SOLA Solid Phase Extraction products

Importance of the topic

Bioanalysis of complex biological matrices demands robust, sensitive and reproducible sample preparation workflows to achieve reliable quantification at low analyte levels and high throughput in regulated environments.

Objectives and overview

This summary examines the design and performance of Thermo Scientific SOLA fritless solid phase extraction (SPE) products. It focuses on how these devices address critical bioanalytical challenges such as sensitivity enhancement, low sample volume processing, reproducibility and streamlined workflows.

Methods and instrumentation

SOLA SPE uses an innovative fritless sorbent bed that integrates support material and active media into a solid, uniform phase. Available formats include 96-well plates and cartridges with chemistries for reversed-phase, strong/weak cation and anion exchange. Sample loading, washing and elution steps are optimized to concentrate analytes in minimal volumes. Downstream detection is performed by mass spectrometry to evaluate performance metrics.

Main results and discussion

• The fritless design prevents voiding and channeling, ensuring consistent flow and reducing blockages with viscous biological samples.
• Batch-to-batch and well-to-well reproducibility outperforms conventional SPE, sustaining stable performance across hundreds of injections.
• In a niflumic acid assay, loading 500 µL of plasma and eluting in 25 µL yielded a 20× concentration increase with precision under 1.3% RSD, recoveries of 90–94% and minimal matrix effects.
• For sample-limited assays, direct scale-down to 25 µL input achieved equivalent sensitivity and reproducibility (0.2–0.4% RSD) to traditional 250 µL protocols.
• Workflow studies with ibuprofen showed that a 200 µL sample loaded and eluted in 50 µL gave four-fold pre-concentration without evaporation steps, with 1.7–4.0% RSD and 90–95% recovery.

Benefits and practical applications

• Superior sensitivity through large-volume loading and minimal elution volumes supports lower limits of quantification.
• Reduced sample volume requirements are advantageous for scarce or precious specimens.
• Elimination of dry-down and reconstitution simplifies workflows, saving time and preserving analyte integrity.
• High reproducibility enhances data consistency for regulated bioanalytical laboratories.

Future trends and potential uses

Integration of fritless SPE technology into automated and microfluidic platforms, coupled with next-generation mass spectrometry and microsampling techniques, is expected to further enhance sensitivity, throughput and applicability in areas such as therapeutic drug monitoring, metabolomics and high-content screening.

Conclusion

Thermo Scientific SOLA fritless SPE products deliver a robust, reproducible and high-throughput approach to bioanalytical sample preparation. By combining increased sensitivity, low sample volume handling and streamlined workflows, they address key industry needs in clinical research and regulated analysis.

Reference

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