Shimadzu LC Systems: Nexera-i and Prominence-i, i-Series Plus

Importance of the Topic

Liquid chromatography remains a cornerstone technique in pharmaceutical, food, environmental and industrial analysis. The ability to develop robust methods and to transfer them seamlessly across HPLC and UHPLC platforms addresses key challenges in method development, validation, regulatory compliance and high-throughput quality control. Integrated systems that combine method scouting, automated pretreatment and condition transfer tools improve laboratory productivity and data comparability.

Objectives and Article Overview

This article presents the features and performance of the Shimadzu i-Series Plus, an integrated liquid chromatography platform designed to streamline:

• Rapid method development via automated scouting
• HPLC/UHPLC method transfer using ACTO software
• Automated sample pretreatment (dilution, reagent addition, co-injection)
• High-throughput analysis with minimal manual intervention

The paper illustrates these capabilities through case studies on pharmaceutical impurity profiling, antibiotic method migration, sugar and amino acid analyses, and screening applications in food safety.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The i-Series Plus integrates key components into a compact footprint:

• Quaternary solvent delivery with a 10 µL micro plunger and optional reservoir switching
• Autosampler with automated pretreatment functions: dilution, reagent addition, co-injection
• Column oven (up to 90 °C) accommodating long and multiple columns
• Detectors: UV/VIS, photodiode array (PDA), fluorescence, refractive index
• Software tools:
  
  • ACTO (Analytical Condition Transfer and Optimization) for gradient timing adjustment and method migration
  • Method Scouting System for automated evaluation of up to six columns and four mobile phases
  • LabSolutions data browser for multi-data comparison and report generation

Columns and consumables support method development: Shim-pack GIS (high-purity silica), GIST (pH 1–10, durable), GISS (high speed, LC/MS-compatible) series.

Main Results and Discussion

Key performance highlights demonstrated include:

• ACTO-assisted retention time alignment reduced differences by up to 3 % across systems without pipeline modification.
• Automated UHPLC-to-HPLC method conversion yielded equivalent separation for a cephem antibiotic, with parameters exported directly to LabSolutions.
• Method scouting enabled screening of multiple gradient programs and column/mobile-phase combinations, accelerating separation optimization.
• Automated pretreatment operations delivered accurate sample dilutions and derivatizations for sugar and amino acid assays, with system suitability tests meeting USP criteria.
• Dual-temperature control (flow cell and TC-Optics) improved baseline stability (<1.3 mAU fluctuation) and reduced carryover to 0.0025 %.
• Injection volume linearity (0.5–100 µL) and reproducibility (<0.03 % RSD at 100 µL) supported direct analysis of concentrated or scarce samples.
• System-to-system reproducibility across three units achieved RSDs below 0.07 % for retention time and 0.06 % for peak area.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The i-Series Plus offers laboratories:

• Seamless method migration between instrument platforms and vendors, supporting USP <621> compliance.
• Streamlined workflow from scouting through QC, reducing manual transfers and errors.
• High-temperature capability for sugar analysis and flexibility to accommodate long or multiple columns.
• Automated sample handling that minimizes operator variability and enhances throughput.
• Real-time chromatogram display and remote monitoring via smart devices for improved operational oversight.
• Expandable detection options for diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, food safety, environmental and bioanalysis.

Emerging Trends and Future Directions

Future developments in integrated LC systems may focus on:

• Advanced AI-driven method optimization to further reduce experimental cycles.
• Deeper integration with mass spectrometry interfaces for targeted quantitation without hardware modifications.
• Enhanced remote control and cloud-based data analytics for decentralized laboratories.
• Expanded libraries of pre-validated methods and consumable kits tailored to specific industries.
• Continuous flow and microfluidic interfaces for ultra-high throughput and minimal solvent consumption.

Conclusion

The Shimadzu i-Series Plus demonstrates that integrated liquid chromatography, combining automated scouting, condition transfer and pretreatment functions, can significantly improve the efficiency, reproducibility and scalability of method development and routine analysis. Its compact design, robust performance and software-driven flexibility make it a versatile platform for modern analytical laboratories.

Reference

No external literature references were provided in the original text.