Baochuan Guo

Biography

"The general research interests of our group lie in the development and use of advanced laser spectroscopic and mass spectrometric techniques to solve problems encountered in a variety of research areas including biomedical analysis, polymer chemistry, and materials science. Currently, our research group is primarily engaged in the following two major aspects of investigation. Biomedical Mass Spectrometry. Mass spectrometry has become one of the major players in the area of bioanalysis. We are interested in the development of an innovative matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, to elucidate the identity and structure of large biopolymers, such as protein and DNA, and in the application of this method to disease diagnosis."

Research Interest

"MALDI-TOF Based DNA Sequencing: This project is designed to develop a novel MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric-based method to replace the currently used gel-electrophoresis-based techniques for high-speed and low-cost DNA sequencing this is essential to the Human Genome Project. In addition, the success of this project will provide an effective method for diagnosis of genetic diseases. Mass Spectrometric Immunoassay: This project investigates the integration of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis with immunoassay. This method is based on the microscale immunoaffinity capture of target biomolecules such as antigens, followed by mass-specific identification and quantification using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and this integration takes the advantages of strengths of both MALDI-TOF and immunoassay, i.e., the high specific separation and the accuracy of mass determination. Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Synthetic Polymers: This project focuses on MALDI-TOF measurements of molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polymers. MWD is one of the most important properties of polymers, since it greatly affects the physical characteristics of polymer materials. MALDI-TOF has been considered one of the best new techniques for the characterization of polymers. However, applications of this method to polymer characterization proves to be much more challenging. This is due mainly to mass discrimination associated with the currently used MALDI-TOF methods. Our research group is interested in developing new MALDI-TOF approaches to solving the mass discrimination problem."