Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical NanoOncology

Our mission:

We want to help animals suffering from cancer using innovative research methods (e.g. simple western method) and nanotechnology (metal nanoparticles, mainly gold nanoparticles).

Our vision:

We carry out interdisciplinary research and development work with the aim of introducing personalised animal cancer therapy using nanotechnology. Our laboratory is a place where a team of enthusiastic people representing various scientific disciplines (veterinarians, biologists, biotechnologists, engineers of animals) in cooperation with veterinarians, medical doctors, chemists, physicists and economists from other scientific research institutions work every day to introduce innovative solutions for veterinary medicine and the biomedical sector.

Our team:

Dr hab. Katarzyna Zabielska-Koczywąs PhD, DVM (link to bio)

– Head of Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical NanoOncology, veterinarian, specialist in dog and cat diseases, Ambassador of the “Girls for Science” programme

Wiktoria Czupryna (link do bio)

-Doctoral student at the 1st year of the Doctoral School  at SGGW, veterinary analitist

Sylwia Wilk DVM (link to bio)

– Doctoral student in the fifth year of the Doctoral School at SGGW, veterinary surgeon, owner of the veterinary clinic “Petit Vet”

Klaudia Kukier (link to bio)

– biotechnologist, laboratory technician

Arkadiusz Michałowski  (link to bio)

-animal bioengineer, laboratory technician

Antoni Braksal

– 3rd year student at the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Former team members:

 – Anna Małek DVM – PhD student between 2016-2023

– Magdalena Walewska DVM- PhD student between 2015-2023

– Paulina Owczarek – Biotechnologist, Science and Technology Specialist

– Anna Wojtalewicz DVM – PhD student from 2016-

– Agata Wojtkowska PhD, DVM – Assistant Professor at the Department of Small Animal Internal Diseases, Warsaw University of Life Sciences

– Zuzanna Zielińska MA – Administrative Specialist

– Gabriela Ziółek M.Sc. – Biotechnologist, Science and Technology Specialist

 

Our consultant: prof. Mauro Ferrari

We collaborate with:

 

  • Prof. Chiara Riganti, PhD – Department of Oncology, University of Torino (Italy)

 

  • Prof. Marco Barrenechea Mendez, PhD – Public University of Navarre (Spain)

 

  • Prof. Iwona Inkielewicz-Stępniak, PhD – Faculty of Pharmacy, Gdańsk Medical University

 

  • Prof. Magdalena Król, PhD – Centre for Cell Immunotherapy, Warsaw University of Life Sciences

 

  • Prof. Marek Wojnicki, PhD, – Non-ferrous Metals Laboratory, AGH University of Science and Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology

 

  • Prof. Wiktor Lewandowski, PhD – Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw

        

  • Prof. Marzena Jankowska-Anyszka PhD – Laboratory of Bioorganic and Medical Chemistry, University of Warsaw

  

  • Michał Wójcik PhD – Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw

 

  • Katarzyna Michalak PhD – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin

 

  • Dorota Kuryga PhD, MD – Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Hospital in Łomża

 

  • Agata Klejman PhD – Animal Lab, Institute of Experimental Biology im. Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences

 

– Dominika Balcerzak DVM and Jarosław Balcerzak DVM – “Kochanowskiego” veterinary clinic in Warsaw, specialising in oncology patient treatment

 

Cooperation with business:

 – since 03.2024 we have been cooperating with CBSF sp. z o.o. (Research Centre for Substances and Pharmaceuticals)

Research scope:

  • application of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of animal and human cancers
  • in vivo models in pre-clinical oncological studies
  • multidrug resistance
  • tumour biology
  • metastasis of tumour cells
  • quantitative evaluation of protein expression by simple western method, validation of antibodies
  • evaluation of pro- and anti-angiogenic properties of test substances on in ovo/ex ovo model

  

Current research topics:

 

  1. Gold nanoparticles in the treatment of canine osteosarcoma metastasis
  2. Molecular mechanisms of canine and human osteosarcoma metastasis
  3. Photothermal therapy using gold nanoparticles for the treatment of feline injectin-site sarcomas
  4. Targeted therapy with gold nanoparticles for the treatment of canine and human osteosarcoma, feline injection-site sarcoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma
  5. Doxorubicin resistance in feline injection-site sarcomas
  6. Use of a chicken embryo model to assess nanoparticle toxicity

 

Popularising science – “NanoMalutka”

 We strongly believe that a passion for science should be developed from an early age, That is why we have been developing the “NanoMalutka” project since the beginning of 2024 in cooperation with Ms. Paola del Zotto Ferrari, the founder and president of the ‘NanoGagliato Globale’ academy, which includes the ‘NanoPiccola’ event organised in Gagliato (Italy) since 2009. (https://accademiadigagliato.org/nanopiccola/).

