This research group develops and applies tools for the analysis of minute amounts of biological material. We typically perform our research with attomoles to yoctomoles of analyte. When dealing with these small samples, it is often convenient to express the quantities in terms of the number of molecules required for analysis; we typically work with samples ranging from a few million molecules to a single analyte molecule.
We develop instrumentation for ultrasensitive bioanalysis. This instrumentation is usually based on capillary electrophoresis for the separation of samples and laser-induced fluorescence for detection. However, we have developed a suite of spectroscopic tools for ultrasensitive analysis, which includes thermo-optical absorbance, light scatter, and refractive index measurements in addition to fluorescence detection. We are also beginning an effort to incorporate mass spectrometry into our instrumentation, with particular emphasis on protein analysis.
The development of analytical instrumentation can't be successfully performed in a vacuum; the technology must be designed with a specific set of applications in mind. We tend to focus on the analysis of biopolymers (DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids), but we have also studied low molecular weight bioamines and drug metabolites.
