Markéta Bocková

Compared to traditional methods, these new tools will enable not only rapid sample analysis with minimal preparation but also the realization of compact devices for POC testing and home diagnostics. In addition to their use in bioanalytical applications, plasmonic biosensors allow direct observation of biomolecular interactions without the need for labeling, enabling insights into biomolecular processes related to cancer onset and progression as well as rapid quantification of molecular biomarkers. The development of biosensors requires intensive collaboration across many disciplines. One of the unique strengths of our research group is its multidisciplinary scope, which allows us to cover all relevant areas of research and development of optical biosensors and to use the developed biosensors to solve relevant medical problems. Among other things, we research biosensors for oncological diseases such as colorectal cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, and kidney diseases. Within our multidisciplinary program, we are working on instrumentation, functional coatings, and detection methodologies that enable the detection of extremely low concentrations of cancer biomarkers (proteins and nucleic acids, including microRNAs) in complex biological samples (e.g., blood plasma). Recently, we have also developed new diagnostic approaches based on the analysis of molecular interactions of proteins with patients’ blood plasma and the detection of misfolded/non-functional proteins in blood plasma.