EVOLUTE EXPRESS User Guide (Load-Wash-Elute SPE)

Importance of SPE in Analytical Workflows

Solid phase extraction (SPE) remains a cornerstone in sample preparation for bioanalysis, clinical toxicology, food safety and environmental testing. Efficient SPE protocols reduce matrix interferences such as proteins and phospholipids, enhance method sensitivity and throughput, and ensure reproducible results in LC–MS/MS and other analytical platforms.

Objectives and Overview of EVOLUTE EXPRESS

The EVOLUTE EXPRESS user guide introduces Biotage’s polymer-based SPE sorbents designed to simplify method development and routine analysis. The product family comprises five chemistries—ABN, CX, WCX, AX and WAX—tailored for neutral, acidic or basic analytes. Standardized Load–Wash–Elute protocols eliminate conditioning and equilibration steps, accelerating sample processing by up to 30%.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• EVOLUTE EXPRESS Chemistries: Non-polar polystyrene-divinylbenzene backbones modified with hydroxyl, sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid or amine groups to introduce mixed-mode retention.
• Load–Wash–Elute Workflow: Three-step SPE without conditioning or equilibration; optimized wash solvents remove salts, proteins and phospholipids.
• Pore Size Design: Narrow pore distribution excludes plasma proteins and reduces phospholipid carry-over in final extracts.
• Instrumentation: Automated and manual options include Biotage Extrahera™, PRESSURE+ positive pressure manifolds, VacMaster™ vacuum systems and SPE Dry 96 concentrators with ACT plate adapter.
• 2 pH Unit Rule: Adjust sample pH at least two units from analyte pKa for optimal non-polar or ionic retention and elution.

Main Results and Discussion

Optimized protocols demonstrate >98% removal of proteins and phospholipids, faster flow rates and reproducible recoveries for a wide range of analytes. Mixed-mode sorbents enable selective fractionation and cleaner extracts for basic analytes (CX, WCX) and acidic analytes (AX, WAX). Case studies show tunable wash and elution conditions to target strongly or weakly retained compounds.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Time Savings: Simplified workflows reduce processing time by approximately 30% for 96 samples.
• Enhanced Sensitivity: Cleaner extracts lower matrix effects in LC–MS/MS, improving quantification.
• Versatility: Available formats include 96-well plates, 1–6 mL tabless columns and on-line cartridges.
• Robustness: pH resistance and built-in protein exclusion ensure reproducible performance across diverse matrices.

Future Trends and Applications

Integration with high-throughput robotic platforms, on-line SPE–LC coupling and expansion into novel sorbent chemistries will drive further automation and scalability. Continued development of selective extraction methods for emerging contaminants and biotherapeutics is anticipated.

Conclusion

Biotage EVOLUTE EXPRESS SPE products deliver streamlined, robust and reproducible sample cleanup across a broad analyte spectrum, meeting modern analytical laboratories’ demands for high throughput, sensitivity and reliability.