 “NanoMalutka” is a unique STEM event aimed at children aged 5-12 years old, the first branch of NanoPiccola in Poland. “NanoMalutka” provides an opportunity to introduce children to the world of nanotechnology and veterinary medicine. The first NanoMalutka event took placeduring Warsaw Science Day and SGGW Science Day at the 28th of September 2024r at SGGW.

 

History of the laboratory

History of the Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical Nanooncology

News

 

09.2024 NanoMalutka – event for children between 5 and 12 years old to popularize science. The first in Poland part of NanoPiccola event organized by Accademia di Gagliato Globale in Italy since 2009 by Paola del Zotto Ferrari (women of impact 2017, one of the 55 women mentioned in a book Women Community Leaders and Their Impact as Global Changemakers“ (2022).

04.05.2024 r. Katarzyna Zabielska-Koczywąs was an invited speaker at Women in Tech Summit 2024 – the biggest technological conference in Europe and Asia, and had a great honour to speak together with Prof. Marta Gmurek from Łodź Technology University  at the science stage about “Breaking Barriers: Women in Science Program – Perspectives for Empowerment”.

On 5 June 2024 at 3pm, join us for a meeting with Paola Del Zotto Ferrari, founder and president of Accademia di Gagliato Globale, NanaShapes LLC and the Houston Business and Professional Women’s Club. Women’s Lab – Empowering Women in STEM:
Pathways to Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Link: https://www.sggw.edu.pl/webinarium-womens-lab/

03.2024r. Signing of a cooperation agreement with CBSF sp. z o.o. (Research Centre for Supplements and Pharmaceuticals) by the Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Cooperation with the Economy Mr Andrzej Szmalec, Katarzyna Agnieszka Zabielska-Koczywąs – representative of SGGW and Mr Emil Adrian Łukasik – President of the Management Board of CBSF sp. z o.o.

Dr Katarzyna Zabielska-Koczywąs joined the group of SGGW experts (https://media.sggw.pl/eksperci-sggw/details/dr-hab-katarzyna-zabielska-koczywas)

Award for Ms. Sylwia Wilk, M.Sc. Sylwia Wilk for the best poster at the 1st Nanobiomedical Conference (https://media.sggw.pl/eksperci-sggw/details/dr-hab-katarzyna-zabielska-koczywas )

Katarzyna Zabielska-Koczywąs, PhD, SGGW Ambassador of the programme “Girls for Science” organised by the Educational Foundation “Perspektywy” (https://www.sggw.edu.pl/dr-hab-katarzyna-zabielska-koczywas-ambasadorka-programu-dziewczyny-do-nauki/)

 

Completed grants and research projects:

 

  1. “Application of glutathione-stabilised gold nanoparticles in combination with doxorubicin in feline post-infectious sarcomas – preclinical studies. Evaluation of efficacy and mechanism of action of the biocomplex, proteomic studies of tumours”, National Science Centre (NCN) Sonata No UMO-2015/17/D/NZ5/04241, 2016-2019.
  2. ‘Proteomic analysis and expression study of proteins associated with primary and secondary resistance of feline fibrosarcomas to doxorubicin – studies in an in ovo model’, ESR National Scientific Leading Centre (KNOW) research project ‘Healthy Animal-Safe Food’, No. KNOW2018/CB/ESR5/1/01, 2018-2019.
  3. “Application of an in ovo model to determine the distribution of gold nanoparticles – experimental development of the methodology and optimisation of its assumptions”, research project of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences for young researchers after obtaining a PhD degree 2018.
  4. “Effect of a biocomplex of colloidal gold nanoparticles in combination with doxorubicin on the development of post-vaccination fibrosarcomas in cats. In vitro and in ovo studies’, National Science Centre (NCN) Prelude grant, no. Dec.2012/N/NZ4/02413, £149,616 2013 – 2016.
  5. “Comparison of the effects of doxorubicin, doxorubicin in combination with colloidal gold nanoparticles and liposomal doxorubicin on post-inoculation feline fibrosarcomas. In vitro and in ovo studies’, grantor: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, no. 505-10-023500-k00172-99, 2013-2014.
  6. ‘Development of an in ovo model for studies evaluating the efficacy of anticancer drugs and their biocomplexes with colloidal gold nanoparticles against feline fibrosarcomas grown on chicken embryos, evaluation of tumour growth’, grantor: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, no. 505-10-02350050, 2012-2013.
  7. “Methodology for obtaining tumour growth – post-vaccination feline fibrosarcomas on the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken embryos using different tumour cell lines”, grantor Warsaw University of Life Sciences, no. 505-10-02350031, 2011-2012

