Analytical Sciences
General programme structure
The two-year master's programme consists of compulsory courses, optional courses, literature thesis and a research project.
Compulsory courses
The programme consists of 4 compulsory courses (6 ECTS each):
- Separation methods
- Mass spectrometry
- Molecular spectroscopy
- 'fundamentals' of analytical chemistry
In the latter course common aspects of different analytical methods (performance parameters such as sensitivity and selectivity, sampling strategies, validation) are discussed, and an introduction in statistics is given.
Study programme
| Period | Compulsory courses | Optional courses | |
| Sept - Oct | Separation sciences (6 ECTS) | High throughput screening (6 ECTS) | |
| Nov - Dec | Mass spectrometry (6 ECTS) | Analytical raman spectroscopy (6 ECTS) | |
| Jan | Fundamentals of analytical sciences (6 ECTS) | - | |
| Feb - Mar | (Bio) Molecular spectroscopy (6 ECTS) | Bio-Analytical strategies (6 ECTS) | Protein spectroscopy (6 ECTS) |
| Apr - May | - | (Bio) Analytical luminescence spectroscopy (6 ECTS) | Protein analysis (6 ECTS) |
Other optional courses in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam:
- Chemical analysis for forensic evidence (6 ECTS)
- The analytical chemist in industry (6 ECTS)
- Biosystems data analysis (6 ECTS)
- Environmental chemistry (6 ECTS)
Course descriptions
Course descriptions for Analytical Sciences
Contact
If you would like to know more about Analytical Sciences, please contact the Master coordinator:
Dr. Freek Ariese
Phone: +31 20 59 87524
E-mail: f.ariese@few.vu.nl
Ongoing research Jeroen Kool, PhD
On-line High Resolution Screening of metabolic mixtures for bioaffinity profiling
"Biotransformation enzymes play a crucial role in the metabolism of both endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. Metabolites may show high affinity towards receptors or other macromolecules. Tamoxifen for example, is a non-steroidal antiestrogen that is used in the hormonal therapy of human breast cancer. It is now well established that besides tamoxifen, several of its metabolites play an important role in the antiestrogenicity of tamoxifen.
In our research, High Resolution Screening (HRS) is used to rapidly enable the identification of individual ligands in complex mixtures and simultaneously detect their biological activity. HRS is based on continuous-flow biochemical detection assays coupled to High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). A schematic view of a HRS setup is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: General scheme of an on-line HRS setup. (1) HPLC Separation of metabolic mixture followed by a split to on-line HRS and to MS. (2 and 4) On-line receptor and tracer ligand addition. (3 and 5) Reaction coils. (6). Fluorescence detection. P = HPLC pump. MS = Mass Spectrometer.
In our test case of tamoxifen, we used a HRS estrogen receptor (ER) assay. For determination of estrogenic activity, this on-line assay is based on the interaction between the ER and the native fluorescent ligand coumestrol, which shows fluorescence enhancement when bound to the active site of the ER. Estrogenic analytes injected into the HRS-system bind to the ER. Subsequently, the coumestrol added binds to the remaining free binding sites of the ER resulting in a profound fluorescence enhancement depending on already bound eluting estrogenic analytes thus providing an ideal means of detecting bioactive compounds. We could clearly analyze the complete metabolic profile with corresponding bioactive metabolites in a very sensitive, selective and rapid way. Consequently, clear pictures arise of the relative importance of ER affinities of the individual metabolites in time."
Read more about ongoing reaserch at the department of Analytical Sciences.
