BioKol – Research on Biocolloids

Full name:

BioKol is an interdisciplinary research group operating at the Institute of Advanced Studies at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The team’s concept is to combine the physical chemistry of colloids and biocolloids, nanotechnology, microbiology, and modern instrumental analysis in order to translate basic research into practical solutions for healthcare, biotechnology, and industry.

The team’s primary goal is to develop innovative diagnostic and analytical methods with high implementation potential. BioKol works, for instance, on the rapid identification of microorganisms and the analysis of antibiotic resistance, the search for biomarkers of lifestyle-related diseases, and the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, nanocomplexes, and protein–metal systems, using advanced techniques such as MALDI/NALDI and mass spectrometry.

Another key area of BioKol’s activities is the development of solutions for the food industry, particularly the dairy sector, covering quality control, composition analysis, and the microbiological safety of products. The research is funded by, among others, the National Science Centre (NCN), the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR), the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP), and the Excellence Initiative – Research University programme (IDUB), and is carried out in collaboration with partners from the socio-economic sector.

The team is led by Professor Paweł Pomastowski, and its strength lies in its interdisciplinary composition – it includes researchers from the IAS, the Department of Chemistry, the Department of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, and the Department of Law and Administration, as well as doctoral students and early-career researchers. By bringing together these experts, BioKol creates a modern research environment for (bio)colloids that meets the needs of contemporary science and industry.

Team Leader

Paweł Pomastowski

Associate Professor

Bio:

Paweł Pomastowski is an Associate Professor at IAS@NCU, where he leads research at the BioColl Team at the Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies. He received his PhD in chemical sciences from the Faculty of Chemistry at NCU in 2016 and habilitation in 2019. He is featured in the World’s Top 2% Scientists ranking, compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier. His research is situated at the interface of analytical chemistry, biocolloid science, and applied microbiology. He develops mass-spectrometry-based methodologies, particularly matrix- and nanostructure-assisted laser desorption/ionization, for protein analysis, microbial identification and the characterization of complex biological matrices, with a strong focus on dairy chemistry. His group also designs metal and metal-oxide nanocomposites, including metal-protein systems, for biomedical, antimicrobial and industrial applications. Professor Pomastowski has authored over two hundred scientific publications and is actively involved in interdisciplinary projects connecting advanced analytical techniques with practical challenges in food quality, biotechnology and biomaterials. Through the BioColl research team, he promotes collaborative, application-oriented science bridging fundamental chemistry and next-generation biofunctional materials to industry.