-ligand coordination, host–guest complexation or electrostatic/ionic interactions, thereby introducing self-healing and recyclable properties into the materials. As part of the doctoral project, a student's several-month internship at foreign collaborating workplace (Cracow University of Technology, Poland) is expected. The candidates should have good communication skills in English (both in speaking and writing), should be able to work both in a team and independently. Active participation on foreign internships, trainings and scientific conferences is expected.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Chemistry ( in English language )
Supervisor:	Dr. Ing. Miroslava Dušková

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The principle of stereolithographic 3D printing is the curing of reactive molecules: various oligomers and polymers by mutual reaction of their chemical groups, usually by the mechanism of photopolymerization. The project aim is to use stereolithographic printing in the preparation of biocompatible hydrogels, which e.g. provide excellent media for cell cultivation or are developed as materials for diagnostics, drug carriers and implantation. In these applications, a well-defined 3D gel structure and architecture of pores must be achieved: the goal is to produce a body consisting of interconnected gel domains interwoven with communication channels while maintaining mechanical strength and integrity (bicontinuous structure). The candidate will develop the advanced method of printing of gel objects, which includes a deeper study of the mechanism of gel formation and polymer network formation during the printing process, the development of new reactive mixtures suitable for printing including monomers from natural sources, and the use of the knowledge gained to extend stereolithographic 3D printing to the precision fabrication of hydrogels for biomedical applications. The study will comprise development of novel printing compounds providing biocompatible hydrogels, eventually to be used to produce macroporous hydrogel substrates. The candidate's knowledge of materials chemistry, macromolecular or organic chemistry is a prerequisite. Knowledge of printable shape design software is an advantage.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Drugs and Biomaterials ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Martin Hrubý, Ph.D., DSc.

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Self-assembly of (macro)molecules is of crucial importance in the architecture of living organisms. Supramolecular systems have their key properties critically dependent on self-assembly and find use in the area of biomedical applications especially if they are able to reversibly react to external stimuli (changes in pH, light, redox potential, ultrasound, temperature, concentration of certain substances). The doctoral thesis will be based on chemical and/or physicochemical preparation and study of self-assembly of such multi-stimuli-responsive nanoparticles with external environment (pH, redox potential and temperature responsiveness); the exact topic will take into account the student´s interests. The studied nanoparticles and injectable depot systems will be designed for diagnostics and personalized immunoradiotherapy and immunochemotherapy of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Optimized nanoparticles will be then provided to collaborating biological workplaces for in vivo testing.

Granting Departments:	Department of Polymers Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS
Study Programme/Specialization:	Drugs and Biomaterials ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Martin Hrubý, Ph.D., DSc.

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Treatment of hypoxic tumors is complicated due to higher radio/chemo resistance resulting in the subsequently lower clinical outcome of the treatment. We propose to explore a new concept of self-assembled polymer radiosensitizers to overcome the problem low hypoxic tumor radiosensitivity. The proposed approach is based on restoration of radiosensitivity of hypoxic cancer tissue by actively hypoxia-targeted delivery of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-precursors as well as on selective decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in hypoxic tissue influencing the HIF-1 alpha system. The proposed concept utilizes hydrophilic biocompatible polymer-based carriers with hypoxia-targeting nitroaromatics systems. The doctoral thesis will be based on synthesis, chemical and/or physicochemical characterization and study of self-assembly properties of such multi-stimuli-responsive nanoparticles with external environment; the exact topic will take into account the student´s interests. The studied nanoparticles and injectable depot systems will be designed for diagnostics and personalized immunoradiotherapy and immunochemotherapy of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Optimized nanoparticles will be then provided to collaborating biological workplaces for in vivo testing.