|
| |||
|
Search the site
|
Partner 13 - Eberhard Karls Universität TübingenContact person
University and research group informationFounded in 1477 the Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen is one of Germany´s oldest and most prestigious Universities, internationaly noted in medicine, natural sciences and the humanities. The University of Tübingen was founded in 1477 by Count Eberhard VI (Eberhard in the Beard, 1445 - 1496), later the first Duke of Württemberg, a civic and ecclesiastic reformer who established the school after becoming absorbed in the Renaissance revival of learning during his travels to Italy. The university rose to the height of its prominence in the middle of the 19th century with the teachings of poet and civic leader Ludwig Uhland and the Protestant theologian Ferdinand Christian Baur, whose beliefs and disciples became known as the "Tübingen School" which initiated historical analysis of Biblical texts, an approach also generally referred to as the Higher criticism.
The University of Tübingen also was the first German university to establish a faculty of natural sciences, in 1863. DNA was discovered in 1868 at the University of Tübingen by Friedrich Miescher. Currently, about 21,000 students are enrolled, in 14 faculties.
The research group of Prof. Gauglitz is one of 5 groups at the 'Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie' at the University of Tübingen. The current size of the research group are 3 post-docs, 19 PhD graduate students and 3 diploma students, being physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology and mathematics majors. The activities of the group are demonstrated by more than 200 publications, approximately 100 short communications and proceedings, a large number of invited talks at national and international meetings as well as lecturing at ABI-workshops. In addition more than 30 courses for industry in spectroscopy, analytics, and pharmacokinetics were given. The group is presently funded by the DFG, the BMBF, AIF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Industrielle Forschung = Support of industrial research).
The research group is well equipped with different optical spectrometers, using sequential and diode array techniques, special diode array/fiber optic systems specialised for sensing techniques, spectral ellipsometer, AFM, various lasers, HPLC chromatography equipment, ELISA equipment (micro plate reader), FIA systems, micro drop techniques, nanoplate readers, process control equipment, personal computers for data acquisition and evaluation using a laboratory intranet with access to advanced computing facilities.
The main topics in research and development of the group can be classified as following: (i) characterisation of interfaces of polymers and biomembranes by surface spectroscopic techniques, (ii) application of spectral interferometry to monitor changes in optical thickness of thin layers and effects of Fresnel reflectivity at interfaces, (iii) surface modification and characterisation for affinity sensors, (iv) devices for spatially resolution of surface modification (nanospotters), (v) direct and indirect optical affinity sensors and immunoprobes, (vi) development of label free biosensors in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceutical high through-put screening, (vii) development of homogeneous phase fluorescence based immuno-assays for nano-litre volumes, (viii) examination of piezo drop devices for the handling of sub nano-litre volumes, (ix) dynamic multivariate data analysis in kinetics and in multi sensor arrays, as partial least squares techniques, and application of neuronal networks. Contribution to CASCADEExperimental validation of virtual screening data using RIfS: The data generated by the virtual screening of KaroBio AB (Partner 14), Huddinge and the group of Prof. Emilo Benfenati, Instituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milan (Partner 11), will give a list of possible compounds that may interact with a given nuclear receptor.
We will experimentally validate the interaction between the compound and its putative receptor using reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS). Therefore we will develop an appropriate surface chemistry for immobilisation of nuclear receptors. Since RIfS allows time-resolved measurement, kinetical processes can be determined as association and disassociation rate constants using various curve-fitting and calculation approaches applied to the measured signal points. Consequently, each interaction process can be characterized with respect to kinetics and thermodynamics.
In addition, we will study the variation of the interaction conditions in order to determine the concentration of the partner (analyte) in the solution. Thus, this will allows us to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic characterisation of interaction-processes between the chemical contaminants and the nuclear receptor. Affinity constants and rate constants will be determined for selected receptor analyte. Representative scientific articles as relevant to CASCADETschmelak J, Proll G, Gauglitz G: Sub-nanogram per litre detection of the emerging contaminant progesterone with a fully automated immunosensor based on evanescent field technique Anal Chim Acta (2004) 519(2), 143-146.
Kröger K, Bauer,Fleckenstein J, Rademann J, Jung G, Gauglitz G Epitope-mapping of transglutaminase with parellel label-free optical detection. Biosens Bioelectron (2002) 17, 937-944.
Tünnemann R, Mehlmann M, Süssmuth RD, Bühler B, Pelzer S, Wohlleben W, Wiesmüller K-H, Gauglitz G, Jung G: Optical Biosensors. Monitoring Studies of Glycopeptide Antibiotic Fermentation Using White Light Interference (2001)
Piehler J, Brecht A, Valiolkas R, Liedberg B, Gauglitz G: A high-density poly(ethylene glycol) polymer brush for immobilization on glass-type surfaces, Biosens Bioelectron (2000) 15, 473-481.
Brecht A, Gauglitz G, Kraus G, Nahm W: Chemical and Biochemical Sensors Based on Interferometry at Thin Layers, Sensor Actuator (1993) 11B, 21-27.
| ||
|
| |||
|
| |||
