Objective The accurate determination of chiral (non-symmetrical) compounds in complex mixtures is becoming increasingly important. For instance, in the world of pharmaceuticals it is well known that one enantiomer can have therapeutic properties, whereas its mirror-image compound may be highly toxic.In recent years, chiral separation methods based on capillary electrophoresis ( CE) have been developed, but appropriate detection systems are currently lacking. We propose to study the applicability of a recently developed phosphorescence technique to improve concentration detection limits. For enantioselective detection we propose to make use of chiral phosphorophores that will be custom-synthesized. Finally, we will build a circular dichroism absorption detector to be combined with chiral separations in CE, both in single-wavelength and in spectrally resolved mode. A well-equipped mechanical, glass and electronics workshop, and an experienced optics technician are available for technical assistance. The work is expected to shed light on the potential of enantiospecific detection in CE for the sensitive and selective determination of chiral compounds, with the main emphasis on measuring one enantiomer in the presence of a large excess of the other, as is needed for enantiomeric purity assessment. At VU-ACAS the fellow will be introduced to novel spectroscopic principles and analytical applications. After a basic training in lasers and optics a CE instrument will be adapted and optimised for sensitive detection. Using the optical expertise acquired during the first year, the fellow will then proceed to construct a CE detection system based on circular dichroism. VU-ACAS participates in the multidisciplinary Laser Centre Vrije Universiteit (an EU large-scale research facility and Marie Curie training site). The fellow will also be given the opportunity to attend a broad range of specialty courses, not only at the Vrije Universiteit but also at other nearby universities via the research networks LACDRand HRSMC. In return, VU-ACAS will benefit from the fellow's expertise in chiral separations, which will be extremely useful given the department's growing interest in drug analysis. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringnatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrophoresisnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Programme(s) FP5-HUMAN POTENTIAL - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Improving the human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base" (1998-2002) Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships) Coordinator VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM - VERENIGING VOOR CHRISTELIJK WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERWIJS EU contribution No data Address 1083,De Boelelaan 1083 1081 HV AMSTERDAM Netherlands See on map Total cost No data
