Microplastics and Nanomaterials: Understanding Emerging Contaminants in Environmental Testing

🎤Matthew BolinoHow do the hidden carbohydrate structures on your favorite protein powders shape the gut microbiome? &nbsp;In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, Matthew Bolino, M.S., from the University of Nevada, Reno, breaks down his latest research on N‑glycans from common dietary proteins (whey, egg white, soy, and pea) and how their structural diversity influences microbial fermentation and short‑chain fatty acid production.Bolino explains what N‑glycans are, why they behave like fiber in the gut, and how his team isolates and characterizes them using ethanol washes, enzymatic release (PNGase F and gut‑derived endoglycosidases), and advanced MALDI‑TOF and HILIC‑QTOF workflows. &nbsp;He also discusses his 2025 work comparing synthetic versus bovine whey N‑glycomes and mapping N‑glycan profiles across dietary protein sources, revealing how glycan architecture can reshape community diversity in in vitro fecal fermentations.Geared toward undergraduate and early‑career analytical chemists, this conversation dives into practical mass spec trade‑offs (MALDI vs QTOF vs LC/GC), real‑world troubleshooting in glycomics labs, and how microbiome‑targeted therapeutics and “symbiotic” designs may emerge from pairing specific microbes with preferred glycan structures. &nbsp;Bolino closes with career advice on building biomolecular analysis skills, understanding instrumentation fundamentals, and entering the rapidly growing field of glycomics and microbiome research.<h3>Video Transcription</h3><h4>Introduction</h4>Glycomics has emerged as a rapidly developing field within biomolecular science, expanding our understanding of post-translational modifications beyond well-known processes such as phosphorylation. Among these modifications, protein glycosylation—the covalent attachment of carbohydrate structures to proteins—plays a critical role in biological function, molecular recognition, and cellular communication.This discussion focuses on N-glycans, a class of structurally complex carbohydrates linked to proteins, and their occurrence in common dietary protein sources such as whey, egg white, soy, and pea protein. Particular emphasis is placed on their structural diversity, analytical workflows, and emerging relevance in gut microbiome research.<h4>Fundamentals of N-Glycans</h4>N-glycans are oligosaccharide structures covalently attached to proteins via nitrogen atoms, typically at asparagine residues. They represent one of the two major classes of protein glycosylation, alongside O-glycans.These glycans are characterized by:<ul><li>High structural diversity, arising from variations in monosaccharide composition and linkage patterns</li><li>Large size, typically comprising 7–15 monosaccharide units</li><li>Complex branching architectures, leading to a vast number of possible configurations</li></ul>Common monosaccharide components include:<ul><li>Mannose</li><li>Galactose</li><li>N-acetylglucosamine</li><li>N-acetylgalactosamine</li><li>Sialic acids</li></ul>Unlike free carbohydrates present in foods (e.g., glucose, lactose), N-glycans are protein-bound, which significantly influences their biological behavior.<h4>Biological Function and Dietary Relevance</h4>N-glycans play multiple roles in biological systems, including:<ul><li>Modulation of protein stability</li><li>Regulation of protein trafficking and localization</li><li>Facilitation of cell–cell communication and immune recognition</li></ul>They are particularly abundant on membrane and surface proteins, where they contribute to molecular signaling processes.From a dietary perspective, N-glycans exhibit unique behavior. Due to their size and protein-bound nature, they are not readily digested in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Instead, they can reach the colon, where they may function analogously to dietary fiber, interacting with the gut microbiota.<h4>Research Motivation</h4>The investigation of N-glycans in dietary proteins was initially driven by interest in protein nutrition and supplementation, particularly in the context of muscle growth and protein quality. However, this focus expanded upon recognition of the importance of glycosylation in biological systems.The field of glycomics offers:<ul><li>Extensive structural variability, enabling diverse biological functions</li><li>Relevance in disease mechanisms, including cancer, where glycosylation patterns can influence immune evasion</li><li>Opportunities to explore diet–microbiome interactions</li></ul>This combination of nutritional, biochemical, and biomedical relevance makes N-glycan research particularly compelling.<h4>Experimental Workflow for N-Glycan Analysis</h4>The analysis of N-glycans requires a multi-step workflow due to their covalent attachment to proteins.