 Publications:

  1. Małek A., Bartłomiej T. Sobczak K., Grzelak A., Wójcik M., Mieczkowski J., Lechowski R., Zabielska-Koczywąs K.A. (2021) Enhanced Cytotoxic Effect of Doxorubicin Conjugated to Glutathione-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles in Canine Osteosarcoma – In Vitro Studies, Molecules 2021, 26(12), 3487; doi:10.3390/molecules26123487, IF=4.411
  2. Wilk S., Zabielska-Koczywąs K.A. (2021) Molecular mechanisms of canine osteosarcoma metastasis, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021, 22(7),3639; doi:10.3390/ijms22073639, IF=5.923
  1. Zabielska-Koczywąs K., Michalak K., Wojtalewicz A., Winiarczyk M., Adaszek Ł., Winiarczyk S., Lechowski R. (2018) Proteomic differences in feline fibrosarcomas grown using doxorubicin-sensitive and -resistant cell lines on the chick embryo model International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19(2), 576; doi:10.3390/ijms19020576, IF=4.18
  2. Zabielska-Koczywąs K., Wojtalewicz A., Uzarowska E., Klejman A., Wojtkowska A., Dolka I., Wojnicki M., Sobczak K., Wójcik M., Shen H., Ferrari M., Lechowski R. (2018) Distribution of glutathione-stabilized gold nanoparticles and their role as a drug delivery system for doxorubicin in feline fibrosarcomas – preclinical studies in a murine model International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19(4), pii:E1021, doi: 10.3390/ijms19041021., IF=4.18
  3. Contino M., Guglielmo S., Perrone M.G., Giampietro R., Rolando B., Carrieri A., Zaccaria D., Chegaev K., Borio V., Riganti Ch., Zabielska-Koczywąs K., Colabufo A.N., Fruttero R. (2018) New tetrahydroisoquinoline-based P-glycoprotein modulators: decoration of the biphenyl core gives selective ligands. MedChemComm, 2018, 9, 862-869, doi: 10.1039/C8MD00075A, IF=2.34
  1. Zabielska-Koczywąs K., Wojtkowska A., Dolka I., Małek A., Walewska M., Wojtalewicz A., Żbikowski A., Lechowski R. (2017) 3D Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model as an in Vivo Model to Study Morphological and Histopathological Features of Feline Fibrosarcomas. BMC Veterinary Research 13 (1), 2017 13(1), 201, doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1114-4, IF=1.95
  2. Walewska M., Dolka I., Małek A., Wojtalewicz A., Wojtkowska A, Lechowski R., Zabielska-Koczywąs “Experimental tumour growth of canine osteosarcoma cell line on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (in vivo studies).” (2017) Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 2017, 59:30; doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0298-8, IF=1.49
  3. Zabielska-Koczywąs K, Dolka I, Król M, Żbikowski A., Lewandowski W, Mieczkowski J., Wójcik M., Lechowski R. (2017) Doxorubicin Conjugated to Glutathione Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles (Au-GSH-Dox) as an Effective Therapeutic Agent for Feline Injection-Site Sarcomas – Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Study. Molecules. 22(2). pii: E253. doi: 10.3390/molecules22020253, IF=3.09
  4. Pingwara R., Witt-Jurkowska K., Ulewicz K., Mucha J., Tonecka K., Pilch Z., Taciak B., Zabielska-Koczywąs K., Mort M., Berardozzi S., Botta B., Rygiel T.P., King M. (2017) Interferon lambda 2 promotes mammary tumour metastasis via angiogenesis extension and stimulation of cancer cell migration Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology; 68(4):573-583; IF=2.883
  5. Zabielska-Koczywąs , Wojtalewicz A., Lechowski R. (2017) Current knowledge on feline-injection site sarcoma treatment Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0315-y, IF=1.49
  6. Zabielska-Koczywąs K., Lechowski R. (2017) The use of liposomes and nanoparticles to improve cancer treatment in dogs and cats Molecules 22(12), 2167; doi:10.3390/molecules22122167, IF=2.861
  7. Wójcik M, Lewandowski W, Król M, Pawłowski K, Mieczkowski J, Lechowski R, Zabielska K. (2015) Enhancing Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Doxorubicin by Non-Covalent Conjugation to Gold Nanoparticles – In Vitro Studies on Feline Fibrosarcoma Cell Lines. PLoS ONE 10(4): e0124955. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124955, IF=3.7
  8. Sokołowska, Urbańska K., Giziński S., Zabielska K., Lechowski R. (2015) Immunohistochemical detection of P-glycoprotein in various subtypes of canine lymphomas, Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences March 2015; 18(1):123-130. DOI:10.1515/pjvs-2015-0016, IF=0.719
  9. Szewczyk M., Lechowski R., Zabielska K. (2014) “What do we know about canine osteosarcoma treatment – review” Veterinary Research Communications 2014, DOI 10.1007/s11259-014-9623-0, IF=1.1
  10. Zabielska K., Lechowski R., Król M., Pawłowski K.M., Motyl T., Dolka I., Żbikowski A. (2012) “Derivation of feline vaccine associated fibrosarcoma cell line and its growth on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane – a new in vivo model for veterinary oncological studies” Veterinary Research Communications Dec;36(4):227-33 DOI 10.1007/s11259-012-9535-9, IF=1.1
  11. Zabielska K., Lechowski R. (2011) New directions in anticancer treatment. Use of nanotechnology Veterinary Medicine 1/2011, 34-37,
  12. Sokołowska J., Micuń J., Malicka E., Zabielska K., Lechowski R. (2010) Immunohistochemical study of expression of immunoglobulins in canine B-cell lymphomas Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences ; 13(4), 623-8, IF=0.507

