Work Group Management:

Prof. DSc. Svetlana Simova / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavletta Denkova

Work group Diffusion NMR

Work group leaders: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavletta Denkova / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neli Kosseva

Research Tasks:

Diffusion NMR will be used to investigate series of samples based on polymers and/or phospoholipids, which self-aggregate in solution and form various types of aggregate structures with potential application as drug delivery systems. The following systems will be studied:

• Phosphorus-containing amphiphilic linear block and  star-like copolymers as a platform for the development of polymeric micelles (particulates) for use as effective formulations of therapeutics. Evaluation using NMR methods with regard to their self-association into micelles, stabilization via cross-linking, degradability under physiological conditions and drug loading capacity will be performed

• Sterically stabilized liposomes based on various phospholipids as lipid components and PEG-lipids as stabilizing agents. DOSY will be applied to determine the size of the liposomes, the quantity of PEG-lipid efficiently incorporated into the lipid bilayer, the stability and drug encapsulation efficiency of stealth liposomes.

Work group Solid state NMR  

Work group leaders:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Radostina Stoyanova / Assist. Prof. Dr. Ivajla Pancheva

Research Tasks: Investigation of structure - function relationship on the example of three classes of advanced materials:

• electrode materials for lithium ion batteries with varying amount of transition metal ions, such as Ni3+, Mn4+ and Fe3+ to probe lithium mobility in lithium transition metal oxides with the aim to control their electrochemical properties

• complex oxides and ceramics based on Al2(WO4)3 and NaAl(WO4)2 to probe the micro-structure of complex oxides as a function of the method of synthesis and the effect of Cr3+ doping on local environment around Al atoms

• new zeolite materials with unique adsorption and catalytic properties to elaborate a model able to predict the number of molecules that can be simultaneously coordinated to particular cations exchanged in different zeolites;

Work group HRMAS NMR

Work group Leaders: Prof. DSc. Svetlana Simova / Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena Vassileva

Research Tasks: Application of HRMAS NMR for the investigation of double polymer networks and functionalized nanoparticles of nobel metals:

• Investigation of polymer chains mobility and heterogeneity of double networks (DN) for understanding the structure-properties relationship in new promising polymeric materials based on DNs of polysulfobetaine and polyacrylamide with improved mechanical properties due to controlled micro- and nanostructure.

• Monolayer protected clusters of noble metal nanoparticles modified with organic fluorophores will be used to gain knowledge about structure, conformational flexibility and agglomeration of core-shell structures using various advanced NMR techniques

Work Group Access and Maintenance

Work Group Leaders: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Vassilev / Research Fellow Pavleta Tzvetkova

Research Tasks: 

• Introduction of access schemes for students, PhD students and young experienced researchers (Detailed description of the access scheme can be found in "Access" page of the current site)

• Preparation of suitable standard parameter sets for different experiments and documentation in Bulgarian language reflecting the recommended work procedures. Initial training of representatives of the different user groups will be carried out.