Hilkka Kenttamaa

Title:

Frank Brown Distinguished Professor

PhD Granting Institution:

Purdue

Contact:

Email Address: hilkka@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 765-494-0882
Lab Website Link: https://www.chem.purdue.edu/people/profile/hilkka

Primary Training Group:

Chemical Biology

Research Areas:

We are interested in various aspects of organic and bioorganic mass spectrometry. The focus areas include fundamental understanding of gas-phase ion chemistry and structural characterization of molecules.

Current Projects:

Mass spectrometry provides a powerful tool for the analysis of organic and biomolecules. Chemical ionization methods are developed for (1) distinction of isomeric compounds, (2) structural characterization of complex molecules, such as drug metabolites and peptides, and (3) examination of the composition of complex mixtures, especially degraded biomass intended for conversion to biofuels. Laser-based methods are developed for evaporation of intact neutral biopolymers into mass spectrometers. Mass spectrometry allows the direct examination of organic and biological reaction intermediates that are difficult to study by other experimental approaches. The information obtained on the molecules' intrinsic properties provides the basis for understanding of their behavior in solution. This work includes the design of gas-phase synthesis strategies, kinetic and thermochemical studies, and molecular orbital calculations on aromatic radicals and biradicals, nucleotide radical cations and peptide radical cations. The knowledge obtained in these studies aids the understanding of DNA and protein degradation by antitumor drugs and UV irradiation.

Importance of Interdisciplinary Research:

Most of our projects involve interdisciplinary research with pharmaceutical industry, specialists in machine learning, chemical engineers, and biologists.