Petr Cígler receives the Rudolf Lukeš Prize, one of the country’s highest honors in chemistry

The Czech Chemical Society and the Experientia Foundation have recognized Dr. Petr Cígler of IOCB Prague for his pioneering research on nanoparticles contributing to the advancement of modern medicine and a deeper understanding of fundamental biological processes. “I’m very honored to receive the Rudolf Lukeš Prize. It acknowledges the importance of the interdisciplinary approaches where synthetic organic chemistry plays a key role,” says the new laureate.

Experientia Foundation, Barbora Mráčková: Dr. Petr Cígler, head of the Synthetic Nanochemistry research group.at IOCB Prague

In recent years, research on nanoparticles in medicinal chemistry has experienced a remarkable boom. Their unique properties make them difficult to replace with small molecules. Cígler’s team has participated in the discovery of an entirely new type of lipid nanoparticles capable of safely delivering various nucleic acids into cells. This universal approach holds great promise for gene therapy and the development of modern vaccines and is being further developed by the spin-off company Adalid Sciences, which was co-founded by Petr Cígler in 2024.

The award-winning scientist is also developing an alternative system based on nanoparticles with a diamond core. “We’ve given them a thin polymer coating to ensure the efficient delivery of small interfering RNA. In preclinical models, we observed that appropriately selected RNA delivered to a targeted site by this method can significantly reduce tumor growth or accelerate the healing of chronic wounds,” explains Petr Cígler. “We’re also building on our discovery of the selective blocking of certain growth factors using specifically charged diamond nanoparticles. The outcome could be a new way to treat diseases associated with impaired cell signaling, including various autoimmune disorders and cancer.”

Diamond nanoparticles from Cígler’s laboratory are also important for advancing imaging techniques. They serve as selective and exceptionally stable optical probes capable of detecting even subtle changes in the magnetic properties of their environment. Equally noteworthy are fluorescent nanoparticles targeted at immune cells, which can help surgeons more precisely identify lymph nodes during oncological operations.

The Rudolf Lukeš Prize – awarded for an outstanding body of original work in the field of organic chemistry published over the past five years in leading international journals – and an accompanying CZK 100,000 grant from the Experientia Foundation were presented to Petr Cígler in November at a conference called Advances in Organic, Bioorganic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry – Liblice 2025. As in previous years, the 2025 winner was selected by an independent international committee composed of world-renowned chemists.

Mgr. Petr Cígler, Ph.D. 

Petr Cígler graduated from the Faculty of Science at Charles University and earned his doctorate at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. He spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher at the prestigious Scripps Research Institute in the United States. Since 2009 he has worked at IOCB Prague, where since 2013 he has headed his own Synthetic Nanochemistry research group.

In addition to chemistry, he is also active in music. A trained French horn player, he composes contemporary music, with his orchestral and chamber pieces commissioned by leading music festivals. His works include an opera.

Experientia Foundation, Barbora Mráčková: Dr. Petr Cígler