Title: Toward miniaturised and multiplexed assay platforms for on-site (bio)chemical analysis
Speaker: Dr. Knut Rurack (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM))
Date and time: Friday, July 17, at 10:00
Abstract: The rapid development of portable analytical methods—which has accelerated particularly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic—has fundamentally transformed diagnostics and expanded their use beyond healthcare into fields such as food safety, environmental management, and security, including threat detection and forensic analysis. These technologies enable rapid on-site decision-making without relying on a centralized laboratory infrastructure. Their practical applicability is further enhanced by the widespread availability of mobile devices equipped with high-performance cameras and significant computing power. Despite these advances, most existing assays remain limited to the detection of a single analyte. A key challenge therefore lies in the development of reliable multiplexed assays capable of simultaneously identifying multiple target compounds with high sensitivity.
This presentation introduces versatile strategies developed in the Chemical and Optical Sensing Division at BAM, with a focus on supramolecular chemistry, luminescent detection methods, nanomaterials, and the miniaturization of devices. Illustrative examples include mesoporous nanomaterials, gated indicator systems, molecularly imprinted polymers, microfluidic platforms, test strips, and smartphone-based analytical approaches.
Short bio
Knut Rurack is a trained chemist and food chemist. He studied at the universities of Kiel and Münster and earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Humboldt University in Berlin. After initial work in the fields of food chemistry, environmental protection, and laser spectroscopy, he established a long-standing research career at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Berlin. Since 2015, he has headed the Chemical and Optical Sensing Division at BAM.
His research focuses on functional dyes and probes, supramolecular host-guest chemistry, fluorescent (hybrid) materials, molecular imprinting, assay design and device integration for a wide range of analytes and applications. He has published over 200 scientific articles, was cited more than 10,000 times and holds 22 patents. He has participated in 10 EU projects, is actively involved in standardization work, and three startups have emerged from his research group.
More Information
The talk takes place in person in the MIBE lecture hall (Boltzmannstr. 11).