Invited Speaker
Dr. Josef Jampílek

Dr. Josef Jampílek

Professor
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia;
Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
Speech Title: Selected Biological Applications of Graphene-Based Nanomaterials

Abstract: Graphene is a relatively new material, which is characterized by unique properties, which predetermine its wide use, both in technical fields and in biomedical applications. It is very easy to functionalize and modify, and so a number of so-called graphene-based nanomaterials are prepared from graphene, which have also found widespread use in various economic areas, including industry, agriculture, and medicine. While the technical fields accept all these modifications and, immediately, try to use them for even better materials for various sensors, optoelectronics, or as battery components, there is still a big question over biological applications. Although graphene-based materials are also extensively investigated for various biological applications, such as their own biological effects, use as nanocarriers of bioactive agents, in photodynamic, photothermal therapy, or as scaffolds in tissue engineering, the results are embarrassing and ambiguous. Definitely, graphene-based nanomaterials have an excellent ability to kill cells, regardless of whether they are plant, animal/human tissues, or microorganisms, and are characterized by a large area allowing good-drug or agrochemical loading. On the other hand, safe limits for the concentration of graphene and derived materials for any cells are not clearly established. In this brief up-to-date overview, attention is paid to recent applications of graphene-based nanomaterials, i.e., graphene, graphene quantum dots, graphene oxide, graphene oxide quantum dots, and reduced graphene oxide. These materials and their various modifications and combinations with other compounds are discussed, regarding their biomedical and agro-ecological applications.


Biography: Josef Jampilek completed his Ph.D. degree in Medicinal Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Charles University (Czech Republic) in 2004. In 2004-2011, he worked in expert and managerial posts in the R&D Division of the pharmaceutical company Zentiva (Czech Republic). Prof. Jampilek deepened his professional knowledge at the Medicinal Chemistry Institute of the Heidelberg University (Germany) and at multiple specialized courses. In 2017, he was designated as a Full Professor of Medicinal Chemistry. At present he works at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia), the Institute of Neuroimmunology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Science of the Palacky University in Olomouc (Czech Republic). In addition, he is a visiting professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland) and Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong SAR, China) and an invited professor/expert at various higher educational institutions. He is an author/co-author of more than 30 patents/patent applications, more than 240 peer-reviewed scientific publications, 7 university textbooks, more than 40 chapters in monographs, and many invited lectures at international conferences and workshops. He also received several awards for his scientific results, e.g., from Aventis, Elsevier, Willey, Sanofi and FDA. Prof. Jampílek is also an editor, guest editor and member of the editorial boards of several renowned international scientific journals. Scientific fields of prof. Jampilek are drug design, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology as well as drug delivery nanosystems. The research interests of Prof. Jampilek include design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of heterocyclic compounds as anti-infectious, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory agents as well as agrochemicals. He is also interested in ADME, drug bioavailability and solid-state pharmaceutical analysis.