Microspectroscopy Laboratory

Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Laboratory of Biological Physics
32/46 Lotników Ave., 02-668 Warsaw
tel. +48 22 116 3516; e-mail: annan@ifpan.edu.pl
Head: Anna Niedźwiecka

In the Laboratory of Microspectroscopy, funded by the project entitled National Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Functional Nanomaterials - NanoFun within the Laboratory of Biological Physics at the Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, the research is focused on biomolecules such as proteins and their ligands, nucleic acids , lipids, as well as nanostructures and heterogeneous systems e.g. biofunctionalized quantum dots (QD). Electrospun nanofibers with luminescent properties, model membrane systems and porous geomaterials are also the subject of our interest. Current research projects are related to their structure, dynamic (conformational) properties and interactions, both in terms of fundamental science and potential applications.

The Laboratory is equipped with two multifunctional confocal microscopy systems, with multiple laser beams, multiphoton tunable laser in the range of 680-1080 nm and equipment for one- and two-color fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime measurement, resonance energy transfer and kinetic effects, related to molecular interactions. These microscopes are excellent tools for conducting real-time experiments of biophysical processes both at a single molecule level and in whole cells (from subnano- to micrometers).

Beside spectroscopic applications, the setup is used for versatile confocal imaging. A large variety of light sources allows for application of various techniques of imaging, including two-photon excitation imaging, fluorescence lifetime imaging and time resolved measurements. These techniques are used for visualization of nanoparticles in living cells, quantitative determination of movement parameters in artificial membrane systems, for cell penetration analysis of fluorescently labeled substances, as well as for studies of conformational changes of biopolymers.

Available techniques are: spectroscopy (GaAsP, APD, PM detectors), intensity or fluorescence lifetime imaging FLIM, FRAP/FLIP, FRET/FLIM, RICS, FCS/FCCS/FLCS , TCS PS, TTTR. The laboratory is accessible for the group members participating in the NanoBioGeo consortium as well as is open for collaboration with external users.

Publications based on the research performed in this NanoFun Laboratory:

1. Remigiusz Worch, Anita Dudek, Joanna Krupa, Anna Szymaniec, Piotr Setny, "Charged N-terminus of Influenza Fusion Peptide Facilitates Membrane Fusion", International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018, link
2. Zbigniew M. Darżynkiewicz, Marta Pędziwiatr, Joanna Grzyb, "Quantum dots use both LUMO and surface trap electrons in photoreduction process", Journal of Luminescence, 2016, link
3. Remigiusz Worch, Joanna Krupa, Alicja Filipek, Anna Szymaniec, Piotr Setny, "Three conserved C-terminal residues of influenza fusion peptide alter its behavior at the membrane interface", Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 2016, link
4. Kotlarek D, Worch R, "New Insight into Metal Ion-Driven Catalysis of Nucleic Acids by Influenza PA-Nter", PLOS One, 2016 link
5. Anna Dąbrowska, Marcin Nyk, Remigiusz Worch, Joanna Grzyb, "Hydrophilic colloidal quantum dots with long peptide chain coats", Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 2016 link
6. Remigiusz Worch, Karolina Piecyk, Anna Brygida Kolasa, Marzena Jankowska-Anyszka,"Translocation of 5′ mRNA cap analogue — peptide conjugates across the membranes of giant unilamellar vesicles", Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 2015, link
   
7. Olga Sztatelman, Joanna Grzyb, Halina Gabryś, Agnieszka Katarzyna Banaś, The effect of UV-B on Arabidopsis leaves depends on light conditions after treatment, BCM Plant Biology, doi: 10.1186/s12870-015-0667-2 link
8. I. Kamińska, K. Fronc, B. Sikora, M. Mouawad, A. Siemiarczuk, M. Szewczyk, K. Sobczak, T. Wojciechowski, W. Zaleszczyk, R. Minikayev, W. Paszkowicz, P. Stępień, P. Dziawa, K. Ciszak, D. Piątkowski, S. Maćkowski, M. Kaliszewski, M. Włodarski, J. Młyńczak, K. Kopczyński, M. Łapiński, D. Elbaum, Upconverting/magnetic: Gd2O3:(Er3+,Yb3+,Zn2+) nanoparticles for biological applications: effect of Zn2+ doping, RSC Adv., 2015,5, 78361-78373 link
9. Joanna Grzyb, Ewelina Kalwarczyk, Remigiusz Worch, Photoreduction of natural redox proteins by CdTe quantum dots is size-tunable and conjugation-independent. RSC Advances, 2015,5, 61973-61982 link
10. Izabela Kamińska, Krzysztof Fronc, Bożena Sikora, Kamil Koper, Roman Minikayev, Wojciech Paszkowicz, Kamil Sobczak, Tomasz Wojciechowski, Mateusz Chwastyk, Anna Reszka, Bogdan J. Kowalski, Piotr Stępień, Danek Elbaum. Synthesis of ZnAl₂O₄:(Er³⁺,Yb³⁺) spinel-type nanocrystalline upconverting luminescent marker in HeLa carcinoma cells, using a combustion aerosol method route.  RSC Advances, 2014,4, 56596-56604 link
11. Bozena Sikora, Krzysztof Fronc, Izabela Kaminska, Kamil Koper, Mateusz Chwastyk, Piotr Stępień, Wojciech Paszkowicz, Tomasz Wojciechowski, Kamil Sobczak,Danek Elbaum. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between ZnO/MgO/Carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin and Nile Red in HeLa cells - biosensing applications. RSC Adv., 2015,5, 1323-1330 link
12. B. Sikora, K. Fronc, I. Kamińska, K. Koper, S. Szewczyk, B. Paterczyk, T. Wojciechowski, K. Sobczak, R. Minikayev, W. Paszkowicz, P. Stępień, D. Elbaum. Transport of NaYF4:Er3+, Yb3+ up-converting nanoparticles into HeLa cells. Nanotechnology. 2013 Jun 14;24(23): 235702. link
13. K. Szczepaniak, R. Worch, J. Grzyb. Ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase in junction with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots: characteristics of an enzymatically active nanohybrid. J Phys Condens Matter. 2013 May 15;25(19): 194102. link
14. J. Grzyb J, F. Xu, V. Nanda, R. Luczkowska, E. Reijerse, W. Lubitz, D. Noy. Empirical and computational design of iron-sulfur cluster proteins. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics. 2012 Aug;1817(8): 1256-62. link