Microchip-capillary electrophoresis
Lab-on-a-chip devices (also known as miniaturized analytical systems) have gained considerable attention over the last several years due to their potential for creating portable, low-cost analytical tools with minute volumes, and high throughput.





Analysis of phenolic compounds
One of the main research areas in our group is dedicated to design and apply microfluidic devices for fast analysis of phenolic molecules with important biological activity such as contaminants, antioxidants, and pharmaceutical compounds. Our main focus is the detection of phenolic compounds. We are mainly interested in developing new analytical atrategies for the quatification of phenolic compounds with biological interest. Read more...




Surface coatings
It is generally accepted that when added to the background electrolyte, surfactants can interact with the capillary wall, affect the surface charge, and change the zeta potential of the surface. As a result, the change in ζ produces a change in μEOF that can be directly correlated to the adsorbed amount of surfactant. Hence, capillary coatings are usually characterized by μEOF measurements. Our group is particularly interested in understanding the driving forces for the interaction of anionic surfactants with polymeric substrates such as PDMS. Read more...

Lab-on-a-Robot (LOAR)
This device consists of wireless global positioning system controlled robotics, an electrochemical detector utilizing signal conditioning analog circuitry and a digital feedback range controller, a high voltage power supply, an air pump, and a capillary electrophoresis microchip. A graphical user interface (LabVIEW) was also designed to communicate wirelessly with the device, from a distant PC communication port. The entire device is integrated and controlled by digital hardware implemented on a field programmable gate array development board. This “lab-on-a-robot” is able to navigate to a global position location, acquire an air sample, perform the analysis (injection, separation, and detection), and send the data (electropherogram) to a remote station without exposing the analyst to the testing environment.