We mourn the passing of Professor Csaba Horváth April 13, 2004

Biochemical Engineering
Our research is aimed at the development of novel separation processes for biochemical substances.

We study high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE), two powerful techniques well suited to analyse complex mixtures. Further we develop novel applications for analytical biotechnology, bioprocess monitoring, quality control, and preparative and process-scale separations. We collaborate with scientists at Yale, at other academic institutions, and in industry.

Capillary Electrochromatography
Replacing pressure driven flow with electroosmotic flow in chromatography with packed capillary columns offers a new and powerful approach to combine the separating potential of HPLC and CE. Numerous tehnical problems have been solved, and now a new tool is emerging for the analysis of complex biological molecules: capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Separation efficiencies are expected to be one or two orders of magnitude higher than that of present chromatographic systems. To be successful, the new technique requires elucidation of the fundamental electrokinetic transport phenomena in porous media at high electric field strength; this is in the center of our research activities. Furthermore, novel solvents especially designed for use in CEC are needed to exploit the potential of the technique

Novel Separation Systems for Biopolymers
Based on our studies of the physico-chemical phenomena underlying the separation process, we have devised novel adsorbents by modifying the surfaces of microparticulate silica gel and polymeric supports. The sorbents are used in ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction and affinity chromatography.

Nonlinear Chromatography
Preparative/process-scale chromatography due to the high column loading is operated at concentrations that lie in the nonlinear region of the adsorption isotherms, e.g. displacement and frontal chromatography. We study these techniques theoretically, by computer simulation, and experimentally with regard to potential applications.

High Speed HPLC
Biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry require rapid analytical methods for process monitoring and for research. We have developed chromatographic technology for the separation of macromolecules on the time-scale of seconds by using novel column and instrument designs and by operating at high temperatures. With packed fused silica capillaries, temperature programming is used in lieu of gradient elution.

Molecular Chromatography and Electrophoresis
Besides being separations techniques, chromatography and electrophoresis are useful tools for the measurement of physico-chemical data of biochemical macromolecules. Our research is aimed at probing the interactions of biomacromolecules, such as proteins and peptides, and the development of quantitative structure/retention relationships.

Selected Publications

"Capillary electrophoresis of proteins," J. Zhang and Cs. Horváth, Electrophoresis, 24, 115-120 (2003). 

"Preparation of monodisperse porous polymethacrylate microspheres and their application in the capillary electrochromatography of macrolide antibiotics," S. Zhang, X. Huang, N. Yao, and Cs. Horváth, J. Chromatogr. A., 948, 193-201 (2002). 

"Selective enrichment of low-abundance peptides in complex mixtures by elution-modified displacement chromatography and their identification by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry,” J. Wilkins, R. Xiang, and Cs. Horváth, Anal. Chem., 74, 3933-3941 (2002).

"Capillary electrochromatography of proteins with polymer-based strong-cation-exchanger microspheres,” S. Zhang, J. Zhang, and Cs. Horváth, J. Chromatogr. A., 965, 83-92 (2002). 

Other publications

Biographical sketch

Updated: 8/5/03