Grants:

  • Zesílená spektroskopie na fotoaktivních hybridních kovových/polovodičových nanostrukturách

    Grant agency: GACR
    Identification number of grant: 25-14402L
    Head of the project: Prof. RNDr. Marek Procházka, Dr.

    Grant annotation

    Tento projekt si klade za cíl zkoumat jevy vyskytující se na rozhraní plasmonických a fotoaktivních materiálů a korelovat tyto procesy s optickým a fotoelektrochemickým chováním. Hlavním nástrojem budou techniky zesílené Ramanovy spektroskopie (SERS, PIERS, TERS) na nanostrukturních oxidech kovů s nananténami z plasmonických kovů a polovodičů s využitím různých modelových adsorbátů. Bude vyhodnocována citlivost Ramanova rozptylu, fotokatalytická fotodegradace, možná opakovaná použitelnost a fotoelektrochemie (fotokatalytický rozklad vody) nejúspěšnějších hybridních nanomateriálů. Tříletý interdisciplinární výzkum bude založen na úzké spoluprací tří partnerů s vynikajícími odbornými znalostmi (Jagellonská univerzita, Univerzita Karlova a Eberhard Karls Univerzita v Tübingenu). Výsledky projektu ovlivní vývoj nových strategií pro racionální návrh hybridních nanomateriálů požadovaných funkcí v oblastech senzingu, solárních článků, katalýzy, přeměny energie a ochrany životního prostředí.

Finished grants:

  • Advanced Antifouling Functional Polymer Brushes in Complex Biological Fluids

    Grant agency: GACR
    Identification number of grant: 21-19779S
    Head of the project: RNDr. Hana Lísalová, Ph.D. (Fyzikální ústav AV ČR, v.v.i.)
    Vice-head of the project: Prof. RNDr. Marek Procházka, Dr.

    Grant annotation
    Spontaneous and undesirable adhesion of molecules to synthetic surfaces, i.e. (bio)fouling, represents a complex and persistent global issue in many fields including bioanalytical devices and biochip technologies. The aim of this project is to provide new fundamental discoveries on molecular mechanisms of bio-fouling”, to surfaces using ultra-low fouling functionalizable surfaces. Molecular models of fouling mechanisms will be explored based on the extensive study on complex relationships between artificial surface properties and complex real-world biological samples. In addition, surface-grafted functionalizable ultra-low fouling polymer brushes with tailored surface physicochemical properties will be combined with specific DNA nanostructured functional motifs to develop new methodologies for polymer surface probing and enhanced biosensing in complex media. This research will be examined using advanced experimental techniques such as SERS, SPR, high-resolution spinning disk confocal microscopy, iSCAT, or ellipsometry in liquid environments combined with theoretical predictions.

  • Novel approaches to surface-enhanced optical spectroscopy for the ultimate and specific biosensing

    Grant agency: GACR
    Identification number of grant: 18-10897S
    Head of the project: Prof. RNDr. Marek Procházka, Dr.
    Vice-head of the project: Jan Proška (FJFI CVUT v Praze)

    Grant annotation
    The main goal of the project is to reveal the possibilities of further improvement and extension of applicability of surface-enhanced optical spectroscopy for ultimate and specific sensing of biologically important molecules. The novel approaches will include mostly design of new surfaces to improve sensitivity and specificity of Raman and fluorescence detection. The particular goals are: (i) design and develop new surfaces for drop-coating deposition Raman scattering (DCDRS) spectroscopy to increase detection sensitivity and decrease the volume of the sample, (ii) design and develop new silver and gold nanostructures for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection, (iii) reveal a possible combination of both DCDRS and SERS techniques for biosensing, (iv) optimize of fluorophore/surface-enhancing substrate for surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) detection. To test applicability of our approaches we will study the wide range of biologically important molecules including some with analytical importance (vitamins, pesticides, pollutants, anthrax, phytosteroids).

  • Interplay between chemical and plasmon-induced processes in plasmonic metal nanoparticles-molecules hybrid systems

    Grant agency: GACR
    Identification number of grant: 17-05007S
    Head of the project: RNDr. Ivana Šloufová, PhD. (Přírodovědecká Fakulta UK)
    Vice-head of the project: Prof. RNDr. Marek Procházka, Dr., Doc. RNDr. Peter Mojzeš, CSc.

    Grant annotation
    The main goal of the project is elucidation of the mechanisms of the chemical and of the the plasmon-induced processes in plasmonic metal nanoparticles/molecules hybrid systems, and of their mutual interplay in complex processes, such as plasmon-mediated surface reactions and chemically induced changes in plasmon-enhanced optical responses. This effort is targeted on obtaining tools for purposeful controlling of these processes in the selected plasmonic metal NPs molecules hybrid systems. The particular goals are: (i) revealing a possible plasmon-mediation of a particular surface reaction by a newly developer SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering) based strategy, (ii) development of the SERS spectral probes and/or the chemical sensors, (iii) generation and identification of new desired surface species, (iv) increasing the efficiency and/or reproducibility of plasmon-enhanced optical response sof the selected plasmonic metal nanoparticles/molecules hybrid systems.

  • New substrates and approaches for sensitive and reproducible biomolecular sensing by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy

    Grant agency: GACR
    Identification number of grant: P205/13/20110S
    Head of the project: Prof. RNDr. Marek Procházka, Dr.
    Vice-head of the project: Jan Proška (FJFI CVUT v Praze)

    Grant annotation
    Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is used in a variety of applications but biosensing requires high sensitivity and reproducibility of metal nanosubstrates. Proposed project represents long-term (5 years) basic research program involving training of students. Principal objective is to develop SERS technique for sensitive and reproducible SERS biomolecular studies and biosensing. Solid regular Au and Ag nanostructures with highly-controlled structural and optical properties will be rationally designed and fabricated by different preparation procedures as well as optimized by theoretical approaches. To maximize broadening of SERS applicability of new substrates we will test the wide range of biomolecules including classical ones as well as biomolecules important for clinical diagnostics of cancer (protoporphyrin IX, PSA) and of Alzheimer’s disease (betaamyloid).\ We will chiefly focus on improving sensitivity and analytical potential of each SERS substrate/biomolecular probe system by tailoring a particular SERS substrate to particular biomolecule.

  • Microspectroscopie de diffusion Raman exaltée de surface appliquée à l’échelles moléculaire et sub-cellulaire

    Grant agency: MSMT
    Identification number of grant: 7AMB12FR023
    Head of the project: Prof. RNDr. Marek Procházka, Dr.
    Vice-head of the project: Igor Chourpa (Univerzita Tours, Francie)

    Grant annotation
    Microspectroscopie de diffusion Raman exaltée de surface appliquée à l’échelles moléculaire et sub-cellulaire