Video tour
Watch a video tour of our Laboratory of Metabolomics.
Laboratory of Metabolomics offers targeted and non-targeted metabolomics analysis using highly specialized instruments, including a combination of a liquid chromatograph with a mass spectrometer (with an accuracy of 0.0001 Da) and a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer.
Cell metabolism is an essential feature of life and results in the formation of metabolites in a living organism. Analysis of their concentration changes is one of the basic diagnostic tool of modern medicine. Laboratory of Metabolomics offers targeted and non-targeted metabolomics analysis using highly specialized instruments, including a mass spectrometer (with an accuracy of 0.0001 Da) and a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. We focus mainly on metabolic analyses of low molecular weight substances in tissues, cell cultures and biological fluids (blood plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue extracts, cell media and lysates).
The lab is also equipped with an experimental 7 Tesla scanner based on magnetic resonance enabling non-invasive imaging (MRI) of biological systems but also other types of samples. Imaging sequences allow the monitoring of a wide range of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro processes and are also suitable for functionalized therapy monitoring using magnetic nanoparticles (theranostics). In addition, using spectroscopic methods (MRS), we can monitor biochemical profiles of the examined tissues, including dynamic pharmacological and metabolic processes in vivo.
Watch a video tour of our Laboratory of Metabolomics.
Bruker Avance III 600 MHz NMR spectrometer
MRI / MRS scanner Bruker BioSpec 70/20 USR 7 T
RWD anaesthesia with isoflurane inhalant
Combination of an Agilent liquid chromatograph with a Bruker Q-TOF high-resolution mass spectrometer
Take a virtual tour of our modern Metabolomics Laboratory.
Projects
TEF-Health: Testing and Experimentation Facility for Health – Advanced diagnostics of neurodegenerative disorders using magnetic resonance techniques and artificial intelligence
(Principal Investigator: RNDr. Oliver Štrbák, PhD.)
COST – CA17115: European network for advancing electromagnetic hyperthermic medical technologies. (The Laboratory is an MC member of the project, in cooperation with University of Malta).
COST – CA 21115: Iron-sulphur (FeS) clusters: from chemistry to immunology.
Management Committee Member RNDr. Oliver Štrbák, PhD. (2022-2026)
R3 project – Inflammation, iron-sulfur clusters deficit and iron accumulation as envoys of neurodegeneration.
(Principal Investigator: RNDr. Oliver Štrbák, PhD.)
APVV-22-0122: Advanced diagnostics of neurodegenerative disorders using magnetic resonance techniques and artificial intelligence.
(Zodp. riešiteľ: RNDr. Oliver Štrbák, PhD.)
APVV-SK-AT-20-0010: Multiparametric examinations of Miyoshi myopathy using magnetic resonance modalities.
(Principal Investigator: Ing. Petra Hnilicová, PhD.)
MZ SR 2018/11-UKMT-7: Mapping the biogenic iron oxides as biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases using advanced magnetic resonance methods.
(Principal Investigator: RNDr. Oliver Štrbák, PhD.)
VEGA 2/0049/23: Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for MRI of drug distribution in the lungs in experimental respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
(Principal Investigator: Ing. Martina Koneracká, CSc.) In cooperation with Institute of Experimental Physics SAS.
VEGA 1/0092/22: The use of advanced radiological, proteomic and genetic analyses in differential diagnosis progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.
(Principal Investigator: Ing. Petra Hnilicová, PhD., doc. MUDr. Ema Kantorová, PhD.)
The most important publications
Baranovicova E, Vnucak M, Granak K, Kleinova P, Halasova E, Dedinska I.Assessment of metabolites in urine in post-kidney transplant patients: insights into allograft function and creatinine clearance. Metabolomics 2025; 21(2): 44. doi: 10.1007/s11306-025-02246-y
Baranovicova E, Kalenska D, Lehotsky J.Glutamate/GABA/glutamine ratios in intact and ischemia reperfusion challenged rat brain subregions, the effect of ischemic preconditioning. Metab. Brain Dis. 2025; 40(2): 121. doi: 10.1007/s11011-024-01511-8.
