The research group Functional and Nanostructured Polymers is part of the Department Polymeric Biomaterials at the Institute of Polymers of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Team
Petar Dimitrov Petrov
Group Leader
Petar Dimitrov Petrov, DSc, is professor of Polymers and Polymeric Materials at the Institute of Polymers of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. His work has recently focused on the synthesis and co-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers, photochemical crosslinking of natural and synthetic polymers, fabrication of super-macroporous cryogels, polymeric complexes, nanoparticles and nanocomposites for applications in medicine, pharmacy and biotechnology.
P. Petrov graduated from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria, with M.Sc. degree in chemical technology (1996) and Ph.D. in macromolecular chemistry (2001) under the supervision of Prof. R. Mateva.After completing a postdoctoral study focused on carbon nanotubes modification by (non)covalent grafting of polymers at the University of Liege in Belgium (2002-2003, Prof. R. Jerome) he joined Prof. C.B. Tsvetanov’s group at the Institute of Polymers - BAS. In 2012 he was promoted to head of research group at the same institute. P. Petrov is recipient of Alexander v. Humboldt fellowship (2006, Prof. A.H.E. Muller, University of Bayreuth) and several national awards including Special prize-trophy by the Union of Inventors in Bulgaria in 2015 and Pitagor (Pythagoras) Prize for Distinguished Scientist in Natural Science and Engineering by the Ministry of Science and Education of Bulgaria in 2019. P. Petrov (H-index 24) has co-authored 126 publications (112 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 12 papers in proceedings) 5 book chapters, 3 patents and 3 utility models.
Georgy Grancharov
Senior Researcher
Georgy Grancharov, PhD, is Associate Professor at the IP-BAS. His research contributions are related to the synthesis and characterization of block and graft copolymers and preparation of innovative (nano)materials for organic photovoltaics, microelectronic devices, nanosensors and drug delivery systems. G. Grancharov graduated from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria, in 1997 and obtained his PhD degree in Polymer Chemistry in 2002 from the IP-BAS. Then he has specialized in United Kingdom (Marie Curie Research Fellowship, University of Durham) and in Belgium ( University of Liege and University of Mons). G. Grancharov has co-authored 42 publications.
Georgi Georgiev
Researcher
Georgi L. Georgiev, PhD, is Assistant Professor at the IP-BAS. His research activities involve synthesis of polymers and cryogels, nanocomposites, modification of carbon nanotubes and graphene. G. Georgiev obtained his M.Sc. degree from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria, in 2007 and his Ph.D. degree from the IP-BAS in 2012. Then he has specialized for 6 months at Delft University of Technology, The Nederlands. G. Georgiev has co-authored 8 publications, 1 patent and 1 utility model.
Katya Kamenova - Stoyanova
Researcher
Katya Kamenova-Stoyanova, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor at IP-BAS. She works on the synthesis of functional copolymers for nanomedicines. Katya obtained her M.Sc. in Polymer Engineering in 2013 from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria, and then joined Petrov’s team at IP-BAS. In 2021 Katya defended her Doctoral thesis at IP-BAS. She has co-authored 11 research papers in peer reviewed journals.
Velmira Dimitrova
Researcher
Velmira Dimitrova is Assistant Professor at IP-BAS. She has a Master's degree on plant biotechnolody and a PhD on plant physiology. Since 2022 she has worked in IP-BAS on the modification of polysaccharides and 3D bioprinting.
Siyka Stoilova
Technician
Siyka Stoilova has a Master’s degree from the Medical Univirsity of Sofia. She joined the team in 2021 and currently works on polymer nanogels for drug delivery.
Anna Prancheva
Technician
Anna Prancheva is a student in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Since 2022 she has worked at IP-BAS on polymeric (nano)carriers of biomolecules and low molecular drugs.
Aleksey Vasilev
Senior Researcher
Aleksey Vasilev, PhD, was appointed Associate Professor at IP-BAS in 2022 (part time). His research activity involves design and synthesis of new organic and complex compounds, and techniques for their isolation and purification. He is a lecturer in the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”; Speciality: Technology of the fine organic and bioorganic synthesis, synthesis and evaluation the properties of dyes; Research interests: chemistry of dyes and pigments. Vasilev is co-author of more than 80 research articles (H-index 21).
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