<div>Mulching films used in agriculture gradually break down and can become a significant source of microplastics in soils. A new study shows that these particles affect not only soil structure but also microbial life and nitrogen cycling.“We wanted to understand how microplastics from both conventional and biodegradable mulching films influence soil properties, microbial diversity and functions in real conditions,” explains Klára Šmídová, the study’s co-author . “That’s why we added realistic amounts of microplastics to soils in experimental plots in Finland, Germany, and Spain, monitored them over two growing seasons, and compared them with the control plots.”The results revealed that microplastics alter soil characteristics and microbial communities, although not always in the same way. “ However, a consistent finding was the decline in microbial activity associated with key processes, including nitrogen cycling, with negative effects increasing at higher microplastic concentrations and becoming more pronounced in the second year,” Šmídová adds. Because the microplastic levels used in the study reflect amounts already found in European soils, the findings highlight real risks to soil health. “We also found that the effects were stronger in southern than in northern Europe, likely due to differences in climate and soil conditions. This means that protecting soils from plastic pollution will require region-specific risk assessments,” she says.Over 60% of European soils are estimated to be unhealthy, with ongoing degradation driven by unsustainable land use, contamination, climate change, and extreme weather events. In response, the EU Parliament adopted the Soil Monitoring Law in October 2025, aiming to achieve healthy soils across Europe by 2050. “The law highlights the role of soil health in food security, water quality, and climate objectives, and establishes consistent soil monitoring across Member States. It includes measures to support farmers and foresters, while also creating a public list of potentially contaminated sites and an indicative watch list of emerging soil contaminants,” explains Klára Šmídová.The project brought together 19 research groups across Europe. “After each season, hundreds of samples were colle cted and sent to partners for analysis. This paper focuses on soil properties, microbial diversity, and greenhouse gas emissions. Two more manuscripts—on plastic additives and microplastic fate, and on soil invertebrates—are in preparation. Together, they will give us a complete picture of how agricultural microplastics affect soil ecosystems,” concludes Klára Šmídová.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RECETOX_Vysledky_nove_studie_ukazaly_ze_mikroplasty_meni_vlastnosti_pudy_a_mikrobialni_spolecenstva_i_v_realnych_podminkach_6ee3413a7b.jpg" alt="RECETOX: New Study Reveals How Agricultural Plastics Impact Soil Health In Real Conditions" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RECETOX_Vysledky_nove_studie_ukazaly_ze_mikroplasty_meni_vlastnosti_pudy_a_mikrobialni_spolecenstva_i_v_realnych_podminkach_6ee3413a7b.jpg 171w," sizes="100vw" width="738" height="674"><blockquote><h4>The Original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749125015866?via%3Dihub#sec2">Conventional and biodegradable agricultural microplastics: effects on soil properties and microbial functions across a European pedoclimatic gradient</a></h4>Šmídová K., Soinne H., Kim S. W., Tirronniemi J., Meffe R., Redondo-Hasselerharm P. E., Braun M., Rillig M. C., Fritze H., Adamczyk B., Nikama J., Kaseva J., Saartama V., Amelung W., Hurley R., Hofman J., Nizzetto L., Selonen S., Velmala S.Environ. Pollut. 386 (2025) 127212<a href="DOI:%2010.1016/j.envpol.2025.127212">DOI:&nbsp;10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127212</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><div>Agricultural plastics like mulching films may become a major source of microplastic (MP) soil contamination during their degradation and fragmentation. This study investigates the effects of agricultural MPs from conventional (linear low-density polyethylene, PE) and biodegradable (starch-blended polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate, PBAT-BD) mulching films on soil physicochemical properties, aggregation, microbial diversity and functions, litter decomposition, and greenhouse gases emissions (GHG). For this purpose, MPs were mixed into soils at realistic MP concentrations of 0.005&nbsp;% and 0.05&nbsp;% (w/w) in 2022 on experimental plots in three EU countries representing different pedoclimatic conditions (Finland, Germany and Spain), followed by monitoring of the above-mentioned variables in the subsequent growing seasons 2022 and 2023. We found several significant MP-induced effects for soil properties, aggregation, microbial diversity, litter decomposition, and GHG, but the effect endpoints were less pronounced or varied considerably. Contrarily, microbial activity, contributing to soil functions such as nitrogen cycling, was consistently reduced by both conventional and biodegradable MPs. The reductions were more pronounced after the second season and for the higher MP treatment. As the higher MP concentration (i.e., 0.05&nbsp;% w/w) is environmentally relevant in Europe, our findings emphasize the potential effects of environmentally relevant MP concentrations on soil health. Furthermore, the effects increased from north to south, probably modulated by varying pedoclimatic conditions, inducing reflection of a need for regionally tailored risk</div></div>

New Study Reveals How Agricultural Plastics Impact Soil Health In Real Conditions

