A meeting of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine took place on September 30, 2026, despite the aftermath of the Russian attack on September 28 on the building of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
During the meeting, the members of the Presidium heard a scientific report and reviewed current matters regarding the Academy's activities.
Tetiana Sergieieva, corresponding member of the NAS of Ukraine, leading researcher of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine presented the report ‘Polymer biomimetics as an alternative to natural antibodies and receptors in analytical biotechnology’ .
The Institute has achieved significant progress in creating artificial analogues of natural antibodies, receptors, and enzymes and their application in analytical biotechnology.
The research is aimed, in particular, at creating artificial receptor sites in the structure of polymer membranes using the method of molecular imprinting and developing respective biosensors and affinity adsorbents of a new generation.
The developed polymers-biomimetics are similar in selectivity to natural biomacromolecules, while significantly surpassing them in stability. The combination of molecular imprinting methods and computer modeling allows for the rapid production of inexpensive materials with predetermined selectivity to substances of various chemical structures, including non-immunogenic ones, for which obtaining natural antibodies is problematic.
Research in this focus area has been carried out for many years in cooperation with Cranfield and Leicester universities in the United Kingdom.
In cooperation with the Institute of High Molecular Compounds Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, principles for synthesizing polymer biomimetics in the form of affinity polymer membranes and thin films have been developed, which can be integrated into biosensor devices. Approaches have also been proposed for developing electrochemical and optical biosensors for the needs of medicine, biotechnology, environmental monitoring, quality control of food products, and water.
Laboratory prototypes of sensors based on artificial analogues of biological macromolecules have been created for determining, in particular, cholesterol, creatinine, food mycotoxins, herbicides, phenols, bisphenol A, and sulfonamide drugs. They were tested during the analysis of biological fluids, environmental samples, drinking water, and food products.
A separate research focus is related to increasing the sensitivity of such biosensors. In particular, results have been obtained using nanomaterials to improve the characteristics of fluorescent immunosensors and to create sensor devices based on smartphones that can be used outside the laboratory.
The research results are presented in about 30 scientific publications in international Q1-Q2 journals. The developments are protected by four international patents of the USA, Germany, and the European Union and 13 patents of Ukraine.
Several developments have already been implemented in practice. In particular, methods for determining a number of endocrine disruptors and food toxins using a new generation of affinity sensors have been approved and implemented at the ‘Ukrmetrteststandard’ State Enterprise.
Following the discussion, the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine emphasized the relevance of further development of biosensor technology, expanding the range of substances that can be detected using the developed systems, and the use of new promising materials, including nanomaterials, to increase the sensitivity of such technologies.
It was also emphasized that it is necessary to strengthen the coordination of research between scientific institutions of the NAS of Ukraine and institutions of the NAAS, NAMS, and the MES of Ukraine interested in developing this sphere.
During the meeting, the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine also considered current matters of the Academy's activities.