  

Awards and prizes received:

2024 – 3rd degree scientific team award of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences for scientific achievements

2023 – 1st place award at the annual poster session for the best poster at the 1st `National NanoBioTechMedical Conference Nanobiomedica 21-22.09.2023r.

2019 – scientific team award of II degree of Rector of Warsaw University of Life Sciences for scientific achievements

2019 – 2nd degree organisational award of the JM Rector of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences for organisational achievements

2018 – Distinction of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences for scientific and didactic achievements that significantly contribute to the development, promotion and prestige of SGGW

2017 – Scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding young scientists, Awarded by the Minister of Science and Higher Education

2016 – Second Degree Award of the Polish Society of Veterinary Sciences for publication of the article Wójcik M., Lewandowski W., Król M., Pawłowski K., Mieczkowski J., Lechowski R., Zabielska K. (2015) Enhancing Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Doxorubicin by Non Covalent Conjugation to Gold Nanoparticles – In Vitro Studies on FelineFibrosarcoma Cell Lines. PLoS ONE 10(4): e0124955. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124955

2015 – Diploma for the project “Feline fibrosarcoma – an in ovo diagnostic model” , which was selected as one of the eight flagship projects of the SGGW under the economy-business cooperation programme

2014 – International ABCD (Advisory Board on Cat Diseases) and Merial Young Scientist Award for outstanding contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field of feline diseases in basic research, awarded by the Advisory Board on Cat Diseases and Merial

2014 – First place award for the best presentation at the annual scientific session of the staff of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, SGGW, title of presentation: ‘Effect of gold nanoparticle biocomplex in combination with doxorubicin on feline postinocular fibrosarcomas – in vitro and in ovo studies‘, awarded by the scientific committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

2013 – First Degree Award of the Polish Society of Veterinary Sciences for the publication of the article Zabielska K., Lechowski R., Król M., Pawłowski K.M., Motyl T., DolkaI, Żbikowski A. (2012) Derivation of feline vaccineassociated fibrosarcoma cell line and its growth on chickembryo chorioallantoic membrane – a new in vivo model for veterinary oncological studies Veterinary ResearchCommunications Dec;36(4):227-33 DOI 10.1007/s11259-012-9535-9, awarded by the Polish Society of Veterinary Sciences

 

Contact information:

Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical Nanooncology

Department of Small Animal Diseases and Clinic

Institute of Veterinary Medicine

Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Nowoursynowska 159c street, building 22, 02-776 Warsaw

Would you like to start a collaboration, visit our laboratory, do a research internship, be a Sponsor for NanoMalutka event – please write:

katarzyna_zabielska@sggw.edu.pl