Environmental Sensitivities Research Group

The recent analytical literature abounds with reports on the development of electrochemical, fiber optic, piezoelectric, and other sensors. Novel detection principles are frequently announced, and attainment of improved sensor quality in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, and lifetime are the goal of many established as well as newly formed research groups. The need for continuous monitoring of critical parameters in clinical chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical, and nuclear industries, chemical warfare or environmental control is the driving force behind the sensor research. 

One of the most active research areas in the field of materials science coneems the control and modification of surfaces and interfaces, also known as surfaee engineering [63, 72]. This is indeed an important tool in the design and control of molecular mechanisms for protein adsorption and material-cell interactions for different and specific biological and biotechnological applications. Thus, the surface can be functionalized with fouling/anti-fouhng properties, specific groups to promote cell material interactions, smart behavior (stimuli responsive or environmentally sensitive) or with micro- or nano-pattems. 

One research group advocates an electrochemical method, indirect tensammetry, for determination of nonionics in environmental samples. This is based on the decrease in the size of the amperometric peak of ethyl acetate in the presence of surfactants. Sensitivity is gained by preliminary extraction or sublation of the sample, or use in conjunction with the BiAS test (132,133). 

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