<h5>1. Protein Purification</h5>Dietary protein samples often contain:<ul><li>Free sugars</li><li>Lipids</li><li>Other matrix components</li></ul>To isolate glycoproteins:<ul><li>Cold ethanol precipitation is used to remove free carbohydrates</li><li>Multiple washing steps ensure removal of residual sugars</li><li>A phenol–sulfuric acid assay is applied to confirm the absence of free sugars</li></ul><h5>2. Enzymatic Release of N-Glycans</h5>N-glycans are enzymatically cleaved from proteins using:<ul><li>PNGase F (Peptide-N-Glycosidase F)</li></ul>This enzyme:<ul><li>Specifically cleaves the glycan from the protein backbone</li><li>Preserves the intact glycan structure</li></ul>Alternative approaches using gut-derived enzymes are being explored to improve accessibility and yield.<h5>3. Glycan Purification and Labeling</h5>Following release:<ul><li>Glycans are purified from the protein matrix</li><li>Chemical labeling is performed (e.g., 2-AA or procainamide tagging)</li></ul>Labeling enhances:<ul><li>Detection sensitivity</li><li>Chromatographic behavior</li></ul><h5>4. Analytical Techniques</h5>Two primary analytical platforms are employed:<ul><li>MALDI-TOF MS<ul><li>High sensitivity</li><li>Broad structural coverage</li></ul></li><li>HILIC-LC-MS<ul><li>Improved reproducibility</li><li>Enhanced chromatographic separation</li></ul></li></ul>These approaches provide semi-quantitative data, where signal intensity reflects relative abundance rather than absolute concentration.<h4>Analytical Challenges</h4>Several challenges are associated with N-glycan analysis:<h5>Low Abundance</h5><ul><li>Dietary proteins typically contain only 1–2% glycan content by weight</li><li>This limits yield and complicates downstream applications</li></ul><h5>Sample Preparation Complexity</h5><ul><li>Extensive purification is required to eliminate free sugars</li><li>Contamination risks must be carefully managed</li></ul><h5>Instrumentation Trade-Offs</h5><ul><li>Different analytical platforms offer complementary advantages</li><li>No single technique provides complete structural and quantitative information</li></ul><h4>Differences Between Plant and Animal N-Glycans</h4>Comparative analysis reveals distinct differences in glycan composition:<h5>Plant-Derived Proteins (e.g., soy, pea)</h5><ul><li>Predominantly high-mannose structures</li><li>Lower monosaccharide diversity</li><li>Simpler glycan architectures</li></ul><h5>Animal-Derived Proteins (e.g., whey, egg white)</h5><ul><li>Greater structural complexity</li><li>Inclusion of diverse monosaccharides (e.g., sialic acids)</li><li>More elaborate branching patterns</li></ul>These differences have important implications for biological function and microbial interactions.<h4>Implications for Gut Microbiome Research</h4>N-glycans represent a potential class of prebiotic substrates that can influence gut microbiota composition and activity.Key findings suggest:<ul><li>Structural diversity of glycans affects microbial utilization patterns</li><li>More complex glycans may promote greater microbiome diversity</li><li>Specific glycan structures may selectively stimulate beneficial microbes</li></ul>This has led to growing interest in:<ul><li>Synbiotic strategies, combining microbes with preferred substrates</li><li>Tailored dietary interventions to enhance metabolic outputs, such as short-chain fatty acids</li></ul><h4>Methodological Considerations</h4>A critical insight from this work is the importance of understanding analytical trade-offs:<ul><li>MALDI-TOF MS provides broader detection of glycan structures</li><li>LC-MS approaches offer greater reproducibility</li></ul>No single technique is universally optimal; instead, method selection should be guided by the specific research question.<h4>Conclusion</h4>N-glycans in dietary proteins represent a complex and biologically significant class of biomolecules with implications spanning nutrition, microbiology, and disease research. Advances in analytical methodologies continue to improve our ability to characterize these structures, despite challenges related to low abundance and structural diversity.A deeper understanding of N-glycan composition and function may enable the development of targeted nutritional strategies and microbiome-based therapeutics, highlighting the growing importance of glycomics in modern life sciences.<blockquote>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.</blockquote><blockquote><h4>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</h4>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!You can find Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast in podcast apps:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185">Apple podcast</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography">podscan</a></li></ul>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos">YouTube channel</a></blockquote>

