NUI Galway

Faculty Member, Chemistry

Senior Lecturer

About

CURRENT CORE RESEARCH AREAS:

Biopharmaceutical analysis:  Development of novel rapid, quantitative analytical methods for use in the BioPharma sector.  The primary methods to be employed are vibrational spectroscopy, fluorescence, and chemometrics.  This was initially part of a collaborative project, the Centre for BioAnalytical Science (CBAS), with DCU and Bristol Myers-Squibb (2005-09).  The project involves the study of all aspects of the biopharma production process from raw staring materials, to media, to process samples, and up to finished product.  We are now starting to investigate a second generation of novel analytical techniques. More details at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/nanoscale/cbas.html

Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy:  A second component of the research involves the application of advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques to measuring dynamic biological and chemical processes at surfaces, and in living cells.  The involves the use of methods such as Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (FCCS), and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM).  This aspect of my research programme encompasses a wide range of collaborators and is continually growing. More details at:  http://www.nuigalway.ie/nanoscale/microscopy.html

Biomaterials:  This encompasses three different yet interlinked projects.  First, the development of fluorescence based methods for measuring surface and bulk polarity of polymers, which is also linked with studies to develop method for measuring drug elution rates from biomedical polymers (in conjunction with Y. Rotchev (NUIG), C. Elvira (Madrid), A. Gorelov (Dublin), and A. Klymchenko (Strasbourg)).  The second core project is the development of ultra-sensitive methods for measuring the deposition and the conformation of proteins on surfaces.  The final strand involves the development of FLIM instrumentation for wide field imaging of biofilms.

Metal Enhanced Fluorescence:  Developing novel, highly sensitive, spectroscopic methods, for applications in the clinical and life sciences by the utilisation of the Metal Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) effect.  This is the observed increase in the quantum yield, and reduction in fluorescence lifetime, of weakly emitting fluorophores that are held in close proximity to noble metal surfaces that are roughened on the nanometre scale.  Specific aspects of the project involve the development of novel methods for fabricating nanostructured MEF substrates and the study of the physical and chemical factors influencing the emission behaviour of fluorophores on surfaces.  A more recent element is the application of MEF to study of the processes that govern the interaction of proteins with surfaces.

Raman spectroscopy and Chemometrics:  Development of quantitative methods of analysis for pharmaceutical, forensic, and law enforcement applications.  Development of novel chemometric and machine learning methods for the analysis of Raman spectroscopic data.  Study of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) method for complex materials analysis.  Study of materials and microscopic fluid inclusions by Raman analysis. 

Petroleum fluid analysis:  Development of instrumentation and analysis methods for crude oil characterisation and quantification.  Study of the fundamental processes governing petroleum fluorescence.  Study of petroleum bearing fluid inclusions.  More details at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/nanoscale/petroleum_fluids.html 

Spectroscopic Facilities & Instrumentation:  This area encompasses all the research interests and involves both the development of new instrumentation, modifying of existing systems for specific applications, and the provision of state-of-the-art facilities.  This has represented a considerable effort since 1997 and encompasses the purchase of 1.5M€+ of spectroscopic facilities.  These include:
• FLIM/FCS:  Two confocal microscopes for materials and life science applications, which represent the only Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (and Fluorescence Cross Correlation Spectroscopy) facility in Ireland.  Considerable effort has been expended in establishing these systems and they are currently being extensively used to develop novel analytical techniques in living cells.  A third FLIM system (based on a gated ICCD) is currently under construction by a PhD student.  Several EMCCD cameras are also available for ultra-low light imaging.  A fourth system (Thorlabs VCM100) was delivered in May 2008.
• Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM):  A TIRFM system was installed in 2008 and includes an EMCCD camera.
• Raman spectroscopy:  Three Raman systems, one handheld (2009), one for microscopy (2002) and one for bulk materials analysis (2005) are in place. 
• Fluorescence spectroscopy:  The facilities include 5 steady-state spectrometers, two lifetime spectrometers, and the components to build and adapt several other instruments.  In the past this has resulted in the building of a fluorescence lifetime microscope and various fluorescence lifetime spectrometers. 

In addition, to the core research projects outlined above, there are several concurrent interdisciplinary research projects with a variety of disparate departments in NUI-Galway and other Irish third level institutions.  We have also established productive collaborations, resulting in joint publications and presentations, with researchers in Ireland (Galway, Cork, Maynooth, and Dublin), Europe (UK, France, and Denmark), Tunisia, USA, and India. 

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