Milan Vala, Ph.D.

Research interests:

Nano-optics, biophotonics, nanofabrication, plasmonics.

Professional activities:

2017 – present: Research scientist (since 2021), postdoc (2017-2020), Nano Optics, Institute of Photonics and Electronics ASCR, v. v. i.,  Prague, Czech Republic

2016 – 2017: Postdoc, Laboratory of Nanostructures and Biosensing, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

2005 – 2016: Postdoc (2015-2016), graduate student (2006-2015), research staff (2005-2006), Optical Biosensors, Institute of Photonics and Electronics, ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic

Education:

2015: Ph.D. in Quantum optics and optoelectronics, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

2006: MSc. in Optics and optoelectronics, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

Selected publications:

Book chapters

1. Adam P., Piliarik M., Šípová H., Špringer T., Vala M. and Homola J., Principles of SPR biosensors, Photonic Sensing: Principles and Applications for Safety and Security Monitoring (Wiley Series in Microwave and Optical Engineering), editors Gaozhi Xiao, Wojtek Bock, 2012.

1. Robert, H. M. L.; Holanová, K.; Bujak, Ł.; Vala, M.; Henrichs, V.; Lánský, Z.; Piliarik, M. Fast Photothermal Spatial Light Modulation for Quantitative Phase Imaging at the Nanoscale. Nature Communications 2021, 12 (1), 2921. https://doi.org/10/gkrc9g.
2. Vala, M.; Bujak, Ł.; Marín, A. G.; Holanová, K.; Henrichs, V.; Braun, M.; Lánský, Z.; Piliarik, M. Nanoscopic Structural Fluctuations of Disassembling Microtubules Revealed by Label-Free Super-Resolution Microscopy. Small Methods 2021, 5 (4), 2000985. https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202000985.
3. Vala, M.; Piliarik, M. Weighing Single Protein Complexes on the Go. Nature Methods 2021, 18 (10), 1159–1160. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01263-8.
4. Vala, M.; Palounek, D.; Robert, H. M. L.; Piliarik, M. Quantitative Detection of Optical Anisotropy of Single Microtubules by Polarization-Sensitive Interferometric Scattering Microscopy. Journal of Physics D: Applied Phyics 2021, 54 (20), 204001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/abe669.
5. Holanová, K.; Vala, M.; Piliarik, M. Optical Imaging and Localization of Prospective Scattering Labels Smaller than a Single Protein. Optics & Laser Technology 2019, 109, 323–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2018.08.014.
6. Vala, M.; Ertsgaard, C. T.; Wittenberg, N. J.; Oh, S.-H. Plasmonic Sensing on Symmetric Nanohole Arrays Supporting High-Q Hybrid Modes and Reflection Geometry. ACS Sensors 2019, 4 (12), 3265–3274. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.9b01780.
7. Vala, M.; Jordan, L. R.; Warrington, A. E.; Maher, L. J.; Rodriguez, M.; Wittenberg, N. J.; Oh, S.-H. Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing on Naturally Derived Membranes: A Remyelination-Promoting Human Antibody Binds Myelin with Extraordinary Affinity. Analytical Chemistry 2018, 90 (21), 12567–12573. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02664.
8. Kim, M.; Vala, M.; Ertsgaard, C. T.; Oh, S.-H.; Lodge, T. P.; Bates, F. S.; Hackel, B. J. Surface Plasmon Resonance Study of the Binding of PEO–PPO–PEO Triblock Copolymer and PEO Homopolymer to Supported Lipid Bilayers. Langmuir 2018, 34 (23), 6703–6712. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00873.
9. Vaisocherová-Lísalová, H.; Surman, F.; Víšová, I.; Vala, M.; Špringer, T.; Ermini, M. L.; Šípová, H.; Šedivák, P.; Houska, M.; Riedel, T.; Pop-Georgievski, O.; Brynda, E.; Homola, J. Copolymer Brush-Based Ultralow-Fouling Biorecognition Surface Platform for Food Safety. Analytical Chemistry 2016, 88 (21), 10533–10539. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b02617.
10. Vala, M.; Homola, J. Multiple Beam Interference Lithography: A Tool for Rapid Fabrication of Plasmonic Arrays of Arbitrary Shaped Nanomotifs. Optics Express 2016, 24 (14), 15656–15665. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.24.015656.
11. Vala, M.; Homola, J. Flexible Method Based on Four-Beam Interference Lithography for Fabrication of Large Areas of Perfectly Periodic Plasmonic Arrays. Optics Express 2014, 22 (15), 18778–18789. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.22.018778.
12. Toma, K.; Vala, M.; Adam, P.; Homola, J.; Knoll, W.; Dostálek, J. Compact Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence Biochip. Optics Express 2013, 21 (8), 10121–10132. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.21.010121.
13. Kvasnička, P.; Chadt, K.; Vala, M.; Bocková, M.; Homola, J. Toward Single-Molecule Detection with Sensors Based on Propagating Surface Plasmons. Optics Letters 2012, 37 (2), 163–165. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.37.000163.
14. Vala, M.; Chadt, K.; Piliarik, M.; Homola, J. High-Performance Compact SPR Sensor for Multi-Analyte Sensing. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 2010, 148 (2), 544–549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2010.05.067.
15. Vala, M.; Etheridge, S.; Roach, J. A.; Homola, J. Long-Range Surface Plasmons for Sensitive Detection of Bacterial Analytes. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 2009, 139 (1), 59–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2008.08.029.
16. Piliarik, M.; Vala, M.; Tichý, I.; Homola, J. Compact and Low-Cost Biosensor Based on Novel Approach to Spectroscopy of Surface Plasmons. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 2009, 24 (12), 3430–3435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2008.11.003.

1. J. Homola, M. Piliarik, I. Tichý, M. Vala, P. Adam, J. Hepnar, K. Chadt: Surface Plasmon Resonance Coupler and Disperser Sensor, United States of America Patent US8094316, 2012.
2. K. Toma, J. Dostalek, W. Knoll, J. Homola, M. Vala, P. Adam; Compact  Biochip for Plasmon-Enhanced Fluorescence Biosensor, World Intellectual Property Organization, WO2013171197A1, 2013.