<h3>Charged for Action: The Hidden Secrets of AEX Oligonucleotide Analysis</h3>Oligonucleotides—short, well-defined fragments of DNA or RNA—have become indispensable tools in modern life sciences. They underpin cutting-edge applications in molecular diagnostics, gene therapy, and pharmaceutical development. Before oligonucleotides can be confidently used in research or clinical settings, however, their quality must be rigorously assessed. Purity, sequence integrity, length distribution, and chemical modifications all play a decisive role in their performance.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_2_45eee54fa0.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2: AEX" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_2_45eee54fa0.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1534" height="711">Among the analytical techniques available today, anion exchange chromatography (AEX) stands out as a robust and highly informative method for characterizing oligonucleotides. By exploiting their intrinsic negative charge, AEX provides detailed insight into product composition and impurity profiles that are difficult to obtain by other approaches.<blockquote><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/6808">Part 1 of the Oligos series: A Practical Guide to Oligonucleotide Production – From Concept to Final Product</a></blockquote><h4>How Scientists Read Oligonucleotides Using Charge</h4>At the core of AEX lies a simple but powerful principle: oligonucleotides carry a negatively charged phosphate backbone. This charge increases in a predictable way with strand length and, to a lesser extent, sequence composition. Anion exchange chromatography uses this property to separate oligonucleotides based on differences in charge strength and interaction with a positively charged stationary phase.As a result, AEX has become one of the most widely used analytical tools for evaluating oligonucleotide quality. It allows scientists to distinguish full-length products from truncated species, degradation products, or closely related variants—often with single-nucleotide resolution.<h4>Why Ion Exchange Works: Binding, Retention, and Release</h4>Ion exchange chromatography (IEX) relies on electrostatic interactions between analytes and a charged stationary phase. In the case of oligonucleotides, anion exchange is used, where negatively charged molecules interact with positively charged functional groups on the resin—most commonly quaternary amines.The system consists of two main components:<ul><li>Stationary phase: A positively charged resin that binds anionic analytes.</li><li>Mobile phase: An aqueous buffer system, typically combined with a salt gradient, that controls both pH and elution strength.</li></ul>Retention in AEX is governed primarily by charge. Molecules with weaker overall charge interact less strongly with the stationary phase and elute earlier, while more highly charged oligonucleotides bind more tightly and require stronger elution conditions.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_1_IEX_overview_including_elution_order_dependency_on_analyte_charge_3419ad3075.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 1 IEX overview including elution order dependency on analyte charge." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_1_IEX_overview_including_elution_order_dependency_on_analyte_charge_3419ad3075.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1583" height="654"><h4>The Five-Step Workflow of Ion Exchange Chromatography</h4>AEX separations generally follow a well-established sequence of steps:<ol><li>Column equilibration The column is conditioned with the starting buffer until the baseline and pH are stable. This ensures that all charged sites on the resin are ready for interaction.</li><li>Sample loading Samples, prepared in the starting buffer, are introduced under conditions that promote binding of the target oligonucleotides while minimizing retention of unwanted impurities.</li><li>Washing The column is washed with the starting buffer to remove uncharged or weakly interacting components. The baseline stabilizes as these species are flushed away.</li><li>Elution Bound oligonucleotides are released using a salt or pH gradient. Increasing ionic strength introduces competing ions that displace the analytes from the resin. Weakly bound species elute first; strongly charged oligonucleotides elute later.</li><li>Regeneration and re-equilibration A high-salt buffer removes any remaining bound material. The column is then returned to starting conditions in preparation for the next analysis.</li></ol><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_2_Five_steps_of_IEX_procedure_in_blue_outlined_using_an_example_chromatogram_in_red_38dd70b1b1.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 2 Five steps of IEX procedure (in blue), outlined using an example chromatogram (in red)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_2_Five_steps_of_IEX_procedure_in_blue_outlined_using_an_example_chromatogram_in_red_38dd70b1b1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1583" height="674"><h4>Why AEX Is Especially Effective for Oligonucleotides</h4>The repeating phosphate backbone of oligonucleotides gives rise to a strong and uniform anionic character across a wide pH range (typically pH 7–9). This makes oligonucleotides exceptionally well suited for anion exchange separations.Key factors influencing AEX behavior include:<ul><li>Charge density: Longer oligonucleotides carry more negative charges and therefore exhibit stronger retention.</li><li>Resin chemistry: Strong and weak anion exchangers differ in functional groups and pH stability, influencing selectivity and robustness.</li><li>Buffer composition: The choice of buffering ions and salt gradients directly affects elution strength and resolution.</li></ul>Salt gradients—commonly based on chloride ions—compete with the oligonucleotide backbone for binding sites on the resin. By carefully tuning gradient slope and composition, analysts can achieve highly reproducible and finely resolved separations.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_3_Ionic_interactions_and_p_H_influence_on_Anion_Exchange_Chromatography_AEX_612e231ba4.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 3 Ionic interactions and pH influence on Anion Exchange Chromatography (AEX)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_3_Ionic_interactions_and_p_H_influence_on_Anion_Exchange_Chromatography_AEX_612e231ba4.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1547" height="593"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_4_AEX_buffer_selection_and_gradient_strategy_chromatogram_with_red_buffer_gradient_curve_53fd1bb11b.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 4 AEX buffer selection and gradient strategy (chromatogram with red buffer gradient curve)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_4_AEX_buffer_selection_and_gradient_strategy_chromatogram_with_red_buffer_gradient_curve_53fd1bb11b.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="327"><h4>AEX as the Gold Standard for Oligonucleotide Separation</h4>Anion exchange chromatography has become the method of choice for both analytical and preparative oligonucleotide workflows. Its advantages include:<ul><li>High resolving power: Closely related impurities, including n–1 or n–2 species, can often be separated and quantified.</li><li>Predictable retention behavior: In many cases, retention time correlates linearly with oligonucleotide length, simplifying identification.</li><li>Compatibility with modified oligonucleotides: Even chemically modified sequences retain their anionic nature, allowing AEX to resolve both products and related impurities.</li><li>Excellent control via gradient elution: Salt gradients provide precise tuning of selectivity and resolution.</li></ul>Typically, shorter or degraded oligonucleotides elute at lower ionic strength, while full-length products with higher charge density appear later in the chromatogram.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_5_AEX_Advantages_and_Challenges_7835521e34.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 5 AEX Advantages and Challenges." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_5_AEX_Advantages_and_Challenges_7835521e34.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1535" height="707"><h4>Final Perspective: Mastering AEX with Confidence</h4>Anion exchange chromatography may appear complex at first, but with thoughtful optimization of pH, buffer composition, and gradient conditions, it becomes a highly precise and reliable tool for oligonucleotide analysis. When properly applied, AEX delivers sharp peaks, excellent resolution, and robust performance—even for challenging sequences and modifications.For laboratories developing or refining oligonucleotide workflows, AEX offers both analytical depth and operational confidence.<blockquote>If you would like to discuss AEX method development or optimization for oligonucleotides, feel free to contact us at sales@knauer.net. More insights into practical oligonucleotide analysis will follow in our “Oligos Made Easy” series.For technical questions or in-depth discussion, the author can be reached at kindler@knauer.net</blockquote>

