Research - Department of Molecular and Nanopharmaceutics | Faculty of Pharmacy

Publications

Tudóstér profile  |   mtmt profile

Field of scientific research

Cyclodextrin Research Group - Head of Research Group: Dr. Ferenc Fenyvesi

The activities of the Cyclodextrin Research Group focus on the investigation and pharmaceutical application of cyclodextrins, with research spanning two major areas. Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides composed of glucose units that form ring-shaped structures capable of enhancing the solubility and absorption of pharmaceutical compounds through the formation of inclusion complexes and nanoscale delivery systems. 

One of our primary research directions is the application of cyclodextrins as pharmaceutical excipients to improve the solubility, permeability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drug molecules. In parallel, we investigate cyclodextrins from a novel biological perspective, focusing on their interactions with cancer cells and their cellular effects. We also explore their potential as carriers for larger therapeutic molecules. Our studies have demonstrated that certain cyclodextrin derivatives can enter tumor cells via endocytosis, providing a promising route for the targeted delivery of nanomedicines. To characterize these processes, we employ flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, protein expression analyses, and cell viability assays, and routinely evaluate our systems in a variety of cancer cell lines. 

The in vivo behavior and biodistribution of cyclodextrin-based systems are investigated in collaboration with partner research groups using advanced imaging techniques. We are also exploring a previously underappreciated property of cyclodextrins: their ability to interact with RNA molecules. This work focuses on developing cyclodextrin-based polyplexes as potential carriers for siRNA and mRNA delivery. 

In addition, our group participates in collaborative projects aimed at assessing the cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties of newly synthesized compounds. Another emerging research direction involves the design, characterization, and application of supramolecular assemblies formed between cyclodextrins and other macrocyclic compounds, such as calixarenes and dynarenes, as novel nanoscale drug delivery platforms. 

More recently, we have initiated studies on the enzymatic degradation of cyclodextrins in order to better understand their biological fate and to support the development of biodegradable cyclodextrin-based delivery systems. 

MTA-DE Momentum Genome architecture and recombination laboratory - Head of Research Group: Dr. Lóránt Székvölgyi, website: http://geneart.med.unideb.hu/ 

The research group was established in 2015 at the University of Debrecen with the support of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) Lendület (Momentum) Program. The group's primary area of research is the study of transgenerational epigenetics and the 3D spatial organization of chromosomes, with a special focus on investigating the molecular components of certain human degenerative, gynecological, and cancerous diseases, as well as correcting these conditions using gene therapy tools. 

Our achievements in genomics, biotechnology, and bioinformatics meet professional expectations driving the rapid advancement of molecular medicine and biotechnology, while also aligning with the priority focus areas of the New National Excellence Program. We have published our findings in several high-impact journals (e.g., Nature Communications, Science, Genome Biology, PNAS, Genome Research, Journal of Cell Biology, Nucleic Acids Research, Scientific Data, Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology). 

Members of the research group regularly participate in undergraduate and postgraduate university education, teaching numerous contact hours through lectures, seminars, and practical courses. 

Grants and Research Projects

Grants and research projects in the last 5 years (2020-2025):

Departmental International and National Research Collaborations

Cyclodextrin Research Group

• Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, University of Debrecen
• Institute of Medical Imaging, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Translational Imaging, University of Debrecen
• Mária Deli and Szilvia Veszelka (Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary)
• Péter Takács (Eastern Virginia Medical School, USA)
• Eleftheria Dossi (Centre for Defence Chemistry, Cranfield University, UK)
• Anca Hermenean (Aurel Ardelean Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldiș Western University of Arad, Romania)
• Maria Consiglia Trotta (Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy)
• Laurent Vial and Florent Perret (Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, France)
• Jindrich Jindrich (Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic)
• Éva Fenyvesi and Lajos Szente (CycloLab Ltd., Hungary)
• Milo Malanga, Tamás Sohajda (CarboHyde Zrt.)

Momentum (Lendület) Genome Structure and Recombination Research Group

• Tamás Arányi (HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary)
• Sándor Spisák (HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary)
• Jay H. Chung (National Institutes of Health, USA)
• Vincent Géli (Cancer Research Center of Marseille, France)
• Alain Nicolas (Institut Curie, Paris, France)

Departmental Research Infrastructure

Cyclodextrin Research Group

Faculty of Pharmacy, 2^nd Floor; 1 Rex Ferenc Street

• Laboratory A-224: Flow cytometry, sample preparation, and general laboratory work.
• Laboratory A-226: Cell culture laboratory facilities.

Momentum (Lendület) Genome Structure and Recombination Research Group

Theoretical Building, 6^th Floor; 98 Nagyerdei krt.

Research facilities and expertise in:

• Classical and molecular yeast genetics
• Genomics and bioinformatics
• Molecular biology