dr hab. Michał Wójcik

English | Polish

I. Scientific interests

I am interested in matter at the nanoscale – the boundary between the world of molecules and materials with macroscopic properties. In my research, I combine organic chemistry, solid-state physics, and biotechnology to create intelligent nanomaterial systems that respond to external stimuli and interact precisely with their surroundings. I am particularly fascinated by the ability to control plasmonic phenomena, chirality, and molecular organization within such systems – from synthesis to their behavior in biological environments.

Through advanced chemical synthesis, I modify noble metal nanoparticles, including gold and platinum, as well as magnetic materials, designing their organic shells and complex hybrid architectures. The resulting materials undergo comprehensive structural and physicochemical characterization, and we investigate their properties in two main application areas: materials science and biomedicine.

My research group focuses on developing dynamic and responsive nanostructured systems, where optical, magnetic, and mechanical properties can be tuned using light, temperature, or electromagnetic fields. We study the self-assembly of nanoparticles in liquid crystal environments, analyzing how the molecular structure of organic ligands influences the formation of ordered nano- and microscale structures.

A second, rapidly developing line of research involves biohybrid nanomaterial systems that enable selective interaction with cells and controlled release of active compounds. We collaborate with biological and pharmaceutical teams to conduct preclinical studies on the safety and efficacy of novel materials.

The group also pursues application-oriented projects that merge materials chemistry with biotechnology, aimed at developing functional materials for photonic, catalytic, and medical applications. Within the framework of NCN (SONATA, OPUS) and NCBR (LIDER) projects, we have developed, among others, new liquid-crystalline noble metal nanoparticle systems with photo- and thermoresponsive properties, as well as innovative approaches to nanoparticle surface functionalization.

The ultimate goal of my research is to understand and harness the relationship between structure and function at the nanoscale – bridging fundamental physicochemical phenomena with their applications in future technologies and modern medicine.

II . Selected publications (my ORCID no. : Michal Wojcik (0000-0003-3205-4698) – ORCID:

– M. Sawczyk, Y. Han, S. Sen, B. Smereczynski, P. Král1, and Michal M. Wojcik; Advanced Functional Materials 2025, e04830 – “Light-Controlled Reversible Co-Assembly of Hybrid Functional Nanostructures”

– E. Tomczyk, M. Baginski, D.Szepke, W. Lewandowski, M.M. Wójcik; Advanced Materials Interfaces 2025, 0:e00578 – “Dynamic Chiral Plasmonic Systems‐Based on Spiropyran Derivatives and Gold Nanorods”

– S. Lukato, A. Krogul-Sobczak, G. Litwinienko, O.F. Wendt, R. Wallenberg, F. Hallböök, M. Wojcik; Journal of CO2 Utilization 2025, 102, 103243 “Green and scalable approaches for synthesis and encapsulating clean metal nanoclusters inside cerium MOFs for efficient glycerol carboxylation with CO2”

– A. Jedrych, M. Pawlak, E. Gorecka, W. Lewandowski, M. Wojcik; ACS Nano 2023, 17, 6, 5548–5560 “Light-Responsive Supramolecular Nanotubes-Based Chiral Plasmonic Assemblies”

– G. Kołodziej, S. Szostak, E. Tomczyk, M. Wojcik; Chemistry – A European Journal 2023, 29, 71, e202301843 “Tuneable plasmonic resonances of a dynamic thin film of ultrasmall nanocrystals modified in the anti-galvanic reduction process”

– A. Promiński, E. Tomczyk, M. Pawlak, A. Jędrych, J. Mieczkowski, W. Lewandowski, M. Wójcik; Materials, 2020, 13(4), 875 “Size-dependent thermo- and photoresponsive plasmonic properties of liquid crystalline gold nanoparticles”

– M. Bagiński, M. Tupikowska, G. González-Rubio, M. Wójcik, W. Lewandowski; Advanced Materials, 2020, 32(1), 1904581 “Shaping Liquid Crystals with Gold Nanoparticles: Helical Assemblies with Tunable and Hierarchical Structures Via Thin-Film Cooperative Interactions”