Oligos Made Easy - Part 2: AEX

News from LabRulezLCMS Library - Week 07, 2026

Article

Application

Plastics

Environment

Science and research

Poster

RECETOX (Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment) is an independent department of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University in Brno, which has been established in 1983. RECETOX is focused on the research and education in cross-cutting area of Environment and Health. It addresses interactions among chemicals, environment, and biological systems, including consequences at local, regional, and global levels.

RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí

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LabRulez

Based in Berlin, KNAUER is a medium-sized, owner-managed company that has been serving the sciences since 1962. We develop and manufacture scientific instruments of superior quality for liquid chromatography, including: Analytical HPLC/UHPLC, Preparative HPLC, Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), Multi-column chromatography/Simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography. High pressure dosing, in-line detection systems, and osmometry are additional business areas.

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We invite you to join a hybrid event on October 15th to explore the latest solutions and workflows for overcoming environmental and food contaminant testing challenges.This event will be broadcast live from the laboratory at Thermo Fisher Scientific Customer Solutions Center (CSC) in Paris. You can join in person at one of our many 'satellite' venues worldwide, where we will offer an extended agenda, or participate remotely through the live broadcast.During the live stream broadcast, you will meet our Customer Solution Centre specialist team and leading industry expert, John Quick, as they discuss innovative solutions to meet the ever-evolving testing demands. There will be plenty of time to ask these experts your questions.The following sessions will be streamed all over Europe and beyond:<ul><li>Detecting PFAS in drinking water to meet regulations across Europe – New automated sample preparation high-resolution MS solution to achieve parts per trillion detection limits. Aristide Ganci,&nbsp;Senior Product Application Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific; Valérie Thibert, Senior Product Application Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific; Bénédicte Gauriat, Senior Product Application Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific</li><li>New ready-to-go pesticide residue solution for faster, more confident results Zoe Julian, Product Marketing Specialist, Manager; Bénédicte Gauriat, Senior Product Application Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific; Julie Moriceau, Senior Product Application Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific</li><li>Low-level contaminant testing in environmental water matrices&nbsp;– High-Resolution Accurate Mass GC-MS approach to meet future regulations John Quick, Principal Scientist, ALS Environmental Ltd</li></ul>After the live stream concludes, 'satellite' locations offer a unique program onsite. Take this unique opportunity to connect with industry professionals, or join us to explore, network, and collaborate on your future projects. Scroll below to the venue of your choice to discover the individual agenda.Participation is free of charge, registration is required.For any questions about this event or regarding your registration, please email <a href="mailto:CMDEvents@thermofisher.com">CMDEvents@thermofisher.com</a>.<h3>Preliminary agenda</h3><h5>10:15 Live streaming of this event to ‘satellite’ locations and online audience</h5><h5>10:30 Introduction</h5><ul><li>Jeff Stubbs (Business Development Manager, Environment and Food Safety, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</li></ul><h5>10:55 Detecting PFAS in drinking water to meet regulations across Europe - New automated sample preparation high-resolution MS solution to achieve ppt detection limits</h5><ul><li>A Ganci, V Thibert and B Gauriat (Senior Product Application Specialists, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</li></ul><h5>11:35 Break</h5><h5>12:05 New ready-to-go pesticide residue solution for faster, more confident results</h5><ul><li>Z Julian, Product Marketing, B Gauriat, and J Moriceau (Senior Product Application Specialists Thermo Fisher Scientific)</li></ul><h5>12:45 Low-level contaminant testing in environmental water matrices – high-resolution GCMS approach to meet future regulations</h5><ul><li>John Quick (Principal Scientist, ALS Environmental Ltd)</li></ul><h5>13:15 Closing comments</h5><h5>13:30 End of live streaming</h5><div><div container-id="cq-colctrl-lt7" comp-id="B1"><div><div><div><div><div><div><blockquote><h3>How to attend?