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A4-IL: NOVEL HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND RAPID BIOANALYTICAL ASSAYS FOR FOOD SAFETY
Mladen Franko, Ana Čevdek, Sara Budal, Aleš Boškin
Laboratory of Environmental Research, University of Nova Gorica,
P.O.B. 301, SI-5001 Nova Gorica, Slovenia, mladen.franko@ung.si
Abstract
The need for sensitive, selective and rapid analytical methods in food quality and safety control has recently resulted in development of novel techniques and methods, which are based on application of bioanalytical assays and their combination with flow injection analysis and highly sensitive spectrometric methods such as thermal lens spectrometry. In this paper the most recent applications of thermal lens spectrometry in bioanalytical assays for detection of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, allergens and biogenic amines in foodstuffs will be presented.
Mladen Franko, is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nova Gorica, where he currently serves as the Vice-president for education and Director of the Graduate study course in Environmental Sciences.
His current research interests and expertise include: development and application of new analytical methods based on laser photothermal spectroscopy for detection of heavy metals and their species and organic compounds following chromatographic separation and FIA; development of new biosensors and laser detection techniques for determination of toxic and essential compounds in environmental and biological samples; photochemical degradation of organic environmental pollutants, and remote sensing and studies of atmospheric pollution by traffic, fireplaces and energy production.
His research achievements are reported in over 80 papers in refereed international journals and 5 book chapters. In addition he presented over 30 invited lectures at international conferences and meetings, universities and other institutions. For his scientific achievements in analytical chemistry he was awarded the “Zois Prize” - State Award for Science of the Republic of Slovenia in 2005.
Since 2004 he serves as the Vice-president of the Slovenian Chemical Society and as an Associate editor of Acta Chimica Slovenica.
Mladen Franko lectured undergraduate and graduate courses on Chemistry, Fundamentals of Environmental Science, Remote Sensing, Analytical Instrumentation, Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology at University of Nova Gorica, University of Ljubljana, University of Turin (Italy), and China University of Geosciences in Wuhan.
In addition to his notable scientific record and teaching experience, prof. Franko is highly experienced in the field of higher education, since he was responsible for the preparation of different level study programs in Environmental Science at the University of Nova Gorica, as well as for their reorganization according to Bologna guidelines, and still is a member of various committees at the Council of higher education of the Republic of Slovenia.
