Technology Forum: Software/LIMS
August 1st 2007This month's Technology Forum looks at the topic of Software/LIMS and the trends and issues surrounding it. Joining us for this discussion is Kim Shah, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Informatics at Thermo Fisher Scientific, John Helfrich Director of GMP Lab Automation Programs at VelQuest Corporation, and Donna Lococo, Enterprise Software Solutions Product Leader at PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences.
Glossary of Terms Related to Chromatographic Method Validation
August 1st 2007One issue that has become clear to us throughout courses, workshops, seminars, and various talks on the subject of method validation, is that while many people talk the language, sometimes the individual method validation terms mean different things to different people. While the actual protocols, or experimental details used to measure or evaluate method validation can vary, it's a good idea to have a common understanding of the underlying terms. In this month's installment of "Validation Viewpoint," we have compiled glossary of method validation terms as they pertain to chromatography.
Thar Instruments Completes the Acquisition of Berger SFC
July 2nd 2007Thar Instruments, a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) systems announced the acquisition of Berger SFC? division of METTLER TOLEDO. Berger SFC? is a pioneer in the development of SFC and a world leader in SFC Analysis and Purification.
Screening Acid-Base Constants by Capillary Electrophoresis
July 1st 2007The acid-base constants of the most frequently used antianginals (diltiazem, nadolol, propranolol and verapamil) were determined using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). This method is based on measuring the electrophoretic mobility of the solute as a function of pH. The buffer employed was composed of borate-phosphate buffered across the pH range of 3.0–11.2. The acid-base constants were determined by performing linear and non-linear regression on the data obtained. The results were compared with those reported in literature and with those obtained by a spectrophotometric method. After comparison of the values, no significant differences were observed between the three acid-base constants.
Electron-Capture Dissociation in a Radio-Frequency Linear Ion Trap
Here we describe a new compact device for electron-capture dissociation (ECD) analysis of large peptides and posttranslational modifications of proteins, which can be difficult to analyze via conventional dissociation techniques such as collision-induced dissociation (CID). The new compact device realizes ECD in a radio frequency (RF) linear ion trap equipped with a small permanent magnet, which is significantly different than the large and maintenance-intensive superconducting magnet required for conventional ECD in Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers. In addition to its compactness and ease of operation, an additional merit of an RF linear ion trap ECD is that its reaction speed is fast, comparable to CID, enabling data acquisition on the liquid-chromatography (LC) time scale. We interfaced the linear-trap ECD device to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to obtain ECD spectra of phosphorylated peptides injected into a liquid chromatograph, infused glycopeptides, and intact small..
FT–MS to Provide Novel Insight into Complex Samples
July 1st 2007More than 20 years passed after the introduction of Fourier transform–ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-MS) before advancements in electronics and computer technology enabled the development of practical, high-performance instruments. Modern analytical FT-MS instruments rely on sophisticated electronic circuitry and powerful computer software to achieve the dramatic resolving power and mass accuracy typical for the instrumentation. Here, the power of modern hybrid FT-MS instrumentation is discussed by demonstrating the capability of this instrumentation for selected applications such as the analysis of crude oil, intact protein, and fragile noncovalent complex samples.
Mass Spectrometry for Metabolomics: Addressing the Challenges
July 1st 2007Metabolomics is a developing analytical approach that is growing rapidly in importance as a tool to improve diagnosis and treatment of disease, as well as to speed up the drug development process. Unlike genomics or proteomics, which only reveal part of what might be happening in a cell, metabolomic profiling can give an instantaneous snapshot of the entire physiology of that cell. This article describes the challenges associated with metabolomics research and new tools developed to overcome them.
The Challenges of Changing Retention Times in GC–MS
July 1st 2007Reproducing analysis conditions is crucial to achieving consistent, accurate results in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Valid reproduction demands appropriate application of technique, solid method design, reliable and accurate equipment, and a dedicated team of well-practiced technicians and researchers. But even when all these conditions are met, users can be held back by the more subtle elements in GC–MS operations, such as cutting or changing a column, or setting up the same experiment on different equipment. Even getting the parameters of a test organized so that it can be reproduced elsewhere - in a laboratory across the hall, the country, or the world - can be daunting. Consistent GC–MS results depend upon retention-time reproducibility.
Key LC–MS Techniques Benefit Life Sciences Researchers
State-of-the-art mass spectrometry (MS) techniques of growing importance to life sciences research now include not just liquid chromatography (LC)–MSn (n = 2–11), but also LC–matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), LC-MALDI-TOF-TOF, electrospray ionization (ESI)-TOF, and LC-Fourier transform (FT) MS.