Meeting EU Drinking Water Standards: The Critical Role of Sample Prep in Trace Contaminant Analysis

<p><strong>Although modern agriculture needs to be based on accurate real-time data on soil, plant, and environmental conditions, affordable, sufficiently sensitive, and robust monitoring devices for this purpose are currently missing. According to scientists, low-cost sensors based on new smart materials and printing technologies offer a suitable solution. The results of multidisciplinary research thus far and proposals for the development of these devices have been presented by researchers from Czechia, Great Britain, Spain, and the USA in a review article in the prestigious journal </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68778-6#Abs1"><i><strong>Nature Communications</strong></i></a><strong>.</strong></p><p>“<i>Sensor technologies for monitoring plant health are still in their infancy. Only simple sensors capable of monitoring basic parameters such as pH, soil moisture, or temperature are commonly available on the market. However, if farmers are to face current challenges, including climate change, and ensure sufficient food for humanity, they need much more effective tools that will enable them to monitor, for example, various pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. In our opinion, a suitable solution is a combination of new smart materials and printing for the production of inexpensive, durable, and scalable materials</i>,” said the article’s first author, <strong>David Panáček</strong> from CATRIN, who worked on the study during his internship at Imperial College London.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg" alt="CATRIN: David Panáček" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1536" height="1152"></p><p>Sensors for monitoring plant health, for example, lag behind similar devices used in human medicine. According to the authors, advances in materials science, which will enable the development of scalable sensor technologies, play a key role in this potential shift. “<i>Printing techniques, including inkjet printing, screen printing, aerosol printing, 3D printing, and direct laser writing, offer flexible ways to produce flexible sensors, large-area sensors, and sensors integrated directly into plants. The review article summarizes recent advances in printable low-dimensional materials for agricultural sensors, analyzes their physico-chemical properties in relation to sensor performance, and discusses key challenges and future opportunities requiring interdisciplinary integration</i>,” said one of the corresponding authors, <strong>Michal Otyepka</strong>.</p><p>The research brought together materials scientists, chemists, biologists, sensing experts, and printing technology specialists. Materials research and the use of graphene-based smart materials were led by scientists from CATRIN at Palacký University and VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava. Plant biologists from CATRIN contributed their knowledge of plant development, their responses to stress conditions, and the monitoring of their properties. Researchers from Imperial College London took care of the electronics, while representatives from<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/36"><strong> CEITEC – VUT</strong></a> focused on printing technologies. The team also included leading experts in sensing from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Barcelona, and Joseph Wang of the University of California San Diego, the “father of sensing and electrochemistry,” also contributed his extensive knowledge.</p><p>“<i>This is a groundbreaking study on this topic, which has managed to attract some truly big names in their respective fields. Last but not least, the study demonstrates that interdisciplinarity at CATRIN gives rise to completely new and promising research topics, such as plant sensing and its use for studying plant-environment interactions and smart agriculture,</i>” added another corresponding author, <strong>Nuria De Diego</strong>.</p>

Current sensors are not good enough. Scientists propose a new way to monitor plant health