</h3>3 ways of attending:Customer Solution Centre (in-person event):&nbsp; Join the heart of the event at our Customer Solution Center in Paris, where the main agenda will be hosted and live-streamed worldwide to our ‘Satellite’ locations and our audience.Join a ‘Satellite’ location (in-person event):&nbsp; Our in-person ‘Satellite’ events will broadcast the main agenda live-streamed from our Customer Solution Center in Paris and supplement the day with local presentations, lab tours, or workshops. Take this opportunity to meet your Thermo Fisher representatives and industry experts from the region. Discover the individual agenda for your ‘Satellite’ location of interest.Online attendees (remote):&nbsp; Unable to travel to a ‘Satellite’ event? Not a problem! You can register to attend conveniently online from your desk or anywhere else through the live stream from our Customer Solutions Center in Paris.</blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Thermo Scientific: Solutions for environmental and food contaminant testing

Solutions for environmental and food contaminant testing

New and advancing workflows to meet and exceed European regulations.

In this part of the course we will deal with sample preparation: why, how and which sample preparation is the most suitable for the target analyte?SPE, LLSE, or syringe filter?&nbsp;<blockquote>Presenter: Shaun Pritchard (Product Specialist Liquid Phase Separations, Agilent Technologies)Shaun Pritchard is a Product Specialist for separation products at Agilent Technologies covering the UK and Ireland. He started his career in 1989 working at a large Pharmaceutical company holding a number of roles, this is where he became passionate about HPLC finally in 1998 he took the leap to leave the lab and move to the commercial side of things and has had a number of roles within the industry until 2017 he joined Agilent.</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: HPLC Beginner Webinar Series

Sample Preparation in HPLC

Why, how and which sample preparation is the most suitable for the target analyte?

Researchers in early antibody and protein drug development are now harnessing the power of automation to transform traditional purification techniques into high-throughput, automated processes.This game-changing approach lets them explore protein expression, stability, and functionality before scaling up to larger volumes. While protein scientists excel in engineering and purification, the complexities of automation bring new challenges that can significantly impact workflow and performance.Join us for an exciting webinar by Biotage, where we’ll dive into the evolution of major automated, small-scale protein purification platforms over the past 20 years. By focusing on screening and process development applications, you’ll gain invaluable insights that will help you choose the perfect automation platform for your needs. We’ll cover everything from entry barriers (such as time and cost) to automation efficiency, downstream compatibility, and overall performance. Plus, we’ll present comparative performance data across platforms, highlighting key metrics for optimizing protein purification such as yield, concentration, consistency, and purity.<h4>What you will learn:</h4><ul><li>Valuable insights into how automation platforms are used in screening and process development applications &nbsp;</li><li>Tips on selecting the appropriate automation platform for your specific needs &nbsp;</li><li>Understanding the time and cost barriers to adopting automation &nbsp;</li><li>Evaluating the efficiency of different automation platforms and assessing how well they integrate with downstream processes &nbsp;</li><li>Comparative performance data across the platforms – protein yield, concentration, consistency, and purity</li></ul><h4>Who should attend:</h4><ul><li>Protein Scientists: Those involved in protein engineering and purification</li><li>Biotech Researchers: Professionals working on antibody and protein drug development</li><li>Research Scientists: Individuals focusing on high-throughput screening and process development</li><li>Lab Managers: Those overseeing laboratory workflows and looking to integrate automation</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Gabrielle Kerkow (Application Scientist, Biotage)Gabrielle Kerkow earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering and Psychology from Louisiana State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Biotechnology at San Jose State University. Having experience with chromatography, she joined Biotage as an Application Scientist, focusing on automating protein and plasmid purification on liquid handlers. Her role involves method development, programming for high-throughput purification, and evaluating the performance of protein purification.</blockquote>

Separation Science: Elevating Protein Purification Efficiency: Transitioning from Manual Techniques to Automated Platforms

Elevating Protein Purification Efficiency: Transitioning from Manual Techniques to Automated Platforms

The complexities of automation bring new challenges that can significantly impact workflow and performance.