N‑Glycans, Whey Protein, and the Gut Microbiome: Mass Spec Insights with Matthew Bolino

<div><div><div>Our immune system is incredibly powerful: among other things, it can recognize and destroy cancer cells. But tumors can be just as effective at avoiding detection – they build “invisibility shields” to protect themselves from attack.</div></div><div>One breakthrough in cancer therapy has been immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), drugs that reactivate immune T cells and help them fight tumors again. However, only about 20–50% of patients respond well to this treatment. Researchers are therefore seeking alternative therapeutic strategies. A small and well-known molecule called adenosine plays a key role in these efforts.When tumor cells are stressed or dying, they release ATP, which is normally a signal that something is wrong in the tissue. But in the tumor microenvironment, ATP gets rapidly broken down by two enzymes, CD39 and CD73. Released adenosine acts like a chemical “calm-down” signal, binds to immune cells (T cells, NK cells, and others), and tells them to slow down, reducing their ability to kill cancer cells. Targeting CD73 therefore represents a promising strategy for developing new cancer treatments.</div><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Nove_latky_mohou_podporit_imunitni_system_v_boji_s_rakovinou_88c5e82cd5.jpeg" alt="IOCB Prague: Development of potent inhibitors to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Nove_latky_mohou_podporit_imunitni_system_v_boji_s_rakovinou_88c5e82cd5.jpeg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="661" height="363">At IOCB Prague, interdisciplinary teams led by Jan Řezáč, Jan Konvalinka, and Michal Hocek used a newly developed high-throughput screening method to test over 5,000 compounds, identifying two ribonucleoside derivatives as promising CD73 inhibitors.The scientists then improved the compounds’ activity by carefully modifying the ribonucleoside scaffold with bulky (het)aryl groups. Further optimization improved the pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds, yielding inhibitors with low clearance, long half-life, high solubility, and strong selectivity over related enzymes such as CD39.In cellular experiments, the compounds reduced adenosine production in cancer cells, restored T cell activation, and showed no toxicity toward human fibroblasts. The most active compound showed a single-digit picomolar inhibition constant (Ki).These findings establish a strong foundation for further in vivo efficacy and combination studies, which will explore the therapeutic potential of this novel inhibitor class.<blockquote><h4>The Original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.5c00707">Potent Competitive Inhibitors of Ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73) based on 6-(Het)aryl-7-deazapurine Ribonucleoside 5′-O-Bisphosphonates</a></h4>Ugnė Šinkevičiu̅tė, Magdalena Šímová, Radek Staník, Lenka Poštová Slavětínská, Kristýna Blažková, Pavel Šácha, Martin Lepšík, Jan Řezáč, Jan Konvalinka, Tereza Ormsby, Michal Tichý, Michal HocekACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci. 2026, 9, 1, 191–213<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.5c00707">https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.5c00707</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>CD73 generates immunosuppressive adenosine in the tumor microenvironment and is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. We have designed and systematically studied diverse 2-substituted 7-deazapurine ribonucleoside 5′-O-bisphosphonates bearing a variety of (het)aryl groups at position 6 and discovered their highly potent and selective CD73 inhibition activity. The most active compounds (with single-digit picomolar Ki) contained bicyclic (het)aryl groups at position 6 in combination with chlorine at position 2. Further optimization of pharmacokinetic properties identified inhibitors with low clearance, long half-life, high solubility, and excellent selectivity over CD39 and NTPDase3. They effectively suppressed adenosine formation in MDA-MB-231 cells, rescued CD8+ T cell activation, and were nontoxic to human fibroblasts. Overall, their profile compares favorably with AB680, a CD73 inhibitor currently in phase I/II clinical trials.</div>

Development of potent inhibitors to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer

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The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences

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.

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Waters Corporation

Join us for an exclusive two-day event where Agilent will showcase cutting-edge biopharma solutions.
The first day of the event we will explore Agilent’s comprehensive portfolio for the spectrum of applications from drug discovery to quality control. Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development, protein therapeutics and cell and gene therapies
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<li>Gain insights from Agilent to optimize biotherapeutic workflows, including rigorous quality testing in cGMP environments and handling nucleic acid, vaccines, mAB and protein samples.
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<h5>Talk 1: Agilent Tools and Technologies to Drive Advancements in Biopharmaceutical Drug Development</h5>
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<li>Presented by Dr. Hervé Chaulet, Molecular and Biological Research Market Specialist, Agilent Technologies</li>
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Discovering, developing, and manufacturing biopharmaceuticals requires you to stay abreast of advances in knowledge and improvements in technology while constantly navigating a maze of business and scientific challenges. Agilent can be a trusted partner providing expertise and end-to-end workflows including systems, software, consumables, and services for the spectrum of applications from drug discovery to quality control. Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development, protein therapeutics, and cell and gene therapies.
<h5>Talk 2: Quality Control In IVT mRNA Therapeutics and Vaccine Development Workflow Using The Agilent Fragment Analyzer System</h5>
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Reliable and robust analysis is essential throughout in vitro transcription (IVT) mRNA workflows, providing important quality information to help minimize risk and aid in the production of a consistent product. The Agilent Fragment Analyzer systems can be used for several QC steps at different checkpoints in mRNA vaccine development, providing accurate and precise sizing and integrity analysis. These QC steps are to determine the quality and size of the linearized plasmid, the size and purity of the IVT mRNA, length of the poly(A) tail, and purity of the final mRNA vaccine product.
<h5>Talk 3: Analysis of NIST mAb Reference Material by Parallel SDS-Capillary Electrophoresis</h5>
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Monoclonal antibody drug products are complex biomolecules that must be tested for critical quality attributes (CQAs) such as monomeric purity and percent glycosylation. Capillary gel electrophoresis methods have been adopted as the standard method for size heterogeneity characterization, however legacy capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods involve complicated workflows or are cost prohibitive. To address these problems with legacy methods, Agilent has developed a 12-channel, parallel capillary electrophoresis-SDS (CE-SDS) instrument and reagents. The system uses a high-resolution sieving gel, allowing for resolution of mAb species including the non-glycosylated heavy chain and light chain. To demonstrate the capabilities of the ProteoAnalyzer, the NIST mAb was characterized under both reduced and non-reduced conditions and compared to the NIST data sheet.
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With immunology and immune-based therapies rising as a pillar of science and therapeutics, we are seeing a foundational shift from targeting specific proteins and pathways to actually targeting the immune cellular network that resolves and prevents disease. Therefore there is a critical need for cell analysis tools to facilitate understanding of the dynamic nature of the interaction of these cellular networks whether it is in the context of immune cells or immune cells with cancer cells.
To address these new challenges, we at Agilent Technologies have developed a portfolio of cell analysis solutions that provide researchers with more relevant tools to measure living cells, dynamically track them, and model their microenvironments. These next-generation therapies require methods and technologies to enable assessment of real-time cell function, phenotype, and fate. Used together, the Agilent tool bench provides the capability to measure and develop immune cell function more effectively, thus enabling translational researchers and developers to achieve the necessary level of potential therapeutic potency and safety.

