prof. Anna Kaczmarek (PhD)
Principal investigator – NanoSensing Group
Professor (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, UGent)
Research focus
Research of the NanoSensing Group is focused on three major themes:
Development and testing of nanomaterials for optical-based temperature-dependent sensing of cancer cells with the focus of developing degradable nanothermometers and nanothermometers towards clinical translation
Development and testing of nanoheaters for photothermal therapy
Development and testing of multifunctional (hybrid) nanomaterials for diagnostics (optical-based thermometry) and therapy (PTT, PDT, drug delivery)
Biography
Prof. Anna M. Kaczmarek studied Chemistry at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland and acquired a PhD at Ghent University, Belgium in the field of lanthanide (nano)materials in 2015. After several post-doctoral positions in Belgium and visits abroad (Cordoba University, Utrecht University) she created the NanoSensing Group at the Department of Chemistry (Ghent University) which focuses on developing (hybrid) luminescent nanothermometers for biomedical applications. Other research lines involve the development of nanoheaters for photothermal therapy and development of theranostic materials. The group focuses much of its work on materials based on organosilicas.
To mention a few important projects related to cancer research, Prof. Kaczmarek was awarded an ERC Stg in 2020: “NanOthermomteRs for THeranostics” (NORTH). The project proposes a rational design where hollow, porous, biocompatible, multifunctional materials combine temperature sensing and drug delivery or photodynamic therapy in a single particle. ERC PoC project “LUMInescence ThermOmeters fOr cLinicS” (LUMITOOLS) was funded in 2023. The aim of this project is to design innovative luminescent thermometers without heavy metals. A third major on-going project in the team is combining the energies of Prof. Kaczmarek's research with Prof. Andre Skirtach (Biotechnology Department UGent) and Prof. Dmitri Krysko (UZ Gent) in GOA UGent funded ‘Triple Punch against melanoma’. This project heeds the rapid growth of cancer immunotherapy, which offers a new perspective for designing effective treatments.
Research team
- prof. Anna M. Kaczmarek (PhD) – principal investigator
- dr. Ian Pompermayer Machado (PhD) – post-doctoral fellow
- dr. Syed Sibtay Razi (PhD) – post-doctoral fellow
- Sonali Mohanty – doctoral fellow
- Simona Premcheska – doctoral fellow
- Jordi Jaenen – doctoral fellow
- Ayse Alici – doctoral fellow
- Zofia Petryna – doctoral fellow
Key publications
- 'Roadmap to Nanomedical Applications: Nanotoxicology and In Vitro Guidelines for Lanthanide-Doped Luminescence Nanothermometers', Advanced NanoBioMed Research, 2025
- 'Novel Type of Non-Toxic, Degradable, Luminescent Ratometric Thermometers Based on Dyes Embedded in Disulfide-Bridged Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica Particles', Advanced Optical Materials, 2024, 12, 2401026
Contact & links
- Lab address: Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281-S3, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- NanoSensing Group
- Google Scholar
- Prof. Anna Kaczmarek is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks