Christopher Harrison, Ph.D.

Pronouns: Christopher
Associate Professor of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Senate Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Department of Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
College of Sciences

SDSU

Email

Primary Email: [email protected]

Building/Location

Geology Mathematics Computer Science - 213E
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA 92182

Bio

The Harrison Lab is interested in exploring and expanding the capabilities of capillary electrophoresis for conducting chemical and biochemical analyses. Exploring capillary electrophoretic (CE) separations is a large part of our research. By learning how the modifications we make to our sample buffer, or how additives can alter the capillary surface, we can find new ways of conducting separations of complex mixtures. Much of our work has focused on exploring how biologically inspired phospholipid bilayers can be used, and tweaked, to alter the electroosmotic flow in a CE separation, and to prevent protein adsorption. More recently we have been exploring how deep eutectic solvents can be employed in the CE separation buffer to yield unique separations that are unattainable with conventional aqueous buffers. Applications of CE separations are also a focus of our lab, often informed by our exploration of how to manipulate separation conditions. We have explored how CE separations can be used to identify blood doping in athletes, both by looking at blood proteins, as well as whole blood cells. We have also been exploring how CE separations can be applicable to the search for chemical evidence of past life on planets like Mars.

Areas of Specialization

Analytical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Capillary Electrophoresis

Research

Research Focus

The Harrison Lab is interested in exploring and expanding the capabilities of capillary electrophoresis for conducting chemical and biochemical analyses. Capillary electrophoretic (CE) separations at their simplest are separation of ionic analytes, based on their charge to size ratio, in a thin glass capillary, with a voltage difference from one end to the other. stored blood vs. fresh blood CE scanThis generalization however belies the complexity of how the solution and analytes move through this capillary, as well as the various interactions that occur at the interface of the capillary and the buffer solution.

Exploring CE separations is a large part of the research that is being undertaken in the Harrison Lab. By learning how the modifications we make to our sample buffer, or how additives can alter the capillary surface, we can find new ways of conducting separations of complex mixtures. Much of our work has focused on exploring how biologically inspired phospholipid bilayers can be used, and tweaked, to alter the electroosmotic flow in a CE separation, and to prevent protein adsorption. More recently we have been exploring how deep eutectic solvents can be employed in the CE separation buffer to yield unique separations that are unattainable with conventional aqueous buffers.

Deep Eutectic Solvent Reaction Media and DES Based Amino Acid Labelling

Applications of CE separations are also a focus of the Harrison Lab, often informed by our exploration of how to manipulate separation conditions. We have explored how CE separations can be used to identify blood doping in athletes, both by looking at blood proteins, as well as whole blood cells. WE have also been exploring how CE separations can be applicable to the search for chemical evidence of past life on planets like Mars

Head over to the Harrison Lab group page to learn more about our current endeavors.