Technology Networks: Biopharma Innovations Summit

Biopharma Innovations Summit Day 1

Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development.

This seminar will guide you through troubleshooting HPLC systems and chromatographic issues using a structured workflow.We will share a novel approach to emphasize the importance of system monitoring, as troubleshooting without monitoring is considerably more challenging. After introducing some key concepts and a troubleshooting workflow, we'll explore practical examples by applying the workflow to failed chromatograms to identify the cause of failure and then use a test cycle to confirm the fix.Who should attend: Analysts working in regulated environments (eg. GLP, GMP) or in non-regulated environments (eg. R&amp;D) who want to troubleshoot their HPLC systems and chromatographic problems effectively.<h4>Key Learnings:</h4>1. The importance of routine system monitoring2. Using qualification checks to diagnose a failure3. Understanding Failure Indicators (HOW the chromatogram failed) vs. Failure Causes (WHY the chromatogram failed)4. Using troubleshooting workflows to quickly identify the failure cause<blockquote>Presenter: Maureen DeLoffi (Senior Product Manager, Waters COrporation)Maureen DeLoffi is a Senior Product Manager at Waters Corporation, where she manages the small molecule portfolio of Analytical HPLC columns. Prior to her Product Manager role, she spent over 12 years as a scientist in the Column Technology Development Lab at Waters. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire.</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: HPLC Troubleshooting: A System Monitoring Approach

HPLC Troubleshooting: A System Monitoring Approach

Troubleshooting HPLC systems and chromatographic issues using a structured workflow.

Ion chromatography (IC) hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) – IC-ICP-MS is the preferred solution for speciation analyses of trace elements such as chromium, arsenic, selenium, or mercury.In this webinar we focus on some key features of the integration of Metrohm IC with Agilent’s MassHunter software for ICP-MS. Based on practical examples such as chromium speciation according to ISO 24384, we demonstrate the benefits of bi-directional communication, real-time status updates, and a single, consolidated sample list streamlining your trace elemental analysis with a single-software solution.<h4>Key learnings of this webinar:</h4><ul><li>Learn why IC is the method of choice for the separation of ionic components for subsequent quantification with ICP-MS</li><li>Explore the features that make Agilent ICP-MS a superior choice for speciation analysis</li><li>Understand the streamlined workflow for chromium speciation according to ISO 24384 using MassHunter ICP-MS</li><li>Understand the added value of inline sample preparation techniques available with Metrohm IC</li></ul><h4>Who should attend?</h4><ul><li>Laboratory managers, analytical chemists, researchers doing trace elemental analysis</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Elke Süss (Application Specialist Ion Chromatography, Metrohm International Headquarters)Elke Süss received a M.Sc. in Geoecology and a Ph.D. in Environmental Geochemistry in 2011 from Bayreuth University, Germany. After a position as laboratory manager at Bayreuth University, she worked as a Research Assistant and then PostDoc at ETH Zürich and Eawag focusing on trace elemental speciation and has more than 10 years of experience with IC-ICP-MS in this field. In 2018, she joined the Ion Chromatography team at Metrohm International Headquarters in Switzerland as an Application Specialist. &nbsp;Presenter:&nbsp;Andrew Brotherhood (Atomic Spectroscopy Application Engineer, Agilent UK)Andrew has over 15 years’ hands-on experience with ICP-MS, ICP-OES and Ion chromatography instrumentation. He has mainly worked in the pharmaceutical analysis industry gaining significant experience with developing and validating methods to pharma regulations.Andrew started working for Agilent as a full-time employee in January 2018 working as an Atomic Spectroscopy Application Engineer based at the Agilent Centre of Excellence in the UK.</blockquote>

Metrohm: Simplify your speciation analysis: Metrohm ion chromatography meets Agilent ICP-MS

Simplify your speciation analysis: Metrohm ion chromatography meets Agilent ICP-MS

Key features of the integration of Metrohm IC with Agilent’s MassHunter software for ICP-MS.

Metrohm ion chromatography meets Agilent ICP-MS

Day one: Innovation and data insights<ul><li>Discover how to achieve high sensitivity, speed, and resilience when working with large, complex sample sets</li><li>Learn strategies to speed up your covalent protein drug discovery</li><li>Gain insights into accelerating the development of multiple modalities</li><li>Understand the latest advancements in quantitative proteomics with ZT Scan DIA</li><li>Overcome limitations with cutting-edge artificial intelligence quantitation software</li></ul>Agenda-at-a-glanceWelcome and introduction to innovation and data insights&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Advancing robustness and serviceability of a high-end triple quad mass spectrometer in a high-throughput bioanalytical lab<ul><li>Highly sensitive mass spectrometers allow the advanced bioanalytical labs of today to achieve the LOQ required of potent biologic drugs and provide maximum flexibility in choice of sample prep techniques. However robust mass spectrometers are crucial for several reasons:<ul><li>Aid in ensuring the consistent quantitative performance of an assay</li><li>Effectively allow a lab to meet their project timelines</li><li>Are essential for handling the inherent variability of analyzing diverse molecules and diverse samples required for bioanalysis</li></ul></li></ul>The new fast in drug discovery: a new MS system to study covalent protein drugs<ul><li>The combination of a super-fast sampling interface with the highly sensitive ZenoTOF 7600 system makes it an ideal system for evaluating covalent binding screens. Main findings in our experiments using the Echo® MS+ system:<ul><li>Speed: measurements from a full 384-well plate in 15 min or 1536-well plate in less than one hour</li><li>Precision: low injection volume supports repetitive measurements and time series; capture full kinetic data set in one experiment</li><li>Quality: high data quality allows for full automated processing, delivering immediate hitlist output</li></ul></li></ul>icIEF-UV/MS characterization of charge Isoforms for biotherapeutic products<ul><li>Characterization of icIEF charge isoforms, whether in early product development or associated with licensure filings, is usually achieved through ion exchange (IEX) liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. icIEF-MS technology has recently emerged to enable the direct characterization of specific species in the icIEF electropherogram, eliminating the need for extensive method development.<ul><li>Discover opportunities to advance core platform technologies with novel characterization approaches</li><li>Hear case studies on understanding molecular structure information</li><li>New approaches to characterizing post-translational modifications of charge isoforms</li></ul></li></ul>Expanding qualitative and quantitative sensitivity for immunopeptidomics using ZT Scan DIA<ul><li>Learn how utilizing a research-grade Zeno-trap time-of-flight LC-MS system can advance current applications in immunopeptidomics and proteomics, including:<ul><li>What is ZT Scan DIA, the technology and how it benefits data acquisition</li><li>Preliminary proteomics and immunopeptidomics results using ZT Scan DIA</li><li>Future applications of immunopeptidomics using ZT Scan DIA</li></ul></li></ul>Artificial intelligence quantitation (AI quant): molecular structure and mass spectral data quality driven processing of high-resolution mass spectrometry for quantitative analysi<ul><li>High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has long sought to be a viable alternative for quantitative workflows but has been unable to broadly compete, mainly due to the lack of suitable data processing software. In this work we describe:<ul><li>A molecular structure-dependent workflow</li><li>The holistic and user-independent processesing of HRMS data</li><li>The automatic quantification of small drug-like molecules</li></ul></li></ul>Q&amp;A roundtable: innovation and data insights with the experts<ul><li>Moderated by: Jamie Wighton, Senior Director LC-MS Research, SCIEX</li><li>Panelists include:<ul><li>Rathna Veeramachaneni, Director, Biopharma LC-MS/MS, KCAS Bio</li><li>Xiaping He, Senior Scientist, Pfizer</li><li>Markus Stöckli, Senior Principal Scientist, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research</li><li>Tony Purcell, Professor, Monash University&nbsp;</li><li>Kevin Bateman, Retired Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism Expert</li></ul></li></ul><blockquote>Moderator: Jamie Wighton (Senior Director LC-MS Research, SCIEX)Jamie joined SCIEX 20 years ago and has held multiple technical and leadership roles throughout his career at SCIEX. &nbsp;Starting out as an engineer in manufacturing operations, Jamie has since led teams in supply chain, product development, and most recently the research and product applications teams within R&amp;D. Prior to joining SCIEX, Jamie worked at JDS Uniphase as an optical test engineer.Jamie holds a B.Sc. in engineering physics from Queen’s University.Presenter: Rathna Veeramachaneni (Director, Biopharma LC-MS/MS, KCAS Bioanalytical)Presenter: Markus Stöckli, Senior Principal Scientist, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchPresenter: Xiaoping He, Senior Scientst, PfizerPresenter: Tony Purcell, Professor, Monash UniversityPresenter: Kevin Bateman, Retired Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism Expert</blockquote>

