The first of our projects is "Selected markers of hepatotoxicity in a group of patients taking mephedrone with other psychoactive substances.” Its author is Michał Ordak, MD, PhD, who for many years has been involved in attempts to optimize pharmacotherapy in a group of patients taking new psychoactive substances, commonly known as legal highs. The articles he has published in the past two years suggest that liver dysfunction may be one factor that increases the risk of subsequent hospitalization. Conducting the study as part of the MINIATURA 5 project will allow for the initial evaluation of more specific biomarkers of hepatotoxicity in patients taking mephedrone.
"New ion-imprinted polymers as dental materials - synthesis and characterization" is the second awarded project from MUW. It was prepared by Monika Budnicka, MEng, PhD. The aim of this study is to investigate the basis of the mapping process of selected ions with properties that stimulate the remineralization of dental pulp with respect to new proposed monomers and crosslinking agents. Ultimately, Dr. Budnicka will obtain and characterize polymers with previously unknown structures. The results of this research may broaden the application area of ion-imprinted polymers, as their use in dentistry has not yet been proposed.