WIN Seminar: Jozef Kaiser & Pavel Porizka

The Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) is pleased to present a seminar with Jozef Kaiser, Professor in the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and Pavel Porizka, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CEITEC Brno University of Technology.

These seminars will be held back-to-back on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 2:00 PM in QNC 1501.
Registration is required!

Jozef Kaiser

Seminar Title:

Advancing Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in the analysis of biological tissues

Abstract:

This talk offers an overview of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) applications in the analysis of a variety of biological tissues. A fast analysis with low requirements for the sample preparation and a high spatial resolution allows for large-scale imaging with a high throughput. Those advantages make LIBS a unique analytical tool that finds its beneficial utilization in many biological applications. Here we focus on ecotoxicological studies (i. toxic heavy metals in plant material, ii. microplastics in model aquatic organisms) and developmental biology or clinical research, both involving the study of hard and soft tissues. Beside the content of naturally occurring elements, it is also possible to monitor other elements. The chosen studies show the LIBS method in monitoring of the environmental pollution level or in the identification of pathological states, either by a direct detection of endogenous or exogeneous elements.

Biography 

Prof. Ing. Jozef Kaiser, PhD. (Bratislava, Slovakia, 1974), mechanical engineer, researcher, since 2013 a full professor at the Brno University of Technology (BUT) in the Czech Republic. His main research fields are Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and (industrial) X-ray computed tomography (CT). Within CEITEC (Central European Institute of Technology) of BUT, he is the leader of the Research Group of Advanced Instrumentation and Methods for Materials Characterization.  

He co-authored more than 270 highly cited articles (H-index = 39, Web of Science, October 2023) and 3 patents. During his carrier he placed significant emphasis not only on basic research but also on effective and active collaboration with industry.  

After his lesson (hopefully) learned, when his first start-up was unfriendly overtaken by one of the co-founders and the financial investor, he has been co-founding and co-owning several start-ups (e.g. CactuX - 2020, Lightigo - 2019). He is currently working among others on the introduction, research and application of industrial CT using high-energy linear accelerators. 

Pavel Porizka 

Seminar Title:

Detection of nanometallic labels by using laser spectroscopy, an alternative to standard immunochemistry readout

Abstract:

Fluorescent labels, based on conjugates of antibodies with various nanoparticles, are popular because of their broad detection possibilities (plate readers, microscopes). However, fluorescence is a limiting factor in e.g. multiplexing; only a limited number of dyes can be detected due to the overlaps of dye spectra or optical filters. Thus, novel readout methods are necessary to overcome such limitations. Laser spectroscopy – namely Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) – is a prospective option in nanoparticle detection. LIBS provides superior performance in terms of throughput and repetition rate enabling large-scale elemental imaging in combination with high lateral resolution. 

In this talk, we will demonstrate the feasibility of LIBS as a readout method in immunochemical assays and imaging of cancer tissues (breast cancer) through the indirect detection of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). The LIBS scanning enabled detecting the characteristic elemental signature of yttrium as a principal constituent of UCNP, thus indirectly providing a reliable way to differentiate between HER2-positive BT-474 cells and HER2-negative MDA-MB-231 cells. The comparison of results with upconversion optical microscopy and luminescence intensity scanning confirmed that LIBS is a promising alternative for the readout of immunohistochemical samples. 

Moreover, the utilization of magnetic microbeads was suggested as an alternative solid phase, replacing the commonly used microtiter plate, or even as a possible label. Magnetic microbeads (MBs) are composed of an iron-based core and an outer layer of polymers or organic ligands. As MBs are the only magnetic component within the system it enables preconcentration and efficient separation of the target molecule through external magnetic field application. In our work, various dilutions of the nanoparticles were tested together with samples containing prostate specific antigen (PSA), a protein, pathological levels of which serve as an indicator of a prostate cancer. The Tag-LIBS technique enabled a simultaneous detection of the spectral lines of elements characteristic for different nanoparticles alongside the iron spectral lines representing magnetic microbeads present in the samples. Moreover, utilizing the signal of iron spectral lines has been used as an internal standard to suppress the matrix effects. 

Biography 

Assoc. Prof. Pavel Pořízka is actively involved in the world-wide LIBS community from his master’s degree (2010). During his PhD internship at BAM in Berlin, Germany, he gained considerable knowledge in advanced data processing and chemometrics. Right after reaching PhD (2014), he was appointed to lead the laboratory of Laser Spectroscopy at CEITEC Brno University of Technology. From the very beginning he has fostered the Laser spectroscopy group with a long-term vision to have an impact on current research trends (including biology and clinical research), to systematically build-up the know-how in selected applications and to transfer LIBS technology to daily routine. His group has a strong student base which significantly contributes to individual projects. Our goal is to build a leading laboratory in the field of LIBS recognized world-wide, and to lead novel trends in research and development. 

The career of Assoc. Prof. Pořízka is paved with internships, mobility, and namely international cooperation. During his postdoc, he completed a Fulbright fellowship at the University of Florida (2017-2018). He has authored and co-authored over 70 publications having 1200 citations and reaching H-index: 19. He has been involved in several national and international grant projects as a primary investigator. In 2019, he co-founded the Lightigo s.r.o. company that focuses on the laboratory and industrial LIBS system development and technology transfer. In 2022, he co-founded the Lightigo Space s.r.o. company that focuses on the implementation of LIBS technology in space research and endeavor.