Research in the field of environmental analytical chemistry is focused on the development of selective, efficient, and reliable techniques and methods for sampling, sample pre-treatment, analysis, and detection of environmental samples. The successful application of modern instrumental techniques and methods to qualitative and quantitative analysis of environmental samples (water, plants, soil, sediment, air, and aerosol particles) often requires the development and use of totally new materials. This is true especially in different solid phase microextraction techniques that are utilized to combine sampling, extraction, and sample concentration into one step. The studies are also targeted at portable instruments and selective chemical sensors, valuable for field measurements. In our research, high-resolution chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry are the core techniques.
Research in the field of bioanalytical chemistry is focused on the synthesis of novel compounds and on the use of liquid chromatographic and capillary electromigration (CE) techniques, field flow fractionation (AF4), and on biosensing methods such as nanoplasmonic sensing (NPS). We are especially working on bionanoparticles, lipid aggregates, liposomes, and on liposome-analyte interactions using various modes of CE. Lately, much focus has been on studying interactions between biomembrane-mimicking surfaces and analytes (by CE and NPS) as well as on characterizing lipid vesicles and particles by CE, AF4, zeta potential, and particle size determinations. Emphasis has also been on the determination of binding constants and distribution constants of analytes using liposomes built up from synthetic lipids or lipids extracted from biological samples.