Research Interests: Analytical and Bioanalytical Separations, Surfactants, Ionic Liquids, and Capillary Electrophoresis.

Our research addresses the difficulties associated with the separation and quantitation of molecules with biological and/or medicinal significance. This is done by developing new bioanalytical separation methods, with a particular emphasis on the utility of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV or laser-induced fluorescence detection. The molecules of interest include biomarkers of disease e.g. proteins and peptides, cell signaling molecules such as lipids, and chiral drugs.

Another aspect of our research focuses on the development of new capillary coating materials and procedures for coating capillary and microchip separation surfaces to minimize analyte-wall interactions and suppress electroosmotic fluid flow (EOF). New coating materials and technologies are crucial for the separation of molecules that have a high tendency of adsorbing on the capillary wall. The molecules of interest include environmental pollutants such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and biomolecules such as proteins and lipids.

In addition, we are interested in the application of green chemistry in separation by utilizing ionic liquids as buffer additives or as the background electrolyte in CE.

Our research takes place at the interface between analytical, organic, and biochemistry. Therefore, students who work on these projects have the opportunity to learn to communicate and collaborate across these disciplines. Students are encouraged to present their research work at regional and national conferences, and are given opportunities to collaborate with researchers at other institutions.

Selected Publications:

Mwongela, Simon M; Lee, Katherine; Sims, Christopher; Allbritton, Nancy L. “Separation of fluorescent phosphatidyl inositol phosphates by capillary electrophoresis”. Electrophoresis, 2007, 28, 1235 – 1242.

Mwongela, Simon M.; Siminialayi, Noreen; Fletcher, Kristin A.; Warner, Isiah M. “A comparison of ionic liquids to molecular organic solvents as additives for chiral separations in micellar electrokinetic chromatography”. Journal of Separation Science, 2007, 30, 1334 – 1342.

Mwongela, Simon M.; Synthesis, characterization, and application of polymeric surfactants in micellar electrokinetic chromatography: Use of ionic liquids as modifiers. CAN 144:44645, 2005, 180 pp.

Mwongela, S. M., Akbay, C., Zhu, X., Collins, S.; Warner, I. M., “Use of polysodium oleyl- L -leucylvalinate surfactant for the separation of chiral compounds in micellar electrokinetic chromatography” Electrophoresis, 2003, 24, 2940-2947.

Mwongela, S. M., Numan, A., Gill, N. L., Agbaria, R. A., Warner, I. M., “Separation of Achiral and Chiral Compounds Using Polymeric Surfactants and Ionic Liquids as Modifiers in Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography.” Anal. Chem., 2003, 75(22), 6089-6096.