<p><strong>In this episode of the Concentrating on Chromatography podcast, host David Oliva interviews Ainslie Chen about her cutting-edge research on hemoglobin variant testing using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS). Ainslie discusses her novel method for separating and identifying hemoglobin subunits with mass shifts less than 1 Da, overcoming critical limitations in conventional clinical assays.</strong></p><p>Hear firsthand how her team developed an LC-HR-MS workflow using a C4 reversed-phase column, tackled technical challenges (including why C18 columns fell short), and achieved unprecedented sensitivity for variant detection in both adult and neonatal samples. The conversation touches on the potential of mass spectrometry to revolutionize clinical diagnostics, the importance of reproducibility, barriers to adoption in routine labs, and how teamwork drives scientific innovation.</p><p>Perfect for analytical chemists, clinical laboratorians, and anyone interested in the future of protein variant analysis, this episode also features Ainslie’s advice for early-career scientists and insights from her first ACS poster presentation.</p><h4><strong>Key Highlights:</strong></h4><ul><li>Motivation behind improving hemoglobinopathy testing &nbsp;</li><li>Technical advantages of LC-HR-MS over gene sequencing and CE &nbsp;</li><li>The crucial role of the C4 column in resolving challenging samples &nbsp;</li><li>Critical parameters for reproducible LC-HR-MS workflows &nbsp;</li><li>Barriers and outlook for clinical adoption of advanced mass spectrometry &nbsp;</li><li>The value of teamwork and mentorship in scientific research &nbsp;</li><li>Direct insights from recent ACS conference experiences</li></ul><h3><strong>Video transcription</strong></h3><p>In this interview, <strong>Ainslie Chen</strong> discusses her research on improving the detection and identification of hemoglobin variants using <strong>liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)</strong>. The work addresses limitations of conventional hemoglobinopathy testing, which often struggles to resolve very small mass differences between closely related hemoglobin subunits. Because even a single amino-acid substitution can significantly alter hemoglobin structure and function, high analytical resolution is essential for accurate diagnosis of conditions such as anemia and sickle cell disease.</p><p>Chen explains why her team selected LC-HRMS over established clinical techniques like <strong>capillary electrophoresis</strong> and <strong>gene sequencing</strong>. While sequencing offers excellent accuracy, it is time-consuming, costly, and requires extensive sample preparation, making it impractical for routine clinical workflows. Capillary electrophoresis enables subunit separation but lacks the resolving power needed to distinguish variants differing by less than one Dalton. In contrast, high-resolution mass spectrometry provides both structural specificity and sensitivity, enabling confident identification of subtle hemoglobin variants with minimal sample preparation.</p><p>A key methodological insight from the project was the use of a <strong>C4 reversed-phase LC column</strong> instead of the more common C18 column. Chen describes how the shorter carbon chain and larger pore size of C4 columns improved protein elution and reduced denaturation, leading to more reproducible separations. Critical parameters for reproducibility included consistent mobile-phase composition (0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile), controlled temperature (60 °C for LC, ~320 °C capillary temperature), and stable chromatographic conditions.</p><p>Beyond hemoglobin analysis, Chen highlights the broader potential of high-resolution mass spectrometry in <strong>proteoform analysis</strong> and clinical diagnostics, including emerging applications in cancer detection. She acknowledges current barriers to clinical adoption—such as energy demands and instrument infrastructure—but points to advances like <strong>miniaturized mass spectrometers</strong> as promising steps toward wider use. The interview concludes with advice for young scientists: don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors, embrace collaboration, and view analytical chemistry as a versatile tool that bridges medicine, biology, environmental science, and beyond.</p><blockquote><p><strong>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><h4><strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</strong></h4><p>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!</p><p>You can find <strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast </strong>in podcast apps:</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL"><strong>Spotify</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185"><strong>Apple podcast</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography"><strong>podscan</strong></a></li></ul><p>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos"><strong>YouTube channel</strong></a></p></blockquote>

Unlocking Hemoglobin Variant Detection: LC-HR-MS Breakthrough with Ainslie Chen

Article

Video

Environment

Scientific article

Interview

Science and research

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University is a cutting-edge scientific hub dedicated to advancing research in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and biomedicine. At its core, CATRIN boasts outstanding scientific teams, featuring international researchers. We emphasize interdisciplinarity, foster global collaborations, and work to translate our research findings into practical applications.

CATRIN

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

Organomation

Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library

mzCloud is a high-resolution, accurate-mass MSⁿ spectral library that helps identify unknown compounds when no reference standards are available, especially in complex studies.

<div colctrl-id="1-1"><div><div container-id="cq-colctrl-lt8" comp-id="B1"><div><h3><strong>Confident identification for unknown small molecules</strong></h3></div></div><div container-id="cq-colctrl-lt8" comp-id="B2"><div><p><strong>Mass spectral libraries and databases may be required to identify unknown compounds when reference standards are not available. This is particularly true for studies in areas such as metabolomics, forensic toxicology, food &amp; beverage, environmental emerging contaminants or extractables &amp; leachables.</strong></p></div></div></div></div><div><p>In these situations, a mass spectral library, particularly a high-resolution and accurate-mass MS<sup>n</sup> fragmentation library, such as the mzCloud mass spectral library, can provide the information required to confidently identify unknown compounds.</p><h3><strong>Key benefits</strong></h3><h5><strong>Confidence for unknown identification</strong></h5><p>Comprehensive curation of all library content with extensive, fully annotated and searchable fragmentation spectra to provide confidence in your results.</p><h5><strong>Know more unknowns&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>Identify unknowns with automated deconvolution and library searching against extensive fragmentation spectra covering a wide chemical space, including small molecule applications.</p><h5><strong>From spectra to structure&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>With solutions to cover infusion or LC-MS, nominal or high-resolution data, you can be sure that your MS<sup>n</sup> spectra will provide you with actionable results, even when there is no spectral library match.</p><h5><strong>Flexibility for research and routine applications</strong></h5><p>Search for free online at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.mzcloud.org/" aria-label="mzCloud.org - open in a new tab" data-uw-rm-ext-link="" uw-rm-external-link-id="http://www.mzcloud.org/$mzcloud.org"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">mzCloud.org</span></a>, or directly access through the Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer and Mass Frontier software packages. Not online? mzVault provides you with the ability to perform offline spectral library searching.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1398/1002;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_ecc79fe9bf.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library: mzCloud is easily and freely accessed online. Anyone can search, review, and use its extensive information. Note that the numbers above were correct at time of publication. For the most up to date numbers visit mzCloud.org." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_ecc79fe9bf.jpg 218w," sizes="100vw" width="1398" height="1002"></figure><h3><strong>What is in the mzCloud mass spectral library?</strong></h3><div style="height:auto;" id="whatismzcloud"><div><div><div><div><p>mzCloud is an extensively curated, high-quality mass spectral fragmentation library that contains significant amounts of spectra and metadata for each entry. Each entry also includes exhaustive high-resolution <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/cz/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-lc-ms/lc-ms-software/mass-spectral-libraries/mzcloud-mass-spectral-library.html?open=multi-stage-fragmentation#multi-stage-fragmentation">MS/MS and multi-stage MS<sup>n</sup> spectra</a>, which have been acquired at various collision energies and using different fragmentation techniques.</p><p><strong>Each raw mass spectrum</strong> has been filtered to remove noise, recalibrated to ensure absolute mass accuracy, fully annotated and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/cz/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-lc-ms/lc-ms-software/mass-spectral-libraries/mzcloud-mass-spectral-library.html?open=content-curation#content-curation">curated</a> to ensure quality and consistency.</p><p>Finally, the contents of the library are <strong>updated weekly</strong> to provide coverage of a wide chemical space, ensuring relevance to all small-molecule application areas.</p></div><div><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:740/410;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_2_77a6795676.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library: Example of the Mass Frontier software utilizing the contents of mzCloud to identify an unknown compound through a sub-structural search; the experimental fragmentation spectrum (top left) is searched against the mzCloud mass spectral database, with corresponding spectral hits shown in a given spectral tree (top, middle), with supporting spectral information (bottom left) and the identified precursor structure from the matched fragmentation spectra (bottom right), and the library compound structure from which the fragment originated (top right)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_2_77a6795676.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="740" height="410"></figure></div><div><p>Distinguishing among types of databases is important, as the contents and quality of the contents typically differs significantly and may have an impact upon the reliability of the data and the confidence in any results obtained.</p><ul><li><strong>Chemical database</strong>: A collection of chemical information with, at minimum, a name and a formula. It may also include structures, elemental composition, retention time information, and additional biological or chemical metadata.</li><li><strong>Accurate-mass (AM) database</strong>: An AM database contains accurate mass formulas.</li><li><strong>Accurate-mass retention-time (AMRT) database</strong>: An AMRT database contains accurate mass and retention time(s) for specific analytical methods.</li><li><strong>Library</strong>: A library is a database (AM or AMRT) that, in addition to the above, also contains reference mass spectral data, MS/MS, and/or MS<sup>n</sup> data on compounds.</li></ul><h3><strong>Multi-stage fragmentation in the mzCloud mass spectral library</strong></h3><div style="height:auto;" id="multistagefragmentation"><div><div><div><div><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:740/420;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_3_792a9d9a59.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library: A schematic representation of a spectral tree within mzCloud. The MS spectra are acquired for a given compound in multiple polarities (ESI +/-), and for a range of adducts. Each precursor is exhaustively fragmented using different fragmentation techniques (CID, HCD) and at multiple collision energies to produce collections of fragmentation spectra at each fragmentation level (MS2, MS3, MS4 etc.), generating a comprehensive spectral tree of information for each library entry." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_3_792a9d9a59.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="740" height="420"></figure><p>mzCloud is an<strong> all-encompassing mass spectral library </strong>with content based on a wide chemical space (therefore covering all small-molecule application areas), and acquiring high-resolution and accurate-mass data at various collision energies, for multiple adducts, using CID and HCD. Approximately 10–20 collision energies are included for every precursor ion; this multi-stage, multidimensional MS<sup>n</sup> spectral data are arranged into spectral trees, which are both extensive and comprehensive, typically containing many hundreds to thousands of spectra for each compound, with many exceeding MS<sup>4</sup> fragmentation steps.</p><p>The extensive data for each library entry is critical for accurate compound identifications, matching experimentally obtained data to that of the library contents, with fit confidence and data visualization <strong>provided in the</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1759"><strong> Compound Discoverer</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1757"><strong>Mass Frontier</strong></a><strong> data analysis software.</strong> Additional tools in Compound Discoverer and Mass Frontier software, including <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1762"><strong>mzLogic</strong></a>, use the extensive fragmentation information to confidently identify unknowns that cannot be identified based upon the spectral library compound entries alone.</p><h3><strong>Content curation in the mzCloud mass spectral library</strong></h3><div style="height:auto;" id="contentcuration"><div><div><div><div><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:740/342;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_4_c7064c2ca2.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library: An example of the mass spectral content curation tool available within the Mass Frontier software. It contains all the functionality used to manually curate the content contained within mzCloud. The power of mzCloud lies in both the extent and high quality of its content, which helps make confident compound identifications." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_4_c7064c2ca2.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="740" height="342"></figure><p>Despite the fact that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products?category=5&amp;manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=orbitrap"><strong>Thermo Scientific Orbitrap-based mass analyzers</strong></a> routinely deliver sub 3-ppm mass errors, there is a small amount of inaccuracy in any experimental data used to search against a library; these errors would be compounded if the library itself also contained data with mass errors. The compounded errors would mean that any identifications could be harder to make or have lower confidence due to match scores being higher.</p><p>Curating the content within mzCloud guards against error and variability in the reference spectra against which data is compared. <strong>The process of curation involves:</strong></p><ul><li>Averaging multiple, individually acquired spectra</li><li>The removal of mass spectral noise</li><li>Recalibration of the mass spectra based upon the predicted formulas for the fragment ion elemental compositions, based upon the known elemental composition and structure of the precursor ion</li><li>Annotation of all fragment ions with the fragment structure</li><li>Addition of large amounts of metadata, including the source of the data and all original raw data files</li></ul><p>This curation process is performed <strong>for every spectra</strong> - every collision energy, every fragmentation type, every MS<sup>n</sup> level and for each precursor ion. As such, the spectral data in mzCloud is of <strong>exceedingly high quality </strong>and offers significant advantages over crowd-sourced libraries due to the high levels of control.</p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:740/350;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_5_0c3fdc4c6c.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library: A recalibrated fragmentation spectrum showing no error on the highlighted peak at m/z 213.05462, along with all of the annotation that is provided for each spectra, at each collision energy, for each fragmentation type at each MSn level." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_5_0c3fdc4c6c.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="740" height="350"></figure><div><div><div container-id="cq-colctrl-lt8" comp-id="B1"><div><h3><strong>How can I use the mzCloud mass spectral library?</strong></h3><p>Accelerate your small molecule unknown identification studies with <strong>mzCloud</strong>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1762"><strong>mzLogic</strong></a>, and the other data analysis and mass spectral prediction tools available in<strong> </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1759"><strong>Compound Discoverer</strong></a> software and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1757"><strong>Mass Frontier</strong></a><strong> </strong>software.</p><p><img style="aspect-ratio:860/261;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_7_a8cefb0028.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library: Connectivity of mzCloud and mzVault to Mass Frontier." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_7_a8cefb0028.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="860" height="261"></p><p>The content within mzCloud is accessible through Compound Discoverer and Mass Frontier software packages, provided you have an internet connection. No internet? No problem – <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1760"><strong>mzVault</strong></a>, provides you with the MS and MS/MS content of mzCloud in an offline format.</p><div style="height:auto;" id="accessmzcloud"><div><div><div><div colctrl-id="3-1"><div><div container-id="cq-colctrl-lt8" comp-id="B1"><div><p><img style="aspect-ratio:860/242;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_6_ae3c0a28e1.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific mzCloud Mass Spectral Library: Connectivity of mzCloud and mzVault to Compound Discoverer." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_mz_Cloud_Mass_Spectral_Library_6_ae3c0a28e1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="860" height="242"></p><p>Due to security concerns or local firewalls, not everyone can connect processing PCs to the internet. With that in mind, the contents of mzCloud are combined into an offline version twice a year. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1760"><strong>mzVault</strong></a><strong> </strong>software application helps you access this information. In addition to accessing the offline version of mzCloud, the mzVault application can store and search your high-quality custom in-house (offline) MS/MS spectral libraries.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Products from category LCMS libraries from Thermo Fisher Scientific distributed by Thermo Fisher Scientific (EMEA) - page 1

Related content

Unlocking Hemoglobin Variant Detection: LC-HR-MS Breakthrough with Ainslie Chen

Current sensors are not good enough. Scientists propose a new way to monitor plant health

Meeting EU Drinking Water Standards: The Critical Role of Sample Prep in Trace Contaminant Analysis