Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Dr Mohr's group focuses on three research topics:
- Investigation and application of an entirely new concept for the detection of neutral and anionic analytes based on dyes that perform reversible chemical reactions with the analyte and simultaneously change their colour. Synthesis and characterisation of chromogenic and fluorogenic receptors for the interaction with aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, thiols, amines and aldehydes (and for the recognition of biomolecules with the respective functions, eg saccharides, steroids, antibiotics, amino acids).
- Development of functional polymers by combining chemically reactive dyes with the technique of molecular imprinting. Chemically reactive dyes with additional methacrylate groups (for polymerisation) are cross-linked in the presence of a template (analyte) molecule. The resulting cavities in the polymer match the template molecule in shape and functionality and can be used for the selective and repeated detection of this template.
- Since August 2006, Dr Mohr is coordinator of the Marie Curie project “Sensor nanoparticles for ions and biomolecules” (MTKD-CT-2005-029554). The project covers the preparation of new functional dyes for the detection of ions (eg sodium, chloride) and drugs and their metabolites. The functional dyes will be used for the preparation of fluorescent nanoparticles, and these sensor nanoparticles will be used for analysis in cells and tissues (please see: www.snib.uni-jena.de [new window]).
The research group of Dr Mohr provides fully equipped laboratory facilities for the synthesis of polymerisable and fluorescent indicator dyes and for the preparation and characterisation of imprinted layers and nanoparticles. Furthermore, the following equipment for analysis and characterisation of dyes and indicators will be available: absorbance and fluorescence (lifetime) spectrophotometers with flow-cells for sensor characterisation, diode-array reflectance photometer, FT-IR and Raman spectrometer with flow-cells, and micro-optical emitter-receiver-modules with variable LED-light sources.
Dr Mohr is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Friedrich-Schiller University (FSU), and he cooperates with companies such as CiS Institute of Microsensors, Fluka, MAZeT, Zeiss, Dyomics and BAM Berlin.
The institution:
The Friedrich Schiller University of Jena (University of Jena) was founded in 1558 by Johann Friedrich I and is one of the most historic universities in Germany, which is also reflected by its membership in the prestigious COIMBRA [new window] group, a network of traditional European universities. The historic significance of Jena University is marked by names like Goethe, Schiller, Leibniz, Doebereiner and Haeckel. Jena's reputation as a centre for precision mechanics and optics was firmly established by pioneers such as Ernst Abbe, Carl Zeiss and Otto Schott. After the reunification of Germany, Jena University was totally restructured into 10 faculties including medicine making it the largest and only full University in the state of Thuringia. There are four faculties of natural science: physics and astronomy, chemistry and geoscience, biology and pharmacy, as well as mathematics and informatics. Jena University today has more than 20,000 students and official cooperation contracts with 38 Universities in 22 European and ten non-European countries including China and Vietnam. Its departments of natural science and medicine are a source of stimulation and impetus for world-class research in the region at the interphase of Life Sciences and Physics. Currently Jena University hosts five multidisciplinary collaborative research centres (SFB), the most prestigious national funding instrument awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, among them “Multifunctional Signalling Proteins” (SFB 604), and “Metal-mediated Reactions Modelled after Nature” (SFB 436).
E-mail: gerhard.mohr@uni-jena.de
