Microscale Analytical Systems

Our research group provides analytical chemical tools for tackling many challenges in pharmaceutical and medical research, especially in situations where sample size is limited, where the molecules of interest are only present in small concentrations, or where a large number of sample needs to be processed in a short time frame. To enable this cutting-edge analysis we develop and apply technologies such as micro-nano engineering, microfluidics, and polymer science for next generation high-throughput workflows, e.g., in protein characterization, peptide analysis, drug transport studies, and drug delivery.

“We are experts in qualitative and (validated) quantitative analytical chemistry. We are developing new ways to perform chemical analysis, while pushing traditional approaches to their limits.”, says professor and group leader Jörg P. Kutter.

Main focal areas of the group are modern separation techniques (e.g. LC, CE) coupled to mass spectrometry, advanced sample preparation methods (e.g., µSPE, µEME), traditional spectroscopic techniques (e.g., NMR, IR, Raman) and a range of microfluidics-driven techniques (e.g., droplets, micro-nano particle fabrication); furthermore, we apply ex vivo models and develop microphysiological in vitro models (i.e., organ-on-a-chip) that are all intended to understand drug-target interactions, investigate drug metabolism, and getting insight into disease progression and therapeutic efficacies.

Research in the Micro Analytical Systems group is highly multidisciplinary and builds heavily in strong collaborative efforts.