Anal Bioanal Chem (2005) 383: 1030–1031 DOI 10.1007/s00216-005-0135-1

BOOKS AN D SOFTWARE IN REV IEW

Thomas Lazar

Susan R. Mikkelsen, Eduardo Corton: Bioanalytical Chemistry

Published online: 1 November 2005 # Springer-Verlag 2005

Bibliography Bioanalytical Chemistry S. R. Mikkelsen, E. Corton John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 0-471-54447-7 Hardcover, 361 pages, 2004, £19.00

Book’s topic Bioanalytical chemistry is a rather loose term under which methods are compiled that are used to analyze samples of biological origin. A sharp distinction between bioanalytical and other fields of analytical chemistry is almost impossible to derive and in any case would be undesirable. By convention and practical use, the term has come to be understood to summarize methods that target metabolites and macromolecules found in biological matrices but also xenochemicals which by accident or design have found their way into living organisms. Bioanalytical chemistry includes methods of separation and chemical characterization, often used in sequential combination. Individual methods might be physical or chemical in their respective nature. However, distinctions often drawn between chemical and biochemical are rather artificial and should be avoided. Methods under the umbrella of bioanalytical chemistry are of considerable and increasing importance not only in biochemistry but also in food chemistry, biotechnology and clinical chemistry settings. T. Lazar (*) Auf dem Bieleken 27, 33104 Paderborn, Germany e-mail: [email protected]

Contents The body of the book’s text is divided into sixteen chapters, starting without any ado or general introduction with a chapter on spectroscopic methods of matrix characterization, followed by three chapters on various aspects of enzymes. Enzymes, which are widely used both as specific, sensitive probes in bioanalytical chemistry and as versatile unspecific reporters are addressed in general, followed by a discussion of quantitation of enzyme activity, and concluded by a chapter on immobilized enzymes. Antibodies and immunoassays are discussed in the next two chapters. Having introduced the main highsensitivity probes of the field, biosensors come quite naturally as a sequel. A chapter on the timely topic of targeted in vitro evolution of macromolecules aimed at providing new analytical specificities ends what may be perceived as the first half of the book. The chapters that follow discuss in detail various widespread methods of separation techniques with an emphasis on the ubiquitous electrophoretic techniques: the authors devote four chapters on such matters as zone electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis and isoelectric focussing. Centrifugation, chromatography and mass spectrometry are also covered . A chapter on the important topic of method validation concludes the treatise. Comparison with existing literature As a methods book on methods specifically used for targeting biomolecules, Bioanalytical Chemistry is rather unique and unrivalled by a strong competitor covering exactly the same topic. Of course monographs exist on each of the topics covered by Mikkelsen and Corton, but these are mostly aimed at specialists involved in pushing a given method to its limits and/or method development. Bioanalytical Chemistry has been written for student instruction at a basic level. Books on biochemical methodology are galore but to my knowledge none of them specifically address analytical techniques or methods from a distinctly analytical point of view. Critical assessment Bioanalytical Chemistry has been designed to accompany undergraduates’ training in biochemical and/or analytical chemistry. Owing to its bal-

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anced treatise with a bias towards analytical questions, it is suitable not only for biochemical courses but especially so for courses in analytical chemistry, too. Rather than being a surrogate designed for another aim but used because nothing better is at hand, analytical chemists now have a rather comprehensive treatment to suit their specific needs better than ordinary volumes on biochemical methodology. The book is well suited to accompany a practical course introducing bioanalytical methods in real life. All methods are derived from first principles; apprentices only need a background in general chemistry to make good use of this volume. The only weak spot I found was the necessarily more than brief introduction to the immune system opening the chapter on antibodies. Students wishing to grasp the details of the adaptive immune response will want to consult other sources in addition. It can be clearly felt that the authors are on unfamiliar ground here. This is not the case in all other chapters that usually give a concise, yet very lucid description of the principles underlying the analytical method under discussion. Adopters of this text may, of course, put their own emphasis elsewhere, going deeper into their favourite method’s potential and limitations. As the chapters of the book are independent from each other, it is easy to adopt the text by skipping certain topics, for instance if instrumentation needed to

carry out a certain technique is unavailable. Problems and an appendix with solutions for are included with each chapter. Readership recommendation The book is primarily aimed at undergraduate students for initial training in bioanalytical chemistry. Practitioners who would like or need to update themselves on the topic in general or on specific methods but lack the time to consult full-size monographs will profit from the condensed, streamlined introductions, too. The book’s discussion provides enough background to enable users to employ the respective methods during their own work, at least on a normal, standard-situation level. Summary Bioanalytical Chemistry is a valuable addition to the analytical literature. It covers topics not usually covered in equal depth in standard textbooks of analytical chemistry. It is at an intermediate level, suitable for advanced undergraduates and higher. It is a textbook rather than a protocol book; it teaches principles rather than detailing step-by-step procedures to be followed. Its contents nicely complement existing and widely used standard textbooks, continuing where they stop.