Laboratory of Biosensors (No.12)

Head of the Laboratory – Dr. Serhii Mamilov

History

In view of the expansion of research areas and the corresponding reorganization of the structure of the Institute of Magnetism, implementing Order No. 674 of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine dated December 15, 2021, on the transfer of part of the staff of the Institute of Applied Problems of Physics and Biophysics to the Institute of Magnetism of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and taking into account the decision of the Scientific Council of the Institute (dated December 02, 2021), the Laboratory of Biosensors No. 12, subordinated to [the Department of Film Physics No. 02](link to the department) was established.

Research Activity

The laboratory’s research activities are largely a continuation of those of the Institute of Applied Problems in Physics and Biophysics and focus on physical methods for diagnosing biological systems and organisms, as well as methods for influencing them. The transfer to the Institute of Magnetism, alongside with the availability of appropriate equipment and expertise, stimulated the development of a new research direction, namely, the use of magnetic fields for the aforementioned purposes.

Principal research directions:

– Development of methods for determining ultra-low concentrations of volatile metabolite molecules in exhaled breath for applications in biophysics, medicine, environmental safety, and industrial safety. The main focus is on the interaction of these molecules with nanoscale polymeric structures doped with organic dyes and quantum dots. An important task is the development of an optical fluorescent sensor for volatile biomarker compounds.

– Study of the mechanisms of laser-stimulated photodissociation of oxyhemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin in biological tissues in vivo. Particular attention is paid to studying the dynamics of hemoglobin form transformation processes in peripheral tissues under the combined influence of laser irradiation and a magnetic field, and to determining the configuration and parameters of the magnetic field that will allow for effective control of interfractional transitions of hemoglobin molecules. Important tasks include: (i) investigating the effect of a magnetic field on the processes of laser-stimulated photodissociation of the ligands O₂ and CO from the hemoglobin molecule; (ii) determining the wavelengths of external irradiation at which the magnetic field most effectively influences the processes of laser-stimulated photodissociation of oxy- and carboxyhemoglobin; (iii) determining the optimal characteristics of the magnetic field for controlling the processes of inter-fraction transitions in hemoglobin molecules.

– Study of the nonlinear optical properties of organic media of plant and animal origin, as well as the resulting effects on the propagation of laser radiation. Studies of nonlinear responses in refractive index, absorption coefficient, fluorescence quantum yield, and other characteristics provide information about structural modification processes in organic media (diffusive and osmotic fluid movement, shifts in ligand exchange equilibrium, etc.). Such information is not only of scientific interest but is already being applied, in particular, in the development of new methods for treating diseases. The development of new methods capable of detecting nonlinear responses with a minimal (a few percent) transmittance coefficient of the sample under study will enable their application in biophysical and biomedical research.

Principal Research Projects of the Laboratory

Ongoing projects:
– NRFU grant No. 2025.07/0003 “Investigation of the mechanisms underlying magnetogradient-induced modification of the structural and mechanical properties of soft tissue models containing magnetic nanoparticles in the context of nanotherapeutic applications”;
– In-house project (fundamental) No. 0125U000215 “Study of nonlinear responses to laser irradiation of strongly scattering biological media”;
– In-house project (applied) No. 0123U104618 "Interfractional rearrangements of hemoglobin molecules under the combined influence of a magnetic field and laser radiation".

Staff

Head of the Laboratory, Dr. Serhii Mamilov
Senior Researcher, Dr. Volodymyr Sokolov
Senior Researcher, Dr. Ganna Kovtun
Junior Researcher Vita Mitsai
Junior Researcher Oleksandra Ostapenko
Leading Engineer Yuri Stetskiv
Junior Researcher (part-time) Yaroslav Lazorenko