Immunoassays and Nanosensors
Research group Immunoassay and Nanosensors develops highly sensitive tools for the detection and visualization of clinically and environmentally important analytes. The group employs various kinds of transducers and labels to find optimal solution to advanced bioanalytical problems. Great focus is devoted to the use of nanomaterials, which not only enhance sensitivity but also enable novel detection formats.
doc. Mgr. Zdeněk Farka, Ph.D.
Research Group Leader
Zdeněk Farka works as an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Structural biology in 2017 under the supervision of Petr Skládal at CEITEC, Masaryk University, Czech Republic. He completed research internships at the University of Regensburg, Germany, with Hans-Heiner Gorris, and at the University of Rouen, France, with Niko Hildebrandt.
ResearchGate | MUNI | Publons | ORCID
About Zdeněk Farka
Contact Information
- Office – C05/317
- Phone – +420 549 49 7674
- E-mail – farka@mail.muni.cz
Education and Academic Qualifications
- 2022 – Habilitation (Assoc. Prof.) in Biochemistry, Masaryk University
Thesis: Advanced lmmunochemical Biosensors and Assays: From Label-Free to Single-Molecule Detection - 2014–2017 – Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Masaryk University
Thesis: Bioelectronic interfaces studied with scanning probe microscopy - 2012–2014 – Mgr. (M.Sc.) in Analytical Biochemistry (with honors), Masaryk University
Thesis: Interaction of antibodies with microbial cells studied using biosensors - 2009–2012 – Bc. (B.Sc.) in Biochemistry (with honors), Masaryk University
Thesis: Interaction of antibodies with Bacillus atrophaeus studied using biosensors
Reseach Activity
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Number of publications in WoS – 51
- H-index – 17
- Number of citations (without self-citations) – 1,083
Awards
- 2022 – Rector's Award for Outstanding Research Results Achieved by Young Scientists under 35, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2022 – MUNI Scientist Award for Outstanding Research Results, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2021 – First prize in Materials Science for Life section, Interdisciplinary Meeting of Young Life Scientists, Czech Republic
- 2019 – Small Bronze Medal of MU, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2019 – Honorable Mention in Dr. Tasilo Prnka Prize, NANOCON 2019, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2018 – First prize in Jean-Marie Lehn Prize for Chemistry, Solvay and Embassy of France in the Czech Republic
- 2018 – Second prize in Shimadzu Award for young chemists and biologists, 70. Congress of the Czech and Slovak Chemical Societies
- 2017 – Dean’s Award, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2017 – CEITEC MU Award for extraordinary scientific contribution for the scientists under the age of 35, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2017 – Honorable Mention in Dr. Tasilo Prnka Prize, NANOCON 2017, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2016 – Best Poster Prize in Symposium 02, 67th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, The Hague, Netherlands
- 2016 – First prize in Biomaterials section, Interdisciplinary Meeting of Young Biologists, Biochemists and Chemists, Milovy, Czech Republic
- 2016 – First prize in Young scientists’ section, XVI. Workshop of Physical Chemists and Electrochemists, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2014 – Rector’s Award for the Best Students in Master’s Programmes, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2014 – First prize in Young scientists’ section, XIV. Workshop of Physical Chemists and Electrochemists, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2013 – Dean’s Award, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 2012 – First prize in Young scientists’ section, XII. Workshop of Physical Chemists and Electrochemists, Brno, Czech Republic
Research Focus
- Development of immunochemical assays and sensors:
Detection and immunohistochemical imaging of diagnostic biomarkers (prostate and breast cancer, heart infarction, liver damage)
Detection of pathogens (Salmonella, Escherichia coli, causative agents of American and European foulbrood)
Detection of food and environmental contaminants (mycotoxins, pesticides, drugs)
- Application of nanoparticles as immunoassay labels:
Luminescence nanoparticles (photon-upconversion nanoparticles, quantum dots)
Catalytic nanoparticles (Prussian blue nanoparticles)
Research Group Members
Postdoc: Ekaterina Makhneva, Ph.D.
Ph.D. students: Mgr. Eliška Macháčová, Mgr. Dorota Sklenárová, Mgr. Matěj Pastucha, Mgr. Radka Obořilová
Master's degree students: Bc. Pavel Špaček, Bc. Terezie Zatloukalová
Bachelor's degree students: Martin Kopecký, Martin Naňo
Methodic Approaches
- Immunoassay (ELISA, antibody preparation, conjugation of antibodies with enzymes)
- Biosensors (surface plasmon resonance, quartz crystal microbalance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, amperometry)
- Bioconjugation of nanoparticles (surface modification, binding of biomolecules, characterization of conjugates using DLS, NTA, and gel electrophoresis)
- Nanoparticle-based immunoassay (in microtiter plates, lateral-flow immunoassays)
- Microscopy techniques (fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy)
- Handling microorganisms (cultivation, preparation of spores, lysis using enzymes and bacteriophages)
International Collaborations
- Department of Biochemistry/Biotechnology, University of Turku, Finsko (prof. Tero Soukka)
- COBRA laboratory – Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Reactivity and Analysis, University of Rouen, Francie (prof. Niko Hildebrandt)
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, Greifswald, Německo (Dr. Katja Fricke)
- Rare Earths Department, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Polsko (Dr. Tomasz Grzyb)
Recent Publications
Complete list of publications is available at the MUNI website.
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Comparison of single and double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for the detection of biomolecules tagged with photon-upconversion nanoparticles
Analytica Chimica Acta, year: 2024, volume: 1299, edition: April 2024, DOI
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Changes in the fatty acid profiles and health indexes of bovine colostrum during the first days of lactation and their impact on human health
Food Chemistry, year: 2024, volume: 448, edition: August 2024, DOI
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Influence of surface modification and size of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles on wheat seedlings
Chemosphere, year: 2024, volume: 347, edition: 140629, DOI
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Nanoparticle-Based Bioaffinity Assays: From the Research Laboratory to the Market
Advanced Materials, year: 2024, volume: 36, edition: 3, DOI
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A comparative assessment of a piezoelectric biosensor based on a new antifouling nanolayer and cultivation methods: Enhancing S. aureus detection in fresh dairy products
Current Research in Biotechnology, year: 2023, volume: 6, edition: November, DOI