Analytical chemistry section
The Analytical chemistry section devotes to basic research focused on the development of new analytical methods, analytical instrumentation, and the application of advanced methods in the analysis of a wide range of samples. The research covers spectroscopy/spectrometry, separation processes, electrochemical processes, multivariate statistical analysis, process modelling, data processing, and image formation. The development of new laboratory instrumentation is linked to design and programming activities.
The development of analytical instrumentation is focused on imaging mass spectrometry, characterization of nanoparticles and their applications in analytical chemistry, instrumentation for bioanalytical chemistry, separation techniques, and mass spectrometry methods in the analysis of biological samples and sample preparation for mass spectrometry.
Significant attention is paid to the biocoordination chemistry of nucleobases, nucleosides, nucleotides, and short oliogonucleotides, new macrocyclic compounds with targeted structures, optimization of kinetic and thermodynamic properties of complexes important for applications in biomedicine and analytical chemistry. Optical sensors and sensor arrays are being developed for the determination of ions and organic compounds. The application of nanoparticles in analytical chemistry is an important direction of advanced research.
Analytical separations take advantage of the most advanced developments in the preparation and characterization of monolithic columns for chromatography and in the development of extraction and separation methods in conjunction with mass spectrometry in the analysis of biologically relevant material, such as food and plants. Of the electromigration methods, capillary electrophoresis has been particularly applied in the analysis of metabolites in body fluids, with particular reference to the development of techniques for non-invasive sampling of body fluids. Separation methods are used in clinical analysis.
Among the methods of molecular spectroscopy, molecular fluorescence is being developed and used to study the interaction of benzophenanthridine alkaloids with polynucleotides, the interaction of plant alkaloids with non-canonical DNA structures, and the luminescence properties of uranium complexes.
The interaction of the pulsed laser beam with the material is studied with optical radiation detection as laser-induced plasma spectrometry. Not only the optical but also the acoustic signal accompanying the laser ablation is investigated. Laser-induced plasma spectrometry is used in the elemental mapping of geological samples and in the analysis of important technological materials, cultural heritage objects, and biological samples labeled with metal nanoparticles.
The interaction of laser radiation with the material is studied by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Simultaneous characterisation of the aerosol generated by the laser beam is used by monitoring the particle flux by different physical methods to obtain the particle size distribution. The aerosol composition is then monitored depending on the sample composition, its surface properties, nanoparticle deposition on the sample surface, and instrumental parameters. Plasma mass spectrometry is involved in the elemental/isotope mapping of geological samples and biological tissues. Attention is also focused on the determination of isotope ratios in various materials.
The Analytical chemistry section develops analytical chemistry in all its current areas in terms of methods and problem-solving. It is well equipped with modern instrumentation, which is handled by a team of top experts.
