The science prize awarded at the nanomedicine conference ChinaNanomedicine 2023: Nanomedicine Discovery and Translation in Guangzhou, China, went this year to Dr Alicja Mikołajczyk from the Environmental Chemoinformatics Laboratory of the UG Department of Chemistry.
Dr Alicja Mikołajczyk presented the results of her research conducted within the NanoCARRIERS project (2021/40/Q/ST5/00117) funded by the National Science Centre, which is headed by the Head of the Laboratory of Environmental Chemoinformatics at the UG Faculty of Chemistry, prof. dr hab. Tomasz Puzyn.
‘In the NanoCARRIERS project, we are conducting research based on the hypothesis that the integration of molecular modelling (MM) methods with machine learning (ML) methods will enable a reduction in the time and cost of ongoing research and higher selectivity and efficiency of newly designed nanoparticle-based drug carriers. This will significantly increase the potential of in silico methods as tools supporting the process of rapid design and initial verification (at the stage of preclinical studies) of the safety of nanoparticles in medical applications, for example, nanoparticles used as carriers of drugs for the brain or genetic material (RNA),’ says dr Alicja Mikołajczyk.
Developing new treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases is currently one of pharma’s most challenging and costly tasks. Only a small number (3-5%) of substances considered as drugs reach the market, as most of them are unable to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Various types of nanoparticles (NPs) are being considered as potential drug carriers to the brain. In silico (computer-assisted) methods support in vitro and in vivo (experimental) studies at the preclinical stage of designing NP-based drug carriers. However, classical in silico methods are often limited by the need for extensive computational resources and the time required. ‘The fourth industrial revolution’ has brought new digital solutions for drug discovery based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Unfortunately, the application of AI/ML in nanomedicine is still rare. 'To our knowledge, no attempts have been made to develop ML-based predictive models to design nanoparticle-based drug carriers. An important question arises: can machine learning be used to overcome the limitations of classical in silico methods?' adds dr Alicja Mikołajczyk.
ChinaNanomedicine 2023 is one of the largest events bringing together leading scientists and experts from academia, clinical and industrial sectors from around the world in the field of medicine.
This year’s conference theme was ‘Nanomedicine: Discovering and Explaining’. The focus was on nanoscience and nanotechnology in biomedical applications, including cancer immunotherapy, targeted drug delivery, nanomedical analysis, nanocatalysis medicine, nanozymes, simulations and artificial intelligence in nanomedicine, nanovaccines, pharmaceutical nanocomponents, industrial nanopharmaceuticals, biomedical nanomaterials nanomaterials for 3D printing in biology, tissue engineering, nanomechanics, nanobiology, mobile medical technologies based on nanotechnology, nanoprobes for molecular imaging, nanoteranostics, nanosensors and microfluidic technologies, the chemistry of nanotoxicology and safety of nanomaterials and nanotechnology in bioseparation and bioanalysis, evaluation of nanomaterials and medical devices.
Dr Alicja Mikołajczyk - biography
Dr. Mikołajczyk began her scientific career in 2008 as an undergraduate in Chemistry and Drug Chemistry at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry of the University of Silesia, then continued her research as a Master’s student at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Wrocław (2011-2012) and as a PhD student in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Gdańsk (2013-2017). She received her PhD degree in 2017. Dr Mikołajczyk expanded her knowledge through a six-month internship at the Interdisciplinary Center for Nanotoxicity in the United States (Jackson State University), ten short-term research internships (including at North Dakota State University in the United States and Yachay Tech in Ecuador) and internships in industry, including at WABCO and Selena.
Currently, dr Mikołajczyk continues his scientific research as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, and commercialises his research results as a co-owner of QSAR Lab, a spin-off company created on the initiative of the employees of the Laboratory of Chemoinformatics and Environment, under the leadership of prof. dr hab. Tomasz Puzyn.
For over ten years, dr Mikołajczyk has been combining machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques with the process of designing new, sustainable and safe materials, research work at the UG Chemistry Department with being a lecturer, and the commercialisation of research at QSAR Lab with the digitisation of industry.
Dr Alicja Mikołajczyk is the author of more than 40 scientific papers, including publications in leading journals, including Nature Nanotechnology (IF 40.523), Nano Today (IF 26.943), ACS Nano (IF 18.027), Chemistry of Materials (IF 24.319), Applied Catalysis B: Environment (IF 24.319), with a total impact factor (IF) value of more than 430. Dr Mikołajczyk has also authored a chapter in a book and articles in business journals, including Axel Springer Group’s monthly Forbes. Dr Mikołajczyk has given 16 invited lectures at conferences with international reach. Her papers have been cited over 1,000 times, and her Hirsch index is 19. Her ten years of research are crowned by the development of the innovative nano-QSAR Toolbox technology by QSAR Lab and patent applications (EP22204642, 22209238).
Dr Alicja Mikołajczyk cooperates with 70 research institutions on five continents, implementing key EU projects Horizon2020, Horizon Europe, and National Science Centre with funding for scientific consortia nearly EUR 48 million. Dr Mikołajczyk’s projects address global challenges in climate neutrality, the design of new advanced materials and nanocarrier drugs to combat civilisation diseases. Dr Mikołajczyk is also the recipient of national and international awards, honours and scholarships, including the Scholarship of the Minister of Education and Science for Outstanding Young Scientists, the START Scholarship of the Foundation for Polish Science, the Prize of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Prize of the Polish Chemical Society (PTChem), the Taylor&Francis Prize and numerous honours awarded by, among others, the Sustainable Nanotechnology Organisation in Washington and the American Chemical Society (ACS).