Analytical to Preparative Scale-up System Nexera ASAPrep

Significance of the topic

Efficient compound purification is a critical step in chemical synthesis workflows to achieve the required purity for research, development, and quality control. Preparative liquid chromatography (LC) addresses this need but often demands specialized expertise and lengthy method development. Automated scale-up systems like Nexera ASAPrep aim to streamline this process by integrating analytical and preparative steps, reducing user intervention and accelerating purification timelines.

Objectives and overview of the article

This article introduces the Nexera ASAPrep system, designed to bridge analytical screening and preparative purification. Key goals include:

• Demonstrating an algorithm that assesses preparative separation difficulty from analytical data.
• Showing how intuitive software supports both novices and experts.
• Detailing the hardware components that enable seamless scale-up.

Methodology and instrumentation

The Nexera ASAPrep workflow is divided into two phases:

• Screening Analysis: Conducted on a Nexera XR coupled with LCMS-2050, using PDA and MS detection under acidic and basic mobile-phase conditions. Automated evaluation rates each sample’s separation as Pass, Check, or Fail.
• Purification Analysis: Executed on a Nexera Prep with LCMS-2050. The system imports screening results and applies a focused-gradient scale-up algorithm to generate an optimized preparative method.

Hardware and software components:

• Nexera XR analytical module
• Nexera Prep preparative unit
• LCMS-2050 mass spectrometer
• Shim-pack Scepter C18 columns for wide pH resistance
• Open Solution software for data sharing and remote control

Key results and discussion

Screening under both acidic and basic conditions generated UV chromatograms for model mixtures, enabling automatic difficulty classification. The embedded algorithm then produced preparative gradients that matched analytical retention profiles. In purification trials, target compounds such as vanillin, indomethacin, and bifonazole were isolated with recoveries up to 58 % and consistent purity levels. The intuitive UI allowed method transfer with minimal parameter adjustments.

Benefits and practical applications

The ASAPrep system offers:

• Automated assessment of separation complexity, reducing trial-and-error.
• Seamless method transfer from micro-scale screening to preparative runs.
• Time savings through preset method templates and minimal manual setup.
• Accessibility for users with varying levels of chromatographic expertise.

Applications extend to medicinal chemistry, natural product isolation, and QA/QC labs where rapid high-purity compound production is needed.

Future trends and possibilities

Further developments may include:

• Integration of machine-learning models for more accurate scale-up predictions.
• Expanded support for diverse column chemistries and solvent systems.
• Remote diagnostics and cloud-based method sharing across multiple laboratories.
• Automated decision-making for multi-dimensional separations.

Conclusion

The Nexera ASAPrep platform combines a unique algorithm, flexible hardware, and user-friendly software to automate the transition from analytical screening to preparative purification. By reducing manual tuning and incorporating difficulty assessment, it streamlines workflows, cuts operational time, and democratizes preparative LC for broader laboratory use.

References

Shimadzu Corporation. Nexera ASAPrep Automated Scale-Up System Application Note. First Edition July 2025. C190-E331.