Elevating Protein Purification Efficiency

<h4>Key Learning Points:</h4><ul><li>Identify the common challenges associated with solid phase extraction methods &nbsp;</li><li>Understand and troubleshoot the recovery, contamination and reproducibility issues &nbsp;</li><li>Learn how to find and apply solutions to develop robust and reproducible extraction methods for their sample preparation needs</li></ul><h4>Who Should Attend:</h4><ul><li>Any scientists who wants to learn about solid phase extraction and it’s associated challenges, common troubleshooting steps and solutions to develop robust and reproducible extraction methods for their sample preparation needs</li></ul><blockquote>Presnter: Namrata Saxena (Technical Manager, Phenomenex)Namrata is the Technical Manager for the Asia-Pacific region in Phenomenex and is based in Sydney, Australia. As a member of the global technical team, she is responsible for assisting external customers as well as internal marketing and sales teams of Phenomenex for multifarious technical queries. She specifically support company’s bio-products portfolio through external and internal seminars/webinars, trainings and also contribute in biologics related technical content creation.Before joining Phenomenex she had worked as a Product Specialist and spent several years in stationary phase chemistry, column manufacturing and method development groups in a German company Bischoff Chromatography GmbH.Namrata has a post graduate degree with specialization in Analytical Chemistry. Her competence and focus lies in biotherapeutics characterization through liquid chromatography, antibodies and oligonucleotide chemistry, gene therapy and new bio-therapeutic modalities.</blockquote>

Phenomenex: Solid Phase Extraction Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks

Solid Phase Extraction Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks

Identify the common challenges associated with solid phase extraction methods.

Our guest speakers will discuss automation within their lab and how the Andrew+ liquid handling robot has helped streamline their sample preparation workflows for proteomic analysis.Automation is fast becoming a priority for labs who are looking to improve liquid handling pipetting procedures for simple, yet critical, protocols. The automation of liquid handling procedures allows labs to streamline workflows, helping to improve.<ul><li>Reproducibility - Laboratory automation eliminates most human errors resulting in more reliable data and improved productivity.</li><li>Productivity - Andrew+ combines the flexibility of single channel pipetting (0.2 μL to 10 mL) with the higher throughput of multichannel pipetting.</li><li>Health in the Lab - Pipetting requires repetitive movements (of up to 500 times per day for the average user) that can lead to Musculo-skeletal disorders like repetitive strain injury. The use of automated liquid handling reliefs users from this high throughput pipetting burden, helping to improve health within the lab setting.</li></ul><h4>Testimonials from our guest speakers</h4><h5>Dr Harry Whitwell, Imperial College London</h5>Andrew+ has been a huge asset to the group and is used continuously to support routine sample prep from protein assay to digestion, desalting, peptide assay, sample-standardisation, plate formatting and study reference generation, helping to substantially minimise batch-variation. Data from repeated dilution series across months shows excellent reproducibility in pipetting accuracy and stability with inter-assay CV &lt;5% and R2 above 0.99.<h5>Dr Pavel Shliaha, MRC</h5>In our lab, we use automation in attention-heavy workflows, e.g. concentration normalisation and SPE. The main workflows that we are using the Andrew+ is for concentration normalisation for proteomics. We also plan to use it for SPE for proteomics. My favourite things about the Andrew+ robot are as follows: user interface, great technical support, ability to easily switch pipettes, without the necessity for calibration.<h5>Dr Colleen Maxwell, University of Leicester</h5>We previously found it a major challenge to find sample preparation solutions to match the large scale required for our large cohort clinical proteomics studies without compromising on flexibility – we used to rely on laborious protocols requiring manual pipetting steps in small batches, we have found that these are no longer suitable, and are likely to introduce unwanted batch effects over the long term. Andrew+ has revolutionised our workflows, offering versatility beyond standard bottom-up proteomics digestion and clean-up. Andrew+ is such an adaptable system, so has had a transformative impact on all aspects of experimental design, and has been adopted throughout all our bottom-up proteomics workflows at the van Geest Multiomics Facility in the University of Leicester.<blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Dr Harry Whitwell (Lecturer and Proteomics Platform Lead, Imperial College London)Dr Harry Whitwell has been proteomic lead at the National Phenome Centre at Imperial College London since June 2020. Alongside this position, he was appointed Lecturer in Proteomics and Integrative Data Analysis in October 2023. Building on funding MRC, EPSRC and BBSRC, he has established a far-reaching facility, supporting projects across the UK. His research focuses on combining multiple analytical modalities to understand disease including mass spec-imaging, proteomics and network-based data analysis techniques.Presenter:&nbsp;Dr Pavel Shliaha (Head of Proteomics and Metabolomics, MRC, Laboratory of Medical Sciences)Dr Pavel Shliaha completed his Ph.D. in proteomics at the laboratory of Professor Kathryn Lilley in Cambridge, UK, focusing on organelle proteomics. He then pursued a postdoctoral project in Professor Ole Jensen's group at the University of Southern Denmark, concentrating on histone PTM profiling and intact protein analysis. Pavel briefly worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a postdoc before moving to MSD (New Jersey). Throughout his career, Pavel has been interested in automation and high-throughput sample processing. In particular, he has experience working with Hamilton Star, Opentrons, and Andrew+ systems.Presenter: Dr Colleen Maxwell (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Leicester)Colleen is a post-doctoral research associate at the Leicester van Geest Multiomics Facility at the University of Leicester. She completed her undergraduate studies in Chemistry at Imperial College London, graduating in 2019. During this time, she spent a year working in a pharmaceutical company, where she gained her initial exposure to analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry. Motivated by her interest in this field, Colleen pursued a PhD at the University of Leicester, focusing on the use of shotgun and targeted proteomics to develop and validate multiplexed biomarker panels for coronary artery disease. After completing her PhD in 2023, she continued her research as a postdoctoral associate, expanding her work to include new projects that integrate deep cardiac MRI phenotyping with proteomics in collaboration with the cardiac imaging team at Leicester. Colleen is passionate about the automation and standardisation of proteomics to ensure highly reproducible and high-throughput biomarker studies in large clinical cohorts</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Streamlined Proteomics with the Power of Andrew+

Streamlined Proteomics with the Power of Andrew+

How the Andrew+ liquid handling robot has helped streamline their sample preparation workflows for proteomic analysis.

Measurement of FT4 and FT3 is typically performed by immunoassay, however these can be prone to suffer from interferences and a lack of selectivity. Currently, the accepted gold standard for the measurement of FT4 and FT3 is using equilibrium dialysis (ED) and combined with the use of LC-MS/MS can overcome the issues with immunoassay in the measurement of FT4 and FT3. However, the equilibrium dialysis procedure can be quite time consuming and often being performed overnight.Here, we describe a simple clinical research method to perform ED using a commercially available device followed by sample preparation by solid phase extraction (SPE) and UPLC-MS/MS analysis using the Waters™ ACQUITY™ UPLC and analytically sensitive Xevo™ TQ Absolute Mass Spectrometer for clinical research. Data analysis and review has been simplified with the use of the waters_connect™ with QUAN Review Software. This has allowed for the complete workflow including equilibrium dialysis to be performed within a typical working day.Simplified Equilibrium Dialysis for the UPLC-MS/MS Analysis of Free Testosterone (FT) for Clinical ResearchHistorically, the measurement of free testosterone in human serum has presented a challenge for laboratory scientists, with such a large portion bound and the complexity and time involved in “gold standard” equilibrium dialysis. With a simple, fast, workflow combined with the analytical sensitivity afforded by the Waters Xevo™ TQ Absolute Mass Spectrometer, a newly developed, precise, accurate and selective clinical research method will be presented.<blockquote>Presenter: Robert Wardle (Senior Clinical Scientist, Waters Corporation)Robert Wardle is currently a Senior Scientist employed at Waters Corporation in Wilmslow, UK, performing research and development of applications and products for Clinical Research. His primary area of research is vitamins and in particular vitamin D metabolites, steroid hormones and in-depth knowledge of offline and online automation.Robert joined Waters in 2010 as a Clinical Validation Scientist, playing a key role in verification activities for the MassTrak XE Immunosuppressants kit available in the EU. He moved into his current role as a Senior Scientist in 2013, where he developed clinical research methods for a range of applications including vitamin D metabolites, estrogens, a large panel of steroid hormones and more recently this application on free T4 and free T3.Presenter: Stephen Balloch (Senior Clinical Scientist, Waters Corporation)Stephen Balloch graduated from the University of York (UK) with a Master’s degree in Chemistry, which included a strong focus on analytical chemistry. Subsequently he worked as a laboratory scientist in a GLP compliant research facility, progressing to Study Director. And, since 2010, he has been part of the clinical team at Waters (Wilmslow, UK). His principal focus has been on the development and validation of bioanalytical methods according to CLSI guidelines, with a focus on therapeutic drug monitoring. Additionally, he has supported newborn screening, vitamin and steroid analysis, including this clinical research method for free testosterone</blockquote>

Free Testosterone and Free T3/T4

Simplified Equilibrium Dialysis and SPE Method for the UPLC™-MS/MS Analysis of Free Thyroxine (FT4) and Triiodothyronine (FT3) for Clinical Research.

Manual sample preparation has its limitations. As sample throughput increases, so does fatigue, leading to a decline in data quality. This issue is significant across various markets but is especially critical in drug development and the production of therapeutics in biotechnology.However, employing automation can enhance data consistency and improve reproducibility. Additionally, automation reduces the need for costly sample reruns and frees up users’ time for other tasks.Attend this webinar to:<ul><li>Discover the benefits of automation and identify who should consider adopting it</li><li>Explore comprehensive workflow solutions that guide you from sample preparation to data-driven decisions, tailored to biopharma and proteomics applications</li><li>Learn how the updated AssayMAP Citation Index assists users in finding published methods that utilize the AssayMAP Bravo for biopharma applications</li><li>See how compliant software can facilitate the transition of methods from non-compliant to compliant labs, such as moving from early to late stages of drug discovery</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Kenda LJ Evans, PhD (Automation Workflow Specialist, Agilent Technologies)Kenda received her Ph.D. from The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in the field of Pharmacology with a focus on the signal transduction pathway for the Serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor. Kenda’s post-doctoral work occurred at the University of Houston.</blockquote>

Technology Networks: Automation Answers to Your Liquid Handling Challenges

Automation Answers to Your Liquid Handling Challenges

Discover the benefits of automation and identify who should consider adopting it

<div><div><div>Pure MHC, a pioneer in immunopeptidomics, has partnered with Bruker, a leader in state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, to demonstrate one of Pure MHC’s immunopeptidomics workflows. In this Live from the Lab webinar, tissue sample processing, data acquisition with a Bruker timsTOF Ultra, and data analysis will be reviewed as tools for the development and validation of HLA peptide targets for immunopeptidomic development.Key Learning Objectives:<ul><li>Get insights into Pure MHC's sample preparation strategies to maximize the yield of immunopeptides from tissue samples</li><li>Discover how the unparalleled sensitivity and robustness of the Bruker timsTOF Ultra empowers users to maximize the potential of their immunopeptide samples</li><li>Understand data processing workflows for both DDA and DIA data processing</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Curtis McMurtrey, Ph.D. (Director of Immunoproteomics, Pure MHC, LLC, Oklahoma City, OK, USA)Dr. McMurtrey earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2010. He currently serves as the Director of Immuno-Proteomics at Pure MHC, LLC.Dr. McMurtrey has studied HLA and its role in immunity since 2005. He is a member of American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) and holds the distinction of having won four ASHI Top Scholar Awards, more than any other scientist in the history of ASHI. Dr. McMurtrey is most notable for his work on West Nile virus epitope discovery and validation with HLA-A*02:01 and B*07:02; epitopes he discovered have been successfully tested in a WNV vaccine (collaboration with Drs. Hansen and Diamond at Washington University). His most recent accolades come from discovery of MR1 ligands from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as well as over 200 novel ligands from Toxoplasma gondii utilizing Deep Ligand Sequencing (DLS).Dr. McMurtrey has expertise in BSL-3 containment techniques, protein purification, HLA ligand isolation, HPLC separation, mass spectrometric analysis, ELISPOT, and multicolor flow cytometry as well as provides bioinformatics expertise. To date, he has directed mass spectrometry (both IDA and SWATH) acquisition as well as comparative analysis and interpretation for a wide variety of MHC ligands including those from tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, influenza, WNV, HIV and multiple cancers. Dr. Curtis McMurtrey oversees DLS acquisition and analyses and also manages database library collection.Presenter: Jason R. Krawic, Ph.D. (Business Development Manager, Pure MHC, LLC, Oklahoma City, OK, USA)Dr. Krawic earned his Master’s degree in Biomolecular Sciences from Central Connecticut State University in 2012 before returning to academia and earning his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2024. He currently serves as the Director of Business Development at Pure MHC, LLC.Dr. Krawic began his scientific career teaching Microbiology, Biology, and Chemistry to community college students in Connecticut and Oklahoma. He has studied HLA and non-classical MHC molecules since 2018. He is most recognized for discovering multiple isomeric conformations of MR1 ligands, as well as his work in MHC Class I and Class II ligands and cancer immunotherapies.Dr. Krawic’s expertise ranges from classical microbiology and bacteriology to HPLC separation, protein purification, negative ion mode small molecule mass spectrometry, DDA, DIA and MRM acquisition and a variety of bioinformatics tools. In addition to his scientific career, Dr. Krawic has more than a decade of experience in sales and retail management. With this skill set he combines his science and sales backgrounds to serve Pure MHC’s customer base.Presenter: Kris Looney, MBA (President, Pure MHC, LLC, Austin, TX, USA)As President of Emergent Technologies, the manager of Pure MHC, Kris Looney is responsible for conceiving and executing key business initiatives, developing strategic plans, and managing business processes including accounting, marketing, intellectual property, and business development. Kris has more than two decades of experience as a business generalist with a background in start-ups, management, accounting, marketing, negotiation, and sales.Before joining Emergent, Kris served as the COO and Interim CEO of the American Red Cross of Central Texas, where he balanced multiple stakeholder needs with service responsibilities in a competitive philanthropic environment. Prior to that, he was the CFO of Transformation Enzyme Corporation, where his financial management and business development helped a bootstrapped entrepreneurial start-up become a leader in the nutritional supplement market. Kris has a B.A. in marketing and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.Presenter: Matt Willetts, Ph.D. (Proteomics Applications Manager, Bruker Scientific LLC, Billerica, MA, USA)Matt received his Ph.D. in mass spectrometry with Prof. Malcolm Clench at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. He then joined Waters as the Technical Marketing Specialist for LCMS and MALDI products, focusing on application development for proteomics-based workflows. Matt joined Bruker in 2010 and is responsible for proteomics applications and support in North America.</blockquote>&nbsp;</div></div></div>