Krafcik A, Frollo I, Strbak O, Babinec P. Finite element modeling of the rotational dynamics of a single magnetic particle in a strong magnetic field and liquid medium. Mod. Phys. Lett. B 2024; 38(26): 2450237. doi: 10.1142/S0217984924502373
Baranovicova E, Kalenska D, Kaplan P, Kovalska M, Tatarkova Z, Lehotsky J.Blood and Brain Metabolites after Cerebral Ischemia. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023; 24(24): 17302. doi: 10.3390/ijms242417302
Kopcansky P, Balejcikova L, Molcan M, Strbak O, Safarik I, Baldikova E, Prochazkova J, Angelova R, Pospiskova K, Rajnak M, Paulovicova K, Karpets M, Timko M, Tomasovicova N, Zakutanska K, Lackova V, Bury P. Magnetic nanoparticles change the properties of traditional materials and open up new application possibilities. In Materials aspects of ferrofluids, ISBN 978-1-032-22798-6, Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2023, p. 214-249
Kubovcikova M, Sobotova R, Zavisova V, Antal I, Khmara I, Lisnichuk M, Bednarikova Z, Jurikova A, Strbak O, Vojtova J, Mikolka P, Gombos J, Lokajova A, Gazova Z, Koneracka M. N-acetycysteine-loaded magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023; 24: 11414. doi: 10.3390/ijms241411414
Antal I, Strbak O, Zavisova V, Vojtova J, Kubovcikova M, Jurikova A, Khmara I, Girman V, Dzunda R, Koval K, Koneracka M. Development of positively charged poly-L-lysine magnetic nanoparticles as potential MRI contrast agent. Nanomaterials 2023; 13: 1831. doi: 10.3390/nano13121831
Baranovicova E, Racay P, Zubor P, Smolar M, Kudelova E, Halasova E, Dvorska D, Dankova Z.Circulating metabolites in the early stage of breast cancer were not related to cancer stage or subtypes but associated with ki67 level. Promising statistical discrimination from controls. Mol. Cell. Probes 2022; 66: 101862. doi: 10.1016/j.mcp.2022.101862
Baranovicova E, Vnucak M, Granak K, Lehotsky J, Kadasova N, Miklusica J, Dedinska I. Circulating Metabolites in Relation to the Kidney Allograft Function in Posttransplant Patients. Metabolites 2022; 12(7): 661. doi: 10.3390/metabo12070661
Baranovicova E, Kalenska D, Kovalska M, Lehotsky J. Hippocampal metabolic recovery as a manifestation of the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning in rats. Neurochem. Int. 2022; 160: 105419. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105419
Baranovicova E, Hnilicova P, Kalenska D, Kaplan P, Kovalska M, Tatarkova Z, Tomascova A, Lehotsky J. Metabolic Changes Induced by Cerebral Ischemia, the Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning, and Hyperhomocysteinemia. Biomolecules 2022; 12(4): 554. doi: 10.3390/biom12040554.
Gombos J, Balejcikova L, Kopcansky P, Batkova M, Siposova K, Kovac J, Zolochevska K, Safarik I, Lokajova A, Garamus VM, Dobrota D, Strbak O. Destruction of lysozyme amyloid fibrils induced by magnetoferritin and reconstructed ferritin. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022; 23(22): 13926. doi: 10.3390/ijms232213926
Strbak O, Hnilicova P, Gombos J, Lokajova A, Kopcansky P. Magnetotactic bacteria: from evolution to biomineralization and biomedical applications. Minerals 2022; 12(11): 1403. doi: 10.3390/min12111403
Grayston A, Zhang YJ, Garcia-Gabilondo M, Arrue M, Martin A, Kopcansky P, Timko M, Kovac J, Strbak O, Castellote L, Belloli S, Moresco RM, Picchio M, Roig A, Rosell A. Endovascular administration of magnetized nanocarriers targeting brain delivery after stroke. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 2022; 42(2): 237-252. doi: 10.1177/0271678X211028816
Baranovicova E, Kalenska D, Grendar M, Lehotsky J.Metabolomic Recovery as a Result of Ischemic Preconditioning Was More Pronounced in Hippocampus than in Cortex That Appeared More Sensitive to Metabolomic Blood Components. Metabolites 2021; 11(8): 516. doi: 10.3390/metabo11080516
Krafcik A, Babinec P, Strbak O, Frollo I. A theoretical analysis of magnetic particle alignment in external magnetic fields affected by viscosity and brownian motion. Appl. Sci. 2021; 11: 9651. doi: 10.3390/app11209651
Strbak O, Balejcikova L, Kmetova M, Gombos J, Kovac J, Dobrota D, Kopcansky P. Longitudinal and transverse relaxivity analysis of native ferritin and magnetoferritin at 7 T MRI. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021; 22: 8487. doi: 10.3390/ijms22168487
Baranovicova E, Kalenska D, Tomascova A, Holubcikova S, Lehotsky J.Time-related metabolomics study in the rat plasma after global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion: Effect of ischemic preconditioning. IUBMB Life. 2020; 72(9): 2010-2023. doi: 10.1002/iub.2340
Petras M, Kalenska D, Samos M, Bolek T, Sarlinova M, Racay P, Halasova E, Strbak O, Stasko J, Musak L, Skorvanova M, Baranovicova E. NMR plasma metabolomics study of patients overcoming acute myocardial infarction: in the first 12 h after onset of chest pain with statistical discrimination towards metabolomic biomarkers. Physiol. Res. 2020; 69: 823-834. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.934417
Strbak O, Antal I, Khmara I, Koneracka M, Kubovcikova M, Zavisova V, Molcan M, Jurikova A, Hnilicova P, Gombos J, Kadasova N, Dobrota D. Influence of dextran molecular weight on the physical properties of magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia and MRI applications. Nanomaterials 2020; 10: 2468. doi: 10.3390/nano10122468
Hnilicova P, Strbak O, Kolisek M, Kurca E, Zelenak K, Sivak S, Kantorova E. Current methods of magnetic resonance for noninvasive assessment of molecular aspects of pathoetiology in Muliple Sclerosis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020; 21: 6117. doi: 10.3390/ijms21176117
Strbak O, Balejcikova L, Kmetova M, Gombos J, Trancikova A, Pokusa M, Kopcansky P. Quantification of iron release from native ferritin and magnetoferritin induced by vitamins B2 and C. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020; 21: 6332. doi: 10.3390/ijms21176332
Antal I, Strbak O, Khmara I, Koneracka M, Kubovcikova M, Zavisova V, Kmetova M, Baranovicova E, and Dobrota D. MRI relaxivity changes of the magnetic nanoparticles induced by different amino acid coatings. Nanomaterials 2020; 10: 394. doi: 10.3390/nano10020394
The result of the EU-funded BioMed Martin project is a revolutionary research center that develops new diagnostic and therapeutic methods and at the same time strengthens cooperation between the city of Martin and the Žilina Region in Slovakia.