Jaromir Ruzicka

Professor of Chemistry
(Analytical, Ph.D., Charles University, Prague, 1967)

(206) 543-4644, (206) 543-3798
ruzicka@chem.washington.edu

Research Interests

Integration of reagent-based assays with analytical instruments is a central problem for both research and routine analytical work, in such diverse fields as biochemistry, environmental assays, agricultural assays, biotechnology, oceanography and clinical chemistry. Regardless of whether the end measurement is carried out by a simple detector (such as spectrophotometer) or a sophisticated one (ICP-MS), the execution of the preceding “wet chemistry” steps, where reagent and sample solution are brought together to react under controlled conditions, is critical to the success of any assay. Flow Injection Analysis (FIA), which J. Ruzicka proposed with Elo Hansen in 1974, fulfilled this role with unexpected success, as documented by over 16,000 papers and almost 20 monographs published on this topic.

FIA is based on the injection of a sample plug into a carrier stream of reagent, which flows through a microreactor into a detector of choice. As the reacted sample plug passes through the detector, a transient signal is observed which yields the readout, in the form of a peak, usually within 20 seconds. Spectroscopic, electroanalytical, and separation techniques have been automated and enhanced in this way. Outside the laboratory, FIA has been applied to monitoring processes in the chemical industry and is therefore part of the research program of the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry (CPAC).

The Sequential Injection system (SI) has been microfabricated (see "Lab-on-valve systems," June 2000 issue of “The Analyst”), initially with aim to reduce reagent consumption and waste generation. However,  the versatility of this novel concept in microflow analysis led to use of Lab-on-valve as a "front end" to Mass Spectrometry (in cooperation with Prof. Turecek), to enhance Capillary Electrophoresis, to speed up numerous enzymatic assays, and to study the reaction of live cells to stimulants and changes of environment. Co-workers in the Ruzicka group, Andrea Carroll and Ilkka Lahdesmaki, are presently working on novel assays of telomerase activity, based on high-sensitivity measurements of DNA, and on the study of the catalytic activity of live cells for degradation of hydrogen peroxide. This work is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.