Bruker: Pure MHC's immunopeptidomics workflow with the timsTOF Ultra

Pure MHC's immunopeptidomics workflow with the timsTOF Ultra

Tissue sample processing, data acquisition with a Bruker timsTOF Ultra, and data analysis for immunopeptidomic development.

In today’s fast-paced research environment, optimizing lab workflows is crucial to maintaining productivity and ensuring high-quality results. Sample preparation is a critical step in chromatography and mass spectrometry, yet it often involves time-consuming and error-prone manual processes.Join us for an exclusive webinar with Dr. Jens Lättig, Senior Scientist at Tecan and Dr. Cassandra Rusher, European Technical Support Specialist at Eprep, where they’ll reveal how the Resolvex® Prep revolutionizes sample preparation for chromatography and mass spectrometry.Key learning objectives:<ul><li>Slash prep time: Discover how you can reduce your setup to just 5–15 minutes, freeing you to focus on critical tasks while Resolvex® Prep works autonomously.</li><li>Enhance accuracy: Learn how analytical syringes and specialized tools deliver consistent, reliable results – minimizing human error.</li><li>Achieve consistency: Find out how you can achieve repeatable results across various sample types and workflows, streamlining your processes.</li><li>Unlock versatility: Explore Resolvex® Prep’s built-in wash station, RFID deck scan, and seamless sample transfer, all designed to meet your research needs.</li></ul>Who should attend?<ul><li>Laboratory scientists and managers from analytical laboratories in: pharma, biopharma, biotech, the food industry, the environmental sector, agriculture, drug screening, proteomics, and metabolomics.</li></ul>Certificate of attendanceAll webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.<blockquote>Presenter: Jens Lattig, PhD (Sales Development Manager Proteomics &amp; MS Sample Prep, Tecan)Dr. Jens Lättig is a Sales Development Manager Proteomics &amp; MS Sample Preparation at Tecan. He has a PhD in biochemistry, and has worked in drug research projects in Germany and France. At Tecan, he is responsible for the Resolvex™ instruments and consumables portfolio in Europe.Presenter: Cassandra Rusher, PhD (European Technical Support Specialist, Eprep)Dr. Cassandra Rusher is a technical support specialist for the Resolvex Prep. at Eprep. She has a PhD in chemistry and a background specializing in chromatography including sample preparation. Her previous roles have included technical support and product management in the analytical chromatography sector. Her focus now is on supporting the automation of sample preparation methods across a range of industries that are utilizing analytical chromatography techniques.Moderator: Carrie Haslam (Associate Editor, SelectScience)</blockquote>

SelectScience: Efficient sample prep for expert mass spectrometry and chromatography

Efficient sample prep for expert mass spectrometry and chromatography

Join us for a webinar where we will reveal how the Resolvex® Prep revolutionizes sample preparation for chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Efficient sample prep for MS and chromatography

Did you know pipetting errors can quickly amplify across a normal workflow? And as protocols become more complex, there is an increased risk for experimental errors. Experimental error can propagate from many different sources:&nbsp;<ul><li>Incorrect calculations during experimental planning</li><li>Unstable or incorrect sample or reagent preparation</li><li>Incorrect instrument use or pipetting technique</li></ul>Join our live webinar to learn strategies for reducing pipetting errors to help you produce consistent and reliable results.Webinar agenda:<ul><li>Pipetting error propagation</li><li>Good science is control</li><li>Quick checking a pipette</li><li>Pipette performance verification</li><li>Pipette management software</li></ul>

Mettler-Toledo: Strategies for Reducing Pipetting Errors 

Strategies for Reducing Pipetting Errors

Join our live webinar to learn strategies for reducing pipetting errors to help you produce consistent and reliable results.

LCMS webinars focusing on Sample prep - page 11