EESS talk on "Planar-bioassays: Detecting and identifying toxic chemicals in complex samples with thin-layer chromatography"
Event details
| Date | 15.03.2022 |
| Hour | 12:15 › 13:15 |
| Speaker | Dr Alan James Bergmann, Postdoctoral researcher, ECOTOX Centre EAWAG-EPFL, Dübendorf |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract:
Humans and wildlife encounter potentially toxic chemical mixtures in many environments and consumer products. We use bioassays to detect hazardous substances in complex mixtures, including those that target chemical analysis might miss. Of increasing interest are in vitro bioassays performed in a “planar” format on high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates. Planar-bioassays first chromatographically separate samples, then detect biologically active substances (e.g. xenoestrogens, genotoxicants) directly on HPTLC plates with test organism cells. We have found that planar-bioassays are typically more sensitive than their counterparts in microtiter plates and can reduce interferences from matrix components. By coupling to high-resolution mass spectrometry, unknown chemicals detected with planar-bioassays can be identified. We are developing planar-bioassays and applying them to food packaging, tire wear particles, and environmental matrices. This presentation will introduce planar-bioassays with examples from our investigations at the Ecotox Centre.
Short biography:
Alan Bergmann is from Washington State in the United States. He studied Toxicology at Western Washington University and Oregon State University. Since 2017, he has been a post-doctoral researcher with the Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology (Ecotox Centre).
Humans and wildlife encounter potentially toxic chemical mixtures in many environments and consumer products. We use bioassays to detect hazardous substances in complex mixtures, including those that target chemical analysis might miss. Of increasing interest are in vitro bioassays performed in a “planar” format on high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates. Planar-bioassays first chromatographically separate samples, then detect biologically active substances (e.g. xenoestrogens, genotoxicants) directly on HPTLC plates with test organism cells. We have found that planar-bioassays are typically more sensitive than their counterparts in microtiter plates and can reduce interferences from matrix components. By coupling to high-resolution mass spectrometry, unknown chemicals detected with planar-bioassays can be identified. We are developing planar-bioassays and applying them to food packaging, tire wear particles, and environmental matrices. This presentation will introduce planar-bioassays with examples from our investigations at the Ecotox Centre.
Short biography:
Alan Bergmann is from Washington State in the United States. He studied Toxicology at Western Washington University and Oregon State University. Since 2017, he has been a post-doctoral researcher with the Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology (Ecotox Centre).
Practical information
- General public
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- EESS - IIE
Contact
- Dr Benoît Ferrari, head of ECOTOX Centre