SCIEX summit Day one: Innovation and data insights

Importance of LC-MS in food and environmental testing, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical discovery and development and biomedical and omics research.

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #3: Introduction Non-target Screening (NTS) | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 1 - Module 3</h3>Suspect and non-target screening (NTS) are crucial techniques used in various fields, including food analysis, environmental studies, toxicology, and doping analysis. In this overview, we’ll discuss a holistic approach and introduce high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for both Suspect and NTS screening. Topics covered include resolution, accurate mass data, and ion mobility.In an ideal scenario, Suspect screening and non-Target screening are closely interconnected. Prior knowledge about a potential analyte (Suspect) can expedite the non-Target screening process. We’ll briefly explore Suspect screening and how high-resolution mass spectrometry offers identification criteria for confidently identifying suspect compounds.Further, we examine the data gathered for non-target compounds through high-resolution mass spectrometry. In this module we give a concise introduction to the valuable data that can be compiled for assigning structures. In the forthcoming module 4b we will delve into how this data, in conjunction with the tools offered by the waters_connect software, can be conveniently accessed by the user and provide more comprehensive insights.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>What is Screening? (Target/ Suspect &amp; Non-Target Screening)</li><li>Basics of HRMS (Resolution and accurate mass)</li><li>Identification criteria for Targets /Suspects &amp; UNIFI Scientific Library</li><li>Tools for Non-Target Screening</li><li>Short introduction of exemplary instrument types</li><li>Xevo G3 QToF for Routine Screening</li><li>Xevo MRT for Screening with very high-resolution and very high mass accuracy</li><li>Select Series Cyclic IMS for Screening with ion-mobility utilizing CCS-values</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Christoph Thomas (Principal Sales Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)Christoph Thomas is a Principal Sales Applications Chemist from the Central Europe Customer Success Team based in Eschborn, Germany. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and is familiar with several application areas using Quadrupole and Tof instruments. Within the last decade his projects were mainly focused on the waters_connect Screening Solution in food and environmental screening, toxicology screening, metabolite identification and in the field of extractables and leacheables.Presenter:&nbsp;Gunnar Weibchen (Principal MS Sales Dev Specialist, Waters Corporation)Gunnar studied Chemistry and obtained a PhD in Organic and Analytical Chemistry in Hamburg. After working as an Application Chemist in the demo laboratory at Varian, has been with Waters in Sales and Marketing since 2010</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School

Introduction Non-target Screening (NTS)

We’ll discuss a holistic approach and introduce high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for both Suspect and NTS screening.

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #4: Chromatography - APGC | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 1 - Module 4</h3>Discover the advantages of GC coupled to MS under atmospheric pressure (Atmospheric Pressure GC/ APGC) as a powerful alternative to electron ionization (EI) for GC-MS. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the APGC technology and its operational principles. Explore why APGC offers higher sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness compared to traditional EI methods. Maximize versatility and efficiency by understanding how to achieve both LC and GC capabilities on the same MS system as well as using nitrogen as an alternative carrier gas.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>How APGC works</li><li>Enhanced performance over classic EI-GC</li><li>Ease of use and implementation in the lab</li><li>Usage of nitrogen as GC carrier gas</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Frank L. Dorman, PhD, FRSC (Principal Environmental Market Manager, Waters Corporation)Frank Dorman is currently Senior Business Development Manager for Waters focusing on their global environmental business and, concurrently, Associate Professor (adjunct) in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) at Penn State University in University Park, PA. In his role at Waters, Frank manages the research-focused environmental market, external collaborations and also interfaces with R&amp;D for new product development. Prior to Waters, Frank was employed full-time as a tenure-line Faculty member of Penn State and served as a member of the Graduate Faculty in: Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology (BMMB), Chemistry (CHEM) and the Programs in Forensics Science (FRNSC), and Biogeochemistry (BGC). Frank is also a member of the Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis at Penn State. Frank’s scientific interests are in gas and liquid chromatography fundamental characterization, instrumentation and column development, as well and mass spectrometry and atomic spectroscopy as applied to trace analysis in complex sample matrices. This work is directed towards environmental forensics, traditional forensic chemistry and where environmental exposure events may contribute to human disease; an area sometimes referred to as “exposomics”.Prior to joining the faculty at PSU, Frank was at Restek Corporation for 14 years as the Director of Technical Development, and R&amp;D Senior Chemist. During most of this same time, Frank was also an Adjunct Research Professor at Juniata College where he maintained an active undergraduate research program. Prior to that he was at Inchcape Testing Services for 5 years as a Senior Chemist, Organics Section Manager for Sample Preparation and Corporate Methods Development Chemist. As such, Frank has extensive experience in both the Industrial and Academic sectors giving him a relatively rare combination of skills and experience.Presenter:&nbsp;Janitha De-Alwis (Senior Applications Chemist, European Applications Team, Food and Environmental, Waters Corporation)JD has worked in the chromatography industry for over 10 years and has recently joined Waters Corporation as a senior applications chemist. Prior to joining Waters, JD managed a group at a leading food research and contract organisation. Here, JD helped the food, drink and associated industriesproactivelyand reactively in the area of chemical toxins.As a senior applications chemist, JD now develops new applications with Waters technologies and helps customers with their critical analytical challenges.</blockquote>

