Investigation of Melphalan interaction as an alkylating agent with nucleotides by using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) is a new Raman spectroscopy which relies on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) of metal nanoparticles. We have applied colloidal silver and gold nanoparticles as amplifier agents to enhance nucleotide Raman signals. It is observed that without these enhancing agents, it is impossible to investigate nucleotide spectrum due to weak Raman signals.

Integrated set-up of sampling, sample treatment and assay of an intracellular protein during fermentation.

A complete system for on-line sampling, sample handling and analysis of fermentation processes has been set up. The system is designed such that a sample is taken from the fermentor, the metabolism of microbial cells is instantaneously arrested, the cells are lysed in order to release intracellular compounds and in a subsequent binding assay the content of target molecules is monitored. The system is constructed based on the flow-injection analysis concept.