– S.-P. Do, A. Missaoui, A. Coati, D. Coursault, H. Jeridi, A. Resta, N. Goubet, M.M. Wojcik, A. Choux, S. Royer, E. Briand, B. Donnio, J.L. Gallani, B. Pansu, E. Lhuillier, Y. Garreau, D. Babonneau, M. Goldmann, D. Constantin, B. Gallas, B. Croset, E. Lacaze; Nano Lett. 2020, 20, 3, 1598–1606 “From chains to monolayers: nanoparticle assembly driven by smectic topological defects”

– E. Tomczyk, A. Promiński, M. Bagiński, E. Górecka*, M. Wójcik*; Small, 2019, 15(37), 1902807 “Gold nanoparticles thin films with thermo- and photoresponsive plasmonic properties realized with liquid-crystalline ligands”

– J. Hajtuch, N. Hante, E. Tomczyk, M. Wojcik, M.W. Radomski, M.J. Santos-Martinez, I. Inkielewicz-Stepniak; Int J Nanomedicine, 2019, 11;14:7399-7417 “Effects of functionalized silver nanoparticles on aggregation of human blood platelets”;

– M. Wójcik*, J. Wróbel, Z.Z. Jańczuk, J. Mieczkowski, E. Górecka, J. Choi, M. Cho, D. Pociecha; Chemistry – A European Journal, 2017, 23(37), pp. 8912–8920 “Liquid-crystalline elastomers with gold nanoparticle cross-linkers”

– M.M. Wójcik*, M. Olesińska, M. Sawczyk, J. Mieczkowski, E. Górecka; Chemistry – A European Journal, 2015, 21(28), pp. 10082–10088 “Controlling the Spatial Organization of Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles by Composition of the Organic Grafting Layer”

– M. Wójcik,* W. Lewandowski, M. Król,K. Pawłowski,J. Mieczkowski,R. Lechowski,K. Zabielska*; PLoS ONE, 2015, 10(4), e0124955 “Enhancing anti-tumor efficacy of doxorubicin by non-covalent conjugation to gold nanoparticles – in vitro studies on feline fibrosarcoma cell lines”

– A. Zep, Dr. M.M. Wójcik, W. Lewandowski, K. Sitkowska, A. Prominski, J. Mieczkowski, D. Pociecha, E. Gorecka; Angewandte Chemie – International Edition, 2014, 53(50), pp. 13725–13728 “Phototunable Liquid-Crystalline Phases Made of Nanoparticles”

– W. Lewandowski, M. Wójcik, E. Górecka; ChemPhysChem 2014, 15 (7) , 1283-1295 “Metal nanoparticles with liquid-crystalline ligands: Controlling nanoparticle superlattice structure and properties”

– J. Paczesny, M. Wójcik, K. Sozański, K. Nikiforov, C. Tschierske, A. Lehmann, E. Górecka, J. Mieczkowski, R. Hołyst; J. Phys. Chem. C 2013, 117, 45, 24056–24062 “Self-assembly of gold nanoparticles into 2D arrays induced by bolaamphiphilic ligands”

– M. Wójcik, , M. Gora, J. Mieczkowski, J. Romiszewski, E. Gorecka, D. Pociecha; Soft Matter 2011, 7(22), pp. 10561-10564 “Temperature-controlled liquid crystalline polymorphism of gold nanoparticles”

– M. Wojcik, W. Lewandowski,J. Matraszek, J. Borysiuk, J. Mieczkowski, D. Pociecha, E. Górecka; Angewandte Chemie – International Edition 2009, 48(28), pp. 5167-5169 “Liquid-crystalline phases made of gold nanoparticles”

– K. Orzechowski, M. Tupikowska, O. Strzeżysz, T.-M. Feng, W.-Y. Chen, L.-Y. Wu, C.-T. Wang, E. Otón, M.M. Wójcik, M. Bagiński, P. Lesiak, W. Lewandowski, T.R. Woliński; ACS Nano 2022, 16, 12, 20577–20588 “Achiral Nanoparticle-Enhanced Chiral Twist and Thermal Stability of Blue Phase Liquid Crystals”

– P. Lesiak, K. Bednarska, W. Lewandowski, M. Wójcik, S. Polakiewicz, M. Bagiński, T. Osuch, K.Markowski, K. Orzechowski, M. Makowski, J. Bolek, T.R. Woliński; ACS Nano 2019, 13, 9, 10154–10160 “Self-organized, one-dimensional periodic structures in a gold nanoparticle-doped nematic liquid crystal composite”

III. Employment and Research Fellowships

2015 – present	University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry – Assistant Professor
2016	UPMC Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France – Visiting Scientist (French Government Fellowship)
2014	University of Colorado Boulder, USA – Visiting Scientist
2013 – 2015	University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry – Assistant
2011 – 2013	University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry – Postdoctoral Researcher (TEAM Programme)
2011	University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry – Ph.D. in Chemistry (with distinction)
2010	Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany – Visiting Scientist (European Science Foundation Fellowship)
2007 – 2011	University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry – Ph.D. Studies
2002 – 2007	University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry – M.Sc. in Chemistry

IV. Scientific Achievements and Awards

2018	Gold Medal – 46th International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva, Switzerland (project CARLINE)
2017	Silver Medal – Seoul International Invention Fair, South Korea (project CARLINE)
2017	Special Award – King Abdulaziz University, International Invention & Trade Expo, Saudi Arabia (project CARLINE)
2016	Rector’s Scholarship of the University of Warsaw for outstanding teaching achievements
2015	Rector’s Scholarship of the University of Warsaw for scientific excellence
2015	1st Prize in the IMPULS program awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science
2013	1st Prize of the Polish Liquid Crystal Society for the best Ph.D. dissertation in the field of liquid crystals
2012	Doctoral Scholarship – Modern University program for young Ph.D. researchers
2011	Postdoctoral Fellowship under the TEAM program of the Foundation for Polish Science
2011	Antoni Grabowski Award for scientific and teaching achievements, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw

V. Research Grants

2020 – present	OPUS Project, National Science Centre, Principal Investigator Grant No. 2019/35/B/ST5/04232 Title: “Dynamic control of hybrid layers for plasmon-enhanced energy-transmitting or energy-converting systems obtained via anti-galvanic reduction of liquid-crystalline noble metal nanoparticles.”
2016 – 2020	LIDER Project, National Centre for Research and Development, Principal Investigator Grant No. LIDER/34/0102/L-7/15/NCBR/2016 Title: “Efficient and economical catalytic reactors based on noble metal nanoparticles produced using organic phase-transfer agents, doped with cerium oxide nanoparticles and rare-earth elements.”
2015 – 2018	SONATA Project, National Science Centre, Principal Investigator Grant No. 2014/15/D/ST5/02570 Title: “Synthesis and investigation of dynamic and multiresponsive liquid-crystalline nanoparticles.”
2015 – 2016	IMPULS Project, awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science, Principal Investigator Grant No. 144/UD/SKILLS/2015 Title: “Recycling of platinum-group metals using organic phase-transfer agents, combined with the synthesis of nanoparticles with catalytic properties.”
2013 – 2014	“Generation of the Future” Project, funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Principal Investigator
2011 – 2014	PRELUDIUM Project, National Science Centre, Principal Investigator Grant No. 2011/01/N/ST5/03297 Title: “Synthesis of organic mesogenic ligands for the modification and cross-linking of liquid-crystalline gold nanoparticles for nanophotonic applications.”2020 – present OPUS Project, National Science Centre, Principal Investigator

VI. Patents

EP3332042B1 (WIPO / PCT)
Michał Wójcik, Aleksander Promiński, Zuzanna Jańczuk, Wiktor Lewandowski
Title: Method of recycling precious metals from waste materials and use of precious metal nanoparticles obtained by this method

PL428014A1
Michał Wójcik, Wiktor Lewandowski, Agnieszka Jędrych
Title: Method of producing biocompatible metal nanoparticles from the platinum group, nanoparticles produced by this method and their application

PL243112B1
Agnieszka Grzelak, Wiktor Lewandowski, Michał Wójcik
Title: Use of amino acid chelate as a salt substitute in food products, food additive containing this amino acid chelate and method of producing a salt substitute

EP4022075A1
Witold Uhrynowski, Wiktor Lewandowski, Łukasz Drewniak, Michał Wójcik, Paweł Jarmuła
Title: Method for biological production of a reduced graphene oxide / gold nanoparticles composite material using bacterial lysate and the use of said lysate for the production of said composite material

VII. Developed Technologies

(T1) CARLINE Technology – Recovery of Platinum Group Metal Nanoparticles
Development of the CARLINE technology for obtaining platinum group metal nanoparticles from metal concentrates using organic phase-transfer agents. The technology has been patented and granted European patent EP3332042B1 (Michał Wójcik, Aleksander Promiński, Zuzanna Jańczuk, Wiktor Lewandowski; “Method of recycling precious metals from waste materials and use of precious metal nanoparticles obtained by this method”).
The technology reached TRL 7 within the LIDER R&D program funded by NCBR. Currently, further development is being carried out jointly with an industrial partner to apply the obtained nanomaterials in biomedical applications. This achievement is distinct from the scientific cycle of works, representing both a developed technology and a granted European patent.

(T2) Technology for the Production of Amino Acid Chelates and Other Simple Organic Salts
A proprietary technology for producing amino acid chelates and related organic salts. The technology achieved TRL 9 in 2019 and was successfully implemented in production.
Industrial-scale production was launched and optimized within the Nutribiomed Cluster at the Wrocław Technology Park. Public funding documentation confirming implementation is held by WPT and the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), while the technological documentation remains the trade secret of Advantic Sp. z o.o.

(T3) Enzymatic Production of Amino Acid Chelates in Protein Hydrolysate Environments
Development of a biotechnological process for enzymatic production of amino acid chelates in protein hydrolysates, protected by the Polish patent PL435105B1 (“Use of amino acid chelate as a salt substitute in food products, food additive containing this amino acid chelate and method of producing a salt substitute”).
The patent is co-owned by Advantic Sp. z o.o. and the University of Warsaw. The technology is currently under development by Advantic Sp. z o.o. and has reached TRL 5.

VIII. Memberships

Polish Chemical Society – since 2010

International Liquid Crystal Society – since 2011

Expert of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the field of chemical raw materials and industrial biotechnology

Implemented an advisory project in Ukraine during 2017–2019, focused on technological assessment and development strategy for the chemical and biotechnological sectors.

IX. Reviews of Scientific Papers in International Journals

Regular reviewer for leading international journals in the fields of chemistry, nanomaterials, and materials science, including:

Materials Today Communications
Bioconjugate Chemistry ACS
Scientific Reports
ACS Nano
Electroanalysis
Molecular Pharmaceutics ACS
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
Soft Matter
BMC Chemistry
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Molecules
Material
Nanomaterials

X. Selected Diploma Theses

Photoswitchable liquid-crystalline nanoparticles coated with spiropyran derivatives and promesogenic co-ligands
Small spherical gold nanoparticles as carriers for doxorubicin and podophyllotoxin in pH-dependent anticancer therapy
Synthesis and study of the properties of iron oxide nanoparticles modified with organic azobenzene ligands
Synthesis of nanoparticle delivery systems for chemotherapeutic inhibitors of EGFR, ALK and AKT kinase receptors
Controlled luminescence of doped lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles coated with promesogenic ligands in binary systems with gold nanoparticles
Release of anticancer drugs from gold nanoparticles in a proteolytic environment and reduced pH: a case study of doxorubicin and crizotinib
Dynamic self-assembly of platinum nanoparticles with induced plasmonic enhancement functionalized with promesogenic organic ligands
Self-assembly of hybrid systems – magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles modified with promesogenic derivatives of aliphatic carboxylic acids