Chromatography - APGC

Discover the advantages of GC coupled to MS under atmospheric pressure (APGC) as a powerful alternative to electron ionization (EI) for GC-MS.

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #5: General Sample Preparation | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 2 - Module 1</h3>Sample preparation is a key aspect in the analytical workflow and heavily determines the quality of the analysis. Solid Phase Extraction is a fundamental sample preparation technique widely used across all areas of analytical chemistry. Whether new to SPE or seeking a refresher, this webinar will introduce the basics of sample preparation and provide practical insights and technical background on the benefits when choosing SPE over another form of sample preparation, especially for analytes in complex matrices, such as the ones often encountered in Food and Environmental analysis. Join us in exploring SPE key parameters and best practices for implementing successful SPE methods. The session will combine PowerPoint slides with videos describing good practices and showing a practical example on the complex analysis of PFAS.Our guest speaker Chiara Sarti from Cranfield University, Bedford UK, will share her research results on the work with new dual layer cartridges to extract PFAS from different environmental samples.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>Understanding SPE fundamentals</li><li>Making SPE simple with water-wettable sorbents</li><li>Verifying successful SPE implementation</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Xavier Rodríguez (Business Development Manager Chemistry Group, Southern Europe, Waters)Xavier is part of the European Market Development Team. He works as an Application Specialist with focus on sample prep and has more than 20 years of experience in solving sample prep challenges.Presenter:&nbsp;Chiara Sarti (Ph.D. Student, Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence)</blockquote>

General Sample Preparation

Join us in exploring SPE key parameters and best practices for implementing successful SPE methods. 

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #8: Instruments &amp; Software for Non-Target Screening | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 2 - Module 4</h3>This session will focus on presenting in detail the data evaluation of HRMS-Screening experiments. Firstly, we will explain the data-independent acquisition modes MSE and HDMSE. We will describe an intelligent and efficient peak detection algorithm of the HRMS data. The waters_connect software supports us with several tools for the challenging non-Target screening. We will present a selection of discovery tools which collect additional information about the unknown masses to reduce the number of potential candidates. This includes a binary comparison to find differences between samples or the get information on common fragments etc. In addition, multivariate statistics can also be used as a powerful tool for identifying significant non-Target masses. Finally, the determination of the molecular formula of potential candidates and a possible search in online libraries will be presented.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>Data acquisition in depth (MSE, CCS)</li><li>waters_connect Software &amp; Intelligent Peak Detection</li><li>UNIFI App and Workflow</li><li>Binary Compare - find the Differences</li><li>Discovery Tools – Common Fragments, Mass defect filtering, Halogen Match and more</li><li>Multivariate statistics</li><li>Pattern Targeting Application</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Christoph Thomas (Principal Sales Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)Christoph Thomas is a Principal Sales Applications Chemist from the Central Europe Customer Success Team based in Eschborn, Germany. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and is familiar with several application areas using Quadrupole and Tof instruments. Within the last decade his projects were mainly focused on the waters_connect Screening Solution in food and environmental screening, toxicology screening, metabolite identification and in the field of extractables and leacheables.Presenter:&nbsp;Gunnar Weibchen (Principal MS Sales Dev Specialist, Waters Corporation)Gunnar studied Chemistry and obtained a PhD in Organic and Analytical Chemistry in Hamburg. After working as an Application Chemist in the demo laboratory at Varian, has been with Waters in Sales and Marketing since 2010</blockquote>

Software and Instruments for NTS

This session will focus on presenting in detail the data evaluation of HRMS-Screening experiments. 

PFAS testing has become one of the most important topics facing food and environmental laboratories over the last two years.&nbsp;Phenomenex and SCIEX have worked with collaborators to overcome the significant challenges of such analyses, and now offer extremely sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS and sample preparation solutions, with methods and software which are ready to implement.<h4>Key Learning Points</h4><ul><li>Background to PFAS and their regulations</li><li>System Settings and requirements</li><li>Correct HPLC column choice</li><li>Sample Preparation strategies from various matrices</li><li>PFAS as ubiquitous contaminants - Inerting the system</li><li>A sensitive and robust method applicable to water and food sample</li><li>Some insight about designed for PFAS products</li></ul><h4>Who should attend</h4><ul><li>LC/MS or Sample Prep Users, working with several matrices that want to get tips on PFAS method development or on improving their method.</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Jianru Stahl-Zeng, Dr.&nbsp; (Senior Technical Marketing Manager EMEAI, SCIEX)Jianru has been part of SCIEX since 2001. She initially was part of our application Support team and covered not only proteomics but also small molecules applications. Jianru moved to technical marketing and focused on Food and Environmental applications.Since 2018, she is managing the EMEAI technical marketing team and projects. Jianru is also the Global Technical Leader for Food and &nbsp;Environmental application.Presenter:&nbsp;Duilio Romanello (Senior Technical Specialist, Phenomenex)Duilio has been working with Phenomenex since 2008. Since 2010 he has been Product Specialist for the GC and SPE lines and then Account Manager for the South of Italy. Since November 2023 he is covering the role of Senior Technical Specialist.He has acquired experience in the Food and Environmental sectors by collaborating with important companies in the industry and providing technical support for the development of method optimization, guidance on applications and troubleshooting, assistance in choosing columns for HPLC, Gas Chromatography (GC), SFC and SPE.</blockquote>

Phenomenex: Advanced strategies in LC/MS/MS for the clean-up and the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various matrices

Advanced strategies in LC/MS/MS for the clean-up and the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various matrices

Extremely sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS and sample preparation solutions, with methods and software which are ready to implement.

Advanced strategies in LC/MS/MS for the clean-up

Join this webinar to discover how HPTLC can enhance the reliability and efficiency of your edible oil quality assessments.Dr. Tiên Do, Chief Scientific Officer at CAMAG, and Paul Rogeboz, Junior Research Assistant at Nestlé Research will discuss how a newly developed HPTLC method was developed to identify edible oils. Find out how it was used to detect adulteration with remarkable accuracy.Our experts will also explore the statistical validation of the method, its robust performance in interlaboratory studies, and its ability to identify adulteration levels from 5% to 25%.<h4>Key topics discussed in this webinar will include:</h4><ul><li>Understanding HPTLC for oil authenticity: Gain insights into the principles and applications of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) in ensuring edible oil authenticity</li><li>Method development and validation: Learn about the development of the untargeted fingerprint profiling method for detecting vegetable oil adulteration and the statistical validation processes for variability, detection limits, and reproducibility</li><li>Real-world application and robustness: Discover the robustness of the HPTLC method through interlaboratory studies and understand its practical applications in the food industry</li><li>Detection capabilities: Explore the method's ability to accurately detect adulteration levels ranging from 5% to 25%</li></ul><h4>Who should attend?</h4><ul><li>Quality control professionals</li><li>Food industry researchers</li><li>Regulatory affairs specialists</li><li>R&amp;D teams</li><li>Food manufacturers</li><li>Lab technicians</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Tiên Do (Chief Scientific Officer, CAMAG)Dr. Tiên Do joined CAMAG in 2014 and became the Chief Scientific Officer in January 2024. In this role, she crafts and implements the organization's scientific vision, spearheading research and development efforts to propel scientific objectives forward. Additionally, she cultivates partnerships with academic and industry leaders to drive innovative collaborations. Prior to her current role, Dr. Do served as Head of Laboratory and Deputy Head of Laboratory.Presenter:&nbsp;Paul Rogeboz MSc (Junior Research Assistant, Nestlé Research)Paul Rogeboz works at Nestlé Research in Switzerland as a Junior Research Assistant, specializing in HPTLC applications in the food safety field. In his role, he contributes to scientific application projects by developing novel effect-based toxicological analyses using HPTLC for decision-making. He is also involved in the qualification and implementation of HPTLC methodologies for the assessment of food matrices adulteration.Presenter:&nbsp;Carrie Haslam (Associate Editor, SelectScience)</blockquote>

SelectScience: Development of an HPTLC method for evaluating vegetable oil adulteration

Development of an HPTLC method for evaluating vegetable oil adulteration

How HPTLC can enhance the reliability and efficiency of